Julius Caesar Act 2 Act 2 Summary Setting

Julius Caesar Act 2

Act 2 Summary � Setting: Rome, Italy, 44 B. C. � Brutus tries to decide whether he should help kill Caesar. Finally, he decides that killing Caesar is for the good of the public. He decides to help. Cassius and the other conspirators arrive. Cassius suggests they kill Mark Antony as well. Brutus disagrees with Cassius. The conspirators leave. Then Brutus’s wife, Portia, sees that Brutus is upset. She asks him to tell her what is wrong. Caesar is at home with his wife, Calpurnia. There is a severe storm. Calpurnia has dreamed that something bad will happen to Caesar. She begs him not to go to the Senate on this day. Caesar agrees. Decius, one of the conspirators, enters. He says that Calpurnia misunderstood her dream. He tells Caesar that the Senate will laugh at him if he does not go out today. Other conspirators enter, and Caesar plans to leave for the Senate with them. On the street, a man named Artemidorus has a letter for Caesar. Artemidorus plans to hand Caesar the letter before he enters the Senate. The letter names the conspirators. Meanwhile, Portia sends her servant to the Senate to see what is happening. Outside her house, a soothsayer tells Portia that Caesar might be in danger.

Act 2—Literary Terms �A soliloquy is a long speech that a character makes while alone on stage or when no one on stage is supposed to be listening. �An aside is a remark that a character says in an undertone to the audience or to another character but that everyone else on stage is not supposed to hear.

Act 2—Brutus's Conflict Read the soliloquy Brutus gives in Act 2 scene 1 lines 18 -34. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power. And to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities; And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg, Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell. 1. What is Brutus’s internal conflict? 2. What do you learn about Brutus’s character form this speech?

Act 2 scene 1 At the beginning of the scene, Brutus asks his servant whether the ides of March is upon them. Why is Brutus concerned about the date? 2. Think of the letter Brutus receives and the effect it has on him. What does this tell you about Brutus? 3. Recall that friendship is an important theme in this play. Do you think Brutus and Cassius are truly friends? Explain. 1.

Act 2 scene 2 What omens does Calpurnia mention to Caesar in an effort to warn him? 2. In Act Two, Scene 2, Caesar says, "Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once. " 1. � What do you think this remark means? Do you agree with it? Explain.

Act 2 scene 3 1. Why do you think Shakespeare includes this short scene?

Act 2 scene 4 What does the soothsayer tell Portia that makes her anxious? 2. Look at the photos on page 734. What do these photos suggest about Portia and her relationship to Brutus? Which one comes closest to your own understanding of their relationship? 1.

Act 2—Discussion Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Why does Brutus decide to join the conspiracy against Caesar? What does Brutus believe might happen to Caesar once he is crowned? How does Decius convince Caesar that he should go to the Senate? Why is Artemidorus so eager to give Caesar the letter he has written? What does the soothsayer tell Portia?

Quiz—Question 1 �In Act Two, what effect does Calpurnia’s dream have? A. It increases the dramatic tension in the play. It shows that Calpurnia is part of the conspiracy. C. It convinces Caesar that Brutus will kill him. D. It shows that she does not care for Caesar. B.

Quiz—Question 2 �Brutus, Cassius, and the others go to Caesar’s house to A. discuss the events of the night before. warn him about the conspiracy. C. convince him to go to the Senate. D. tell him to beware of Antony. B.

Quiz—Question 3 �When Portia begs Brutus to tell her what is bothering him, one can conclude that she is A. willing to expose Brutus’s plan to save Caesar. already aware of his plan. C. a devoted and loving wife. D. filled with fear for Caesar. B.

Quiz—Question 4 �Scene 3, in which Artemidorus reads his letter, suggests that A. Caesar still has many supporters in Rome. Artemidorus will join the conspirators. C. all of Rome has turned against Caesar. D. the conspirators will be exposed before they can act. B.

Quiz—Question 5 �At the end of Scene 1, there is a conversation between Portia and Brutus. At the beginning of Scene 3, there is a conversation between Calpurnia and Caesar. Why, do you think, did Shakespeare include scenes of the two main characters with their wives? How did these conversations add to your understanding of Brutus and Caesar?