‘Julius Caesar’ opens with the titular character returning to Rome after defeating a rival army in battle. Flanked by political figures Brutus, Cassius, and Mark Antony, a Soothsayer calls out to Caesar to “beware the Ides of March,” but Caesar ignores him and proceeds with his victory celebration. Cassius and Brutus, both longtime political allies of Caesar, stay behind as the parade passes and begin to discuss their fears about the direction Rome is headed. Brutus says that he fears that the people want Caesar to become king, which would overturn the democratically elected republic. Cassius concurs that Caesar is treated like a god but she [artistic choice for this production] blames her and Brutus’s lack of will for allowing Caesar’s rise to power. Another politician, Casca, returns and tells Brutus and Cassius that – during the celebration – Antony offered the crown to Caesar three times and the people cheered, but Caesar refused it each time. Upon hearing this, Brutus retreats home leaving Cassius to hatch a plot to draw him into a conspiracy against Caesar. Later that night, Brutus finds letters in his house apparently written by Roman citizens worried that Caesar has become too powerful. The letters have, in fact, been forged by Cassius who knows that if Brutus believes it is the people’s will, he will support a plot to remove Caesar from power. A committed supporter of the republic, Brutus fears the possibility of a dictator-led empire, worrying that the people would lose their voice. Cassius arrives at Brutus’s home with her conspirators and Brutus, who has already been won over by the letters, takes control of the meeting. The politicians agree to lure Caesar from his house and kill him. Cassius wants to kill Antony too, removing any obstacle or ally of Caesar that may remain, but Brutus disagrees, believing that too many deaths will render their plot too bloody and dishonor them. Having agreed to spare Antony, the conspirators depart. Portia, Brutus’s wife, observes that Brutus appears conflicted. She pleads with him to talk to her, but he shrugs her off and leaves.
The next day, Caesar prepares to go to the Senate. His wife – Calpurnia – begs him not to go, describing recent nightmares she has had in which a statue of Caesar streamed with blood which smiling men bathed their hands in. But Decius, one of the conspirators, then arrives and convinces Caesar that Calpurnia has misinterpreted her dreams and the recent omens. Caesar departs for the Senate in the company of the conspirators. At the Senate, the conspirators speak to Caesar, bowing at his feet and encircling him. One by one, they stab him to death. When Caesar sees his dear friend Brutus among his murderers, he gives up his struggle and dies. As Cesar finally succumbs to his wounds, Antony returns and pledges allegiance to Brutus; but weeps over Caesar’s body. When Antony asks why they killed Caesar, Brutus replies that he will explain all at his funeral. Antony asks to be allowed to speak at Caesar’s funeral and, though Brutus grants his permission, Cassius remains suspicious of Antony. The conspirators depart, and Antony – alone now – swears that Caesar’s death shall be avenged.
Brutus and Cassius go to the Forum to speak to the public. Brutus declares to the masses that, though he loved Caesar, he loves Rome more and Caesar’s ambition posed a danger to Roman liberty. Antony appears with Caesar’s body and Brutus departs after turning the pulpit over to Antony. Repeatedly referring to Brutus as ‘an honorable man’, Antony’s speech becomes increasingly sarcastic; questioning the claims that Brutus made in his speech that Caesar acted only out of ambition. Antony then produces Caesar’s will but announces that he will not read it for it would only upset the people who heard it. The crowd nevertheless begs him to read the will, so he descends from the pulpit to stand next to Caesar’s body. He describes Caesar’s horrible death and shows Caesar’s wounded body to the crowd. He then reads Caesar’s will, which bequeaths a sum of money to every citizen and orders that his private gardens be made public. The crowd becomes enraged, calling Brutus and Cassius traitors, and setting off to drive them from the city. In their rage, however, they come across a grieving Calpurnia and – mistaking her for a conspirator against Caesar – kill her out of anger.
INTERVAL
Act two begins at a conspirators’ camp – Brutus and Cassius now leading a rival faction against the one headed by Anthony and Caesar’s adopted son, Octavius, who seek retribution for the conspirators’ actions against Caesar. Brutus and Cassius have a heated argument regarding matters of money and honour, but they ultimately reconcile. Brutus reveals that he is sick with grief, for in his absence Portia has killed herself. The two continue to prepare for battle with Antony and Octavius. That night, the Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus, announcing that Brutus will meet him again on the battlefield. Octavius and Antony march their army toward Brutus and Cassius, with the opposing generals meeting on the battlefield and exchanging insults before beginning combat.Cassius witnesses her own men fleeing and hears that Brutus’ men are also not performing well. Cassius sends one of her men, Pindarus, to see how the battle is progressing. From afar, Pindarus sees one of their leaders, Titinius, being surrounded by cheering troops and concludes that he has been captured. Cassius despairs and orders Pindarus to kill her with her own sword. She dies proclaiming that Caesar is avenged. Titinius – in fact not dead – then arrives to find Cassius’ corpse and, mourning the death of his friend, kills himself.
Brutus learns of the deaths of Cassius and Titinius with a heavy heart, and prepares to take on the Romans again. When his army loses, Brutus asks one of his men to hold his sword while he impales himself on it. Finally, Octavius and Antony arrive. Antony speaks over Brutus’s body, calling him the noblest Roman of all. While the other conspirators acted out of envy and ambition, Brutus genuinely believed that he acted for the benefit of Rome. Octavius orders that Brutus be buried in the most honorable way. The men then depart to celebrate their victory. Simple. Right?
(Adapted from http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/, 05/02/2018)