Dressing
Who is Caesar's loyal friend who spoke at Caesar's funeral to turn the crowd against the conspirators?
Antony
How does Cassius convince Brutus to join the conspiracy?
Cassius sends Brutus fake letters from Roman citizens praising Brutus and speaking negatively of Caesar.
Why don't the conspirators assassinate Antony?
Brutus argued that it would make them butchers rather than protectors of Rome and would be too violent. He also argued that Antony posed no threat.
"As I love the name of honor more than I fear death." -- Brutus, Act I, Scene 2
Brutus is at war with himself about whether or not he should assassinate Caesar. He says that being honorable and noble is more important to him that dying.
Why does Brutus think Caesar should be assassinated before he is crowned king?
Who is torn between loyalty to Caesar and loyalty to Rome?
Brutus
Why does Cassius want Brutus to join the conspiracy?
Brutus is well-loved by the people, so his participation in the conspiracy would alleviate the citizens' anger.
What is the irony in Antony saying, "Brutus says [Caesar] was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man?"
Antony is using sarcasm to convince the crowd that Brutus is not honorable while also showing how unambitious Caesar was.
"This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar." -- Antony, Act V, Scene 5
Antony says this after Brutus' death. He respects Brutus for acting for the good of Rome, while the other conspirators were merely motivated by jealousy of Caesar.
How does Antony act after Caesar's death?
He pretends to be submissive to the conspirators.
Who manipulates Brutus to join the conspiracy?
Cassius
What do the omens mean in Act I and Act II?
They signify that tragedy is coming.
What reasons does Brutus give the crowd for why they assassinated Caesar?
"When beggars die there are no comets seen: The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes." -- Calpurnia, Act II, Scene 2
Calpurnia is trying to convince Caesar not to leave for the senate house because she has seen multiple bad omens and bad dreams. She says that these omens appear when great leaders are about to die, not for just anyone.
Who is the first conspirator to stab Caesar?
Casca is the first to stab Caesar.
Who is the third member of the triumvirate with Antony and Octavius?
Lepidus
What is the turning point of the play?
Antony's funeral speech is the turning point of the play when he incites the crowd to turn against the conspirators.
What is the difference between how Shakespeare writes Brutus' funeral speech and Antony's funeral speech? What effect does this have on the crowd?
Brutus's speech is written in prose while Antony's speech is written in verse. Antony's verse is more convincing to the crowd, and he turns them against the conspirators.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come." -- Caesar, Act II, Scene 2
Caesar is responding to Calpurnia's warnings not to go to the senate house. He is saying that death is inevitable and fearing death is cowardly.
"Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." -- Brutus, Act III, Scene 2
Brutus is speaking at Caesar's funeral. He is explaining to the citizens why Caesar was assassinated, saying that although he loved Caesar, his loyalty is to the good of Rome.
Who is the conspirator who persuades Caesar to go to the senate house?
Decius
What is the importance of Caesar's ghost appearing to Brutus?
It symbolizes Brutus' guilt and foreshadows his death.
How is Brutus a tragic hero?
Brutus is noble and motivated by his loyalty to Rome, but he is also an idealist who trusts others too easily and has flawed judgement.
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, for we are underlings." -- Cassius, Act I, Scene 2
Cassius is trying to persuade Brutus to join the conspiracy. He is arguing that fate is not responsible for their choices and that Brutus should take control of his destiny and the future of Rome.
"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar." -- Antony, Act III, Scene 2
This is the beginning of Antony's funeral speech. He is saying that people are often remembered for their evil deeds, while their good deeds are forgotten and buried with their body. He sets his speech up by planting this doubt of Caesar's ambition in the crowd's minds.