a.his pomposity
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
b.his vanity
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
c.his arrogance
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
d. his affection
I mean, sweet words
e. his pride
Will he be satisfied
9. In his address to the mob in the forum (Act III Scene 2, lines 12-44), Brutus speaks in prose, not blank verse. His words have been described as �a lecture�.
a.Show from the speech that Brutus knows he enjoys the respect of Roman citizens.
believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour
b.Show that he believes the crowd is capable of making rational and just decisions.
censure me in your wisdom
c.Show that his speech is based on an appeal to reason and logic.
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.
d.Show that he is proud of his patriotism and his republicanism.
Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men?
e.Show that he wishes to act magnanimously. Comment on the wisdom of his approach and assumptions. Do you think it is reasonable to describe him as politically na�ve?
Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him.
If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If
any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
vile that will not love his country?
�Brutus believed Cassius that Caesar would be a tyrant and decided that it would be just to slay him. It is not reasonable to call him politically na�ve though. Brutus does know how to handle politics. He does not, however, know how to tell when a person is lying to him.
6.In Act II Scene I, in which Cassius wins over Brutus to the conspiracy, show evidence of
a. his tact
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
b.his ability to strike the right note when making his approach.
Yes, every man of them, and no man here
But honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
c.His willingness to take a second place when it suits him.
Yet I fear him;
4.Antony shows a masterly control over the fickle nature of the common people.
a.Before Antony ascends to the Public Chair to make his oration, which remark typifies the commoners� dull-wittedness?
Caesar's better parts
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
b.Whereas Brutus�s speech appealed to the intellect, Antony�s is emotional. He ends his opening remarks by choking back tears. How do the people react?
The people are siding with Antony now and are angry and sad that Caesar has been killed
c.Marullus says of the commoners, �You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things� (Act I Scene I, line 36). Antony says, �You are not wood, you are not stones, but men� (Act III Scene I, line 140). Explain why Antony�s oratorical approach shows a greater understanding of crowd psychology.
Antony�s approach is more kind and is not insulting, unlike Marullus�s harsh words. Antony knows how to set the mob�s mentality in the direction that he chooses
d. Why does Antony mention the will to the crowd, but decline at first to read it?
Caesar�s Will
g.The commoners forget the will till Antony reminds them of it (line 236). What does this tell us of their powers of concentration?
The commoners are very one track minded and are not very quick to act with reason, instead of emotion