Christina: Julius Caesar Analysis Act 2

It seems Cassius’s words to Brutus in Act I Scene 2 have gotten to him; he begins to think about turning against Caesar and even comes to the conclusion that Caesar must be killed. Brutus is further influenced by the letters which unknown to him were forged by Cassius himself. We see here how Brutus is so easily influenced by others in the same way the plebeians are easily influenced by Caesar and men of high power. Brutus never once questions the authenticity of the letter. With the conspirators he commits himself wholeheartedly, even making some of their decisions, such as whether or not to have an oath and whether or not Antony should be killed too.

While he seems sure of himself before the conspirators, Brutus is unable to confess his thoughts to his wife Portia. She symbolizes Brutus’ private life and thoughts and his reluctance to speak with her suggests he has traces of doubt about the conspirators’ plot. The fact that he dismisses her symbolizes his dismissing his own private feelings and morality for the sake of a plan he hopes to be for the ‘general good’.

As Portia is a representative of correct intuition in Brutus, Calpurnia is for Caesar. Both wives try to warn their husbands of trouble brewing and both are ignored. Caesar stubbornly refuses to heed the grave warnings Calpurnia has interpreted from her nightmare. We see a lot of this stubbornness in Caesar as well as egotistical behavior. He increasingly refers to himself in the third person and seems to know no fear, not even from the frightening predictions his wife gives. “Yet Caesar shall go forth for these predictions are to the world in general as to Caesar”. There is obviously a lack of the humility Caesar had displayed earlier on at the Lupercal races when he was offered the crown.

At this point we wonder whether the conspirators have the right idea conspiring to assassinate Caesar. He seems to long for power and may become a tyrant, as said by Cassius and as feared by Brutus. However, we must also consider that the conspirators may want to kill Caesar for their own ambitions. They see Caesar as strong competition for their individual fight for power over the people. Brutus is the exception here; it is clear Brutus’ decision to be a conspirator stems from a genuine concern for Rome.