shakespeare julius caesar quotes explained

What he says and what he means are two completely different things. He keeps referring to him as an 'honor' man because he's being sarcastic. 'For Brutus is an honorable man So are they all, honorable men.'(Antony)Īntony's ironic statement about the assassins. Brutus speaking to the crowd, justifying the assassination. ' Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more '(Brutus)īrutus' reason for killing Caesar was not because he did not love Caesar, but because loved Rome. Many people today will argue that this was a curse that was put on Brutus by Caesar. Brutus, a friend of Caesar and yet a man who loves Rome (and freedom) more, has joined the conspirators in the assassination, a betrayal which is captured by the three words above. The audience has just witnessed the arrogance and hubris of a ruler who has sought, within a republic, to become a monarch, comparing himself to the gods. This scene, in which the conspirators in the Senate assassinate Caesar, is one of the most dramatic moments on the Perhaps the most famous three words uttered in literature, 'Et tu, Brute?' (Even you, Brutus?) this expression has come down in history to mean the ultimate betrayal by one's closest friend. 'When beggars die, there are not comets seen The heavens blaze forth the death of princes.'(Calpurnia)Ĭalpurnia tries to convince Caesar that the heavens give warning signs when important people are going to die, but when insignificant people are to die, nothing happens. 'Cowards die many timers before their deaths, The valiant never taste of death but once.' (Caesar)Ĭowards die a little inside every time they back out of something, whereas the brave die only once. The Romans are being revived by the blood of Caesar. '' This dream is all amiss interpreted, it was a vision fair and fortunate' (Decius)ĭecius is trying to flatter Caesar and says that he's misinterpreted the dream, and that it is a good dream. Although not an original conspirator, Casca joins the night before Caesar's assassination and even stabs Caesar first. Casca is unrefined and crude, sometimes brutish. Casca is literally saying, 'I don't know what he said, it was in Greek and Iĭon't speak Greek.' But on another level, his inability to understand the language develops Casca character further.

' But, for my own part, it was Greek to me ' ( Casca) Cassius' description ironically fits Mark Antony as well, for after Caesars death, Antony shows himself to be lean and hungry. ' Yond, Cassius has a lean and hungry look He thinks too much: such men are dangerous'' ( Caesar)Ĭaesar astutely characterizes Cassius. Other signs should have made Caesar aware of the impending assassination, Caesar's pride however does him in. These five words have become one of the most famous warnings in Literature and History. ' Beware the ides of March'' (Soothslayer)

Shakespeare julius caesar quotes explained