Shakespeare Essay

Alexia Michaelidou Read Act 3 scene 1 up to line 95. How does Shakespeare make the assassination a dramatic moment in the text?

The assassination scene is one of the most vital scenes of the entire play, a scene where all the plotting and scheming of Caesars friends is finally put into practice. It is natural, however, that it is one of the most captivating scenes of the entire play. Throughout, Shakespeare has his readers on the edge of their seats. He achieves this using a variety of techniques and skills that writers, hundreds of years later, still try to imitate today. The scene begins with a dialogue between Caesar and the Soothsayer. The opening line is The Ides of March are come. This immediately gives the reader a warning that something bad is about to befall Caesar, as in Act 1 Scene 2, the soothsayer had warned Caesar to beware the Ides of March. Caesar had refused to listen to him, stating that he had nothing to fear. Now that the Ides of March had come, Caesar turned to Soothsayer and stated this, as if to say, I was right, there is nothing to fear. However, such a comforting thought is immediately banished from both Caesar and the readers mind when the Soothsayer says, Ay, Caesar, but not gone. This short dialogue immediately gives the scene an ominous atmosphere. A new character is then introduced into the scene, Artemidorus. Throughout the play, it is obvious that the public always treat Caesar, at least to his face, with a certain amount of respect. They never insist on him doing something he doesnt want to do for fear of being rude. This fact makes it seem all the more strange when the reader encounters the persistence with which Altermidorus tries to convince Caesar to read his letter. When Decius asks Caesar to read his letter, he phrases it in a very polite and indirect way. He says Trebonius doth desire you to oer read, at your best leisure, this his humble suit. This is entirely different to the manner in which Artemidorus speaks to Caesar. He simply says Read it, great Caesar read it instantly. This makes the reader begin to wonder what is so important about that letter that would make a common man be willing to be so forward with Caesar. When Caesar refuses to read it, the looming question of what was in it increases the tension further. As a result of both the dialogue between Caesar and the Soothsayer and the dialogue between Caesar and Artemidorus, the reader now begins to very much suspect that it is in this very scene that the assassination will occur. When Popillius says to Cassius I wish your enterprise today may thrive, the reader begins to fear for the conspirators. Through his use of the noun enterprise, Shakespeare portrays to the reader the fact that there is a chance Popillius knows about the plot. This is further confirmed when Cassius says, I fear our purpose is discovered. Finally, the dramatic factor of the scene is heightened further when Cassius says, If this be known, Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back, for I will slay myself. This declaration outlines to the reader just how serious the situation is. If it were discovered that this group of men are conspiring to kill Caesar before they manage to do so, the

consequences would be immense. This puts the reader in a difficult position. At once, he is now fearful for Caesar but also fearful for the conspirators and thus he becomes very eager to see what happens. However, instead of getting straight to the assassination, Shakespeare inserts a sort of pause in the scene in the form of a dialogue between a common man, Metellus and Caesar. Metellus is begging Caesar to repeal his brothers banishment, however, Caesar refuses, saying I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. This would seem irrelevant to the scene, however, it is here that Brutus and Cassius begin to turn against their friend, supporting Metellus. Brutus says I kiss thy hand, desiring thee that Publius Cimber may have an immediate freedom of repeal. Caesar demonstrates great surprise at this, showing the reader just how much he trusts Brutus to be on his side. Shakespeare shows this shock on Caesars behalf through his answer to Brutus, What, Brutus?. Throughout the play Caesar almost always speaks with long complicated speeches. However, here, he is so shocked that all he can think of to say is what?. This increases the sense of betrayal in the scene, demonstrating the friendship that Caesar wrongly believes he has with Brutus. This prompts from Caesar the statement I am constant as the northern star. He describes how just as the northern star is the only star that forever stays in place in the sky, he is the only man in the world who unassailable holds on his rank, unshaked of motion. His use of this simile to describe his power, to describe how no one can stop him or change his mind, adds a sense of irony to this scene. The fact that Caesar enjoys power too much was one of the reasons the conspirators used to excuse their plots to assassinate him. The fact that Caesar is almost justifying the events that are about to unfold unknowingly adds drama to the scene. The reader beings to wonder; perhaps death is the only way to move Caesar from his will? After the conspirators go on to stab Caesar, Caesars very last line is Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!. This is perhaps one of the most dramatic lines in the entire text. It highlights the intensity of the betrayal Caesar felt. He trusted Brutus so much that the mere fact that he turned against him killed him. The stab wounds may have killed him physically, but it was this betrayal that finally finished him off. This makes the reader feel terribly sorry for Caesar, perhaps for the first time in the play. Cinna then goes on to proclaim Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!. Shakespeares use of the exclamation mark here portrays to the reader the excitement in Cinnas voice, and hence, what an important event what has just happened is for Rome. The reader begins to realize that what just happened could change the future of Rome forever. And finally, before the conspirators are left entirely alone, Brutus says, Let no man abide this deed, but we the doers. This conveys to reader the fact that at that very moment, Brutus felt very responsible for what had happened, but also the fact that did feel a sense of pride. He had just done something

immense for his country. He had just sacrificed his best friend to do what was best for his people.