Brutus and Cassius's Private Exchange

For the Julius Caesar duo evaluation, my partner Anamika and I chose a passage on page 36, Act 1 Scene 2 , lines 130 – 174. The context of this passage is a private moment entertained between Cassius and Brutus, where Cassius makes an impulsive attempt to build Brutus’s resentment against Caesar up. This is in the intention to perhaps instill the thought of committing an act of rebellion within him (Brutus.)  

This passage was chosen to be performed as it represents an essential emotional and psychological turn, introduces the audience to the predominant theme of the play, foreshadows certain events and procedures as well as providing a lot of anxiety and characterization. Throughout the chosen lines, Cassius tries to infuriate Brutus by stating his opinion as well as (supposedly) many other Romans’ about who would be the better, more suited leader. Cassius refers to Caesar as a colossus, and to the people of Rome as “underlings” to this dictator. It is at this moment in time that Brutus becomes affected and commences to genuinely consider the substance in Cassius’s “persuasion.” The whole verbal exchange initiates a trail of thought that causes the audience to mentally foreshadow what will happen next. The general theme of the play is also established here. (Cassius convincing Brutus to rebel and save Rome, then there's the whole process of this, the conspirators kill Caesar and Brutus deals with the repercussions of his decisions.) This part that we are presenting also, clearly characterizes both Cassius and Brutus. The first is calculating and unscrupulous and persistent, almost Machiavellian. Brutus, on the other hand is overly pensive, naïve and patriotic, also he’s: pragmatic and contemplative and engrossed in his thoughts and current events. This passage is a fantastic amalgamation of the most significant components of this play, not to mention, this extract from the play institutes a lot of tension within the audience because of the myriad of possibilities: will Cassius manage to win over Brutus? Will Brutus realize what Cassius’s mind-frame is, or he fall for the false notes and sycophancy? What consequences will ensue if Brutus becomes a conspirator?

BRUTUS

    Another general shout!

    I do believe that these applauses are

    For some new honours that are heap'd on Caesar.

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.

    Men at some time are masters of their fates:

    The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

    But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

    Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that 'Caesar'?

    Why should that name be sounded more than yours?

    Write them together, yours is as fair a name;

    Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;

    Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,

    Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.

    Now, in the names of all the gods at once,

    Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,

    That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!

    Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!

    When went there by an age, since the great flood,

    But it was famed with more than with one man?

    When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome,

    That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?

    Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,

    When there is in it but one only man.

    O, you and I have heard our fathers say,

    There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd

    The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome

    As easily as a king.

BRUTUS

    That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;

    What you would work me to, I have some aim:

    How I have thought of this and of these times,

    I shall recount hereafter; for this present,

    I would not, so with love I might entreat you,

    Be any further moved. What you have said

    I will consider; what you have to say

    I will with patience hear, and find a time

    Both meet to hear and answer such high things.

    Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:

    Brutus had rather be a villager

    Than to repute himself a son of Rome

    Under these hard conditions as this time

    Is like to lay upon us.

CASSIUS

    I am glad that my weak words

    Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.