Julius Caesar Act 2 Scene 1

Interpretations....

"It is the bright day that brings forth the adder" (2.1.15-16)- The sun brings out poisonous snakes, similarly to how Caesar being crowned will bring out his tyrranical side.

"lowliness is young ambition's ladder... He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did descend." (2.1.23, 26-28)- Caesar uses humility to his advantage, but when he has gained enough power, he will scorn those who helped him get there.

"think him as a serpent's egg Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievious, And kill him in the shell." (2.1.33-35)- Caesar may seem benevolent now, but it is typical of young, ambitious leaders to grow into tyrants, so they should kill him now before he has the chance to gain absolute power, to avoid his implementation of policies of disparity in Rome.

The First Decision

"Give me your hands all over, one by one. / And let us swear our resolution." (2.1.116-117).

Cassius proposes that the conspirators take an oath.

Cassius's Argument For

"And let us swear our resolution." (2.1.117)

Cassius thinks that the conspirators should take an oath so that everyone will swear to carry out their plot.

Brutus's Argument Against

"No, not an oath: if not the face of men, / The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,- / If these be motives weak, break off betimes, / And every man hence to his idle bed" (2.1.120-123).

Brutus thinks that they do not need an oath, because if their own suffering and the destruction of their era is not enough to motivate them alone, they should not carry out their plot in the first place.

The Second Decision

"But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?" (2.1.146)

Cassius proposes that they ask Cicero to join their conspiracy.

Cassius's Argument For

"I think he will stand very strong with us." (2.1.147)

Cassius thinks that Cicero will be helpful to their cause.

Brutus's Argument Against

"O, name him not: let us not break with him; / For he will never follow any thing / That other men begin." (2.1.156-157).

Brutus counters that Cicero will never go along with a plan that he did not come up with himself.

The Third Decision

"Shall no man else be touch'd but Caesar?" (2.1.161)

Decius Brutus asks if they should only kill Caesar, or if they should also kill someone else, possibly those who support him.

Cassius's Argument For

"I think it is not meet, / Mark Antony, so well-beloved of Caesar, / Should outlive Caesar... Let Antony and Caesar fall together." (2.1.162-164, 168)

Cassius believes that, because Mark Antony is such an avid supporter of Caesar, it is not fit to kill Caesar but let him continue to leave, and therefore they should also kill Mark Antony.

Brutus's Argument Against

"Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, / To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, / Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; / For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: / Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius." (2.1.169-173)

Brutus is austere in his belief that they should not make the assassination of Caesar extensively violent or brutal; they are killing Caesar for the good of the Roman republic, but to kill Mark Antony as well would be "too bloody", and would cause violence without a worthy cause.

Portia's Argument

Brutus says Portia should not be awake so early, but Portia says Brutus shouldn't either.

"It is not for your health to commit your weak condition to the raw cold morning" (2.1.255-256)... "Not for yours neither. Y' have ungently, Brutus, stole from my bed." (2.1.257-258)

Portia's Argument

Portia argues Brutus has been acting strange; she wonders why he is not acting prosaic and going about his life as usual.

"And yesternight at supper You suddenly arose and walked about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across, And when I asked you what the matter was, You stared upon me with ungentle looks." (2.1.258-263)

Portia's Argument

Whatever is bothering Brutus is making him act capricious towards Portia, so he should tell her what is going on.

"As it hath much prevailed on your condition, I should not know you Brutus. Dear my lord, Make me acquainted with your cause of grief." (2.1.274-276).