Julius Caesar: Act 1 – Contextual Q&A
Question 1
"You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome! Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft have you climbed up to walls and battlements, to towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, to towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, to see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome."
(i) Who is speaking these words and to whom? (3)
(ii) What criticism is Murellus leveling at the people of Rome? (3)
(iii) What does "You blocks, you stones" suggest about how Murellus views the common people? (3)
(iv) Why does Murellus remind them of Pompey and their past loyalty? (3)
(v) How does this passage establish the theme of fickle loyalty and political tension? (4)
Answer:
(i) Murellus, a tribune (high-ranking official), is speaking these words to the common people of Rome who are celebrating Caesar's victory over Pompey.
(ii) Murellus is criticizing the commoners for their inconstancy and disloyalty. They once loved Pompey so deeply that they climbed onto high buildings to see him pass through Rome's streets. Now they celebrate Caesar's victory over Pompey without seeming to remember their former hero. Murellus sees their celebration as betrayal of their past loyalties.
(iii) By comparing the people to "blocks" and "stones," Murellus suggests they are unintelligent, insensate, and morally deficient. These comparisons imply the commoners lack reason, feeling, and principle—they are objects without consciousness or moral capacity. This harsh characterization reveals Murellus's contempt for the common people and his belief that they deserve to be criticized for their thoughtlessness.
(iv) Murellus appeals to their memories of Pompey to shame them into recognizing their own inconstancy. By reminding them of their past passion for Pompey and their willingness to risk themselves to see him, Murellus highlights the dramatic contrast between that loyalty and their present support for Caesar. This rhetorical strategy aims to make them ashamed of their changeability.
(v) This passage establishes the theme of fickle loyalty by demonstrating how easily popular support shifts from one leader to another. It also introduces political tension: tribunes fear that popular support for Caesar makes him dangerously powerful. The passage suggests that in a society where loyalty is inconstant, a charismatic leader can manipulate the masses, creating conditions for tyranny. This tension between popular will and political stability becomes central to the play.
Question 2
"A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Caesar: What man is that? Brutus: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Caesar: He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass."
(i) What is the Soothsayer warning Caesar about? (3)
(ii) How does Caesar respond to the warning, and what does his response suggest? (3)
(iii) Why is the date "the ides of March" significant to the play? (3)
(iv) What literary device is Shakespeare using in this warning? (3)
(v) How does this brief exchange foreshadow the tragedy of the play? (4)
Answer:
Question 3
"Cassius: Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonourable graves... I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, as well as I know I have hands, fingers, and a heart."
(i) What image does Cassius use to describe Caesar's power? (3)
(ii) How does Cassius describe Brutus's position relative to Caesar? (3)
(iii) What is Cassius's strategy in appealing to Brutus? (3)
(iv) What does Cassius reveal about his own attitude toward Caesar? (3)
(v) How does this speech demonstrate Cassius's manipulative nature? (4)
Answer:
(i) Cassius uses the image of the Colossus—an enormous statue that dominates the landscape—to describe Caesar. By saying Caesar bestrides "the narrow world like a Colossus," Cassius suggests Caesar's overwhelming power and dominance. The image emphasizes Caesar's size, power, and how he towers over everyone else, leaving them in his shadow.
(ii) Cassius describes Brutus and other Romans as "petty men" who "walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonourable graves." This graphic image suggests they are reduced to insignificance, literally walking beneath Caesar, struggling to maintain their dignity and find honorable ends. Cassius implies that under Caesar's dominance, men of merit cannot achieve distinction—they are degraded by Caesar's overwhelming power.
(iii) Cassius's strategy is to appeal to Brutus's pride and sense of honor. He flatters Brutus by claiming he possesses virtue equal to Caesar's, then suggests this virtue is wasted because Caesar dominates. Cassius implies that Brutus's greatness cannot be expressed or recognized while Caesar overshadows everyone. He appeals to Brutus's patriotism by suggesting that Rome's welfare requires checking Caesar's power.
(iv) Cassius reveals deep resentment and jealousy toward Caesar. His language suggests Caesar is not naturally superior but has merely accumulated power and accolades. Cassius's resentment seems to stem from believing himself and others equally worthy of power but overshadowed by Caesar's popularity and ambition.
(v) This speech demonstrates Cassius's manipulative nature through several tactics: flattery ("I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus"), appeal to pride (suggesting Brutus's greatness is wasted), fear tactics (describing Roman men as heading toward "dishonourable graves"), and by framing his conspiracy as a patriotic duty to Rome. Cassius presents the conspiracy not as motivated by his jealousy but as necessary for Rome's welfare and Brutus's honor. He makes rebellion seem noble rather than selfish.
Question 4
"Brutus: I would not, Cassius, although I like Caesar very much. But why have you kept me here for so long? What is it you want to tell me? If it is for the general good of Rome that I must do, I would rather lose my life as lose my honour. Let the gods assist me as I love my honourable name more than I fear death."
(i) What does Brutus reveal about his feelings toward Caesar? (3)
(ii) What is Brutus's primary concern, and what does this reveal about his character? (3)
(iii) What conflict does Brutus express between personal feeling and principle? (3)
(iv) How does Brutus's statement make him vulnerable to manipulation? (3)
(v) How does this passage establish the tragic nature of Brutus's character? (4)
Answer:
(i) Brutus reveals genuine personal affection for Caesar—"I like Caesar very much." This fondness makes his internal conflict more poignant; it is not animosity toward Caesar but concern about Rome's welfare that troubles him. Brutus's affection for Caesar makes him reluctant to act against him, yet principles may compel him to do so.
(ii) Brutus's primary concern is the general good of Rome and his own honor. He states he would rather "lose his life" than "lose his honour" and that he loves "his honourable name more than he fears death." This reveals Brutus as a patriotic idealist willing to sacrifice personal relationships and even his life for principles of honor and Rome's welfare. It shows his nobility but also his vulnerability—he can be manipulated by appeals to his patriotism and honor.
(iii) Brutus expresses the tension between liking Caesar personally and believing that Rome's welfare might require acting against him. Though he hasn't yet been told of the conspiracy, Brutus seems to sense that Cassius may propose something contrary to his friendship with Caesar. This conflict between personal affection and political principle becomes the core of Brutus's tragedy.
(iv) Brutus's statement makes him vulnerable because Cassius can appeal to his patriotism and honor. By framing the conspiracy as necessary for Rome's welfare, Cassius exploits Brutus's own stated priorities—Brutus has admitted he would sacrifice personal relationships for Rome's good. Brutus's honorable nature becomes the tool of his manipulation.
(v) This passage establishes Brutus as tragic because he is motivated by principle rather than ambition or jealousy. Unlike Cassius, Brutus does not seek power for himself. His tragedy lies in that he will commit a terrible act (assassination) motivated by patriotic ideals, yet this act will corrupt those very ideals. Brutus's noble intentions do not prevent tragedy; rather, they make tragedy more poignant because a good man acts for the right reasons yet produces terrible consequences.
Question 5
"Caesar: Cassius is lean; he thinks too much. Such men are dangerous... Mark Antony: Fear him not, Caesar; for he loves you. Caesar: I rather tell thee what is to be feared than what I fear; for always I am Caesar... Yet I fear him; for in the course of things, I know that Cassius loves not Caesar."
(i) What does Caesar observe about Cassius's appearance and what does he infer from it? (3)
(ii) Why does Caesar distrust Cassius despite Antony's reassurance? (3)
(iii) What does Caesar's claim "for always I am Caesar" suggest about his character? (3)
(iv) What is ironic about Caesar fearing Cassius? (3)
(v) How does this passage reveal Caesar's tragic flaw and set up the conspiracy? (4)