Julius Caesar Act II & III Summary – Flashcards

Brutus realizes that Caesar will become corrupt if he gets too much power. A forged letter convinces him Caesar must die. Cassius and the conspirators arrive at Brutus' house. Brutus says they do not need to take an oath as they are all noble Roman men. Cassius suggests to also kill Antony but Brutus says that will be too bloody. Decius is to make sure Caesar goes to the capitol despite the soothsayer's warning. Brutus tells his wife he will later tell her of the conspiracy. Ligarius is confident in the plan to kill Caesar once he knows Brutus agrees.

Calpurnia has a nightmare and tells Caesar not to go to the capitol, many omens. Caesar says he does not believe the fates meddling with the lives of men and decides to go anyway, even with a bad sacrifice of an animal. Decius convinces Caesar to go the capitol construing Calpurnia's nightmare into a good omen

Artemidorus has a letter for Caesar informing him of the conspiracy

Portia sends Brutus' servant to observe events and see how Caesar is faring. A soothsayer waits along Caesar's route to warn him of the assassination.

Caesar ignores the soothsayer and Artemidorus. Cassius worries the assassination plot has been discovered. Trebonius lures Antony away from Caesar. Metelus requests his brother be brought back into the city. The other conspirators join in Mettles' plee. Casca first stabs Caesar, ending with Brutus to which Caesar replies "Et tu, Brute?—Then fall Caesar"and dies. The conspirators bathe their hands in Caesar's blood and go to the marketplace as a sign of triumph. Antony joins Brutus as Brutus promises not to kill him for past allegiances. Brutus explains they killed Caesar for the good of the people. Antony tells Caesar's dead body he is sorry he must flatter the conspirator. Anthony is allowed to speak at Caesar's funeral despite misgivings from Cassius. Antony tells Octavius to stay out of Rome until it is safe

The citizens demand a reason for Caesar's death. Brutus says he loved Rome more than Caesar, and killed Caesar rather than let every Roman become a slave. Anthony delivers his eulogy saying he is just grieving but really he is trying to ignite the people into rebellion. Antony describes Caesar's murder in great detail, he also reads Caesar's will giving each citizen some money and converting his property into public parks. the crowds are ready to kill the conspirators

Cinna the poet, a different man from Cinna the conspirator, walks through the city. A crowd of plebeians descends, asking his name. He answers that his name is Cinna, and the plebeians confuse him with the conspirator Cinna. Despite Cinna's insistence that they have the wrong man, the plebeians drag him off and beat him to death.

Brutus's tragic flaw was that he was too trusting. He frankly and honestly felt that he had had to kill Caesar in order to save Rome from tyranny. He trusted Antony not to blame the conspirators in his speech at Caesar's funeral. Antony broke that promise and got Brutus and the others into deep trouble. Brutus also trusted Cassius. Cassius only asked Brutus to be a part of the conspiracy as a way of getting closer to Caesar. He never suspected that Brutus would take over the group and become their leader. Cassius thought that he was getting someone to lead the men, but that he would still be the head man. Brutus, however, took all power away from Cassius, and Cassius no longer had any say in the happenings of the group

Caesar's tragic flaw was hubris, meaning excessive pride. The idea that he did not want to come across as weak to the people of Rome demonstrates this flaw. He is warned by Calpurnia to not go to the Capitol due to her premonition/dream. Calpurnia even comes up with excuses for him to use such as to say that he is sick. Instead he chooses to believe Decius' interpretation of the dream and go anyway. Within minutes of getting to the Capitol he is murdered. If his pride did not get in the way, he would have been able to use Calpurnia's excuse and save his own life. Caesar also demonstrates this flaw when he ignores both the soothsayer and Artimidorus.

Cassius's tragic flaw would be that he's jealous and he tries to do treachery against julius caesar, but healways fails every time. Cassius is supposed to be a "villain", but he always fails at his plots, which leads to the resolvation of the story.

3 Omens Letters Hands

-Brutus would speak first -Can't blame conspirators -Can say anything good about Caesar -Say conspirators allowed him to speak -Has to speak at the same pulpit Brutus did

He gave each citizen 75 gold drachmas Left the citizens his private arbors and parks

-Shows them Caesar's wounds -tells them of Caesar's will -reverse psychology -come off the pulpit to be like a commoner -verbal irony