‘The Tragedy of Julius Caesar’ Act One – “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus…”

‘The Tragedy of Julius Caesar’ Act One – “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus…”

“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world

Like a Colossus, and we petty men

Walk under his huge legs and peep about

To find ourselves dishonourable graves.”

There are many reasons why Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Julius Caesar’ is a great play. It is a very innovative play which does not shy away from plot complications but conversely embraces the cheap thrills of deaths, blood, gore and omens. It was written and performed probably in 1599 and was probably performed in the newly built Globe Theatre. It is a wonderful mix of tragedy and historical drama. The death of Julius Caesar occurs early in the play and it builds towards the Act Five climax where Cassius dies when he orders his own servant to kill him. On a macro level, the play centres around the attempt of Cassius and others to keep the Republic of Rome from becoming an Empire. The play is set in 44BC and has two protagonists (Brutus and Cassius) and two antagonists (Anthony and Octavius). Although the play shifts its perspective many times, the most sustained perspective on the events that unfold is that of Brutus who eventually kills himself with his own sword.

The play opens in a street in Rome where the tribunes, Flavius and Murellus, try to control crowds who want to celebrate while watching Caesar’s victory procession through Rome after his recent defeat of Pompey. They want the workmen to return to work and they discuss how Caesar’s victory does not even deserve a triumph because it did not involve conquering any foreign lands. They disperse the crowds and try to mitigate the frenzied support for Julius Caesar arguing that:

“These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing

Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,

Who else would soar above the view of men

And keep us all in servile fearfulness.”

Then Shakespeare has the legendary Caesar enter with Antony, Calpurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius and Casca. He is initially portrayed as both a majestic but slightly vain figure. They encounter a Soothsayer along the way who utters the now famous words of warning to Caesar for him to “Beware the ides of March.” Antony is asked by Caesar to touch Caesar’s wife Calpurnia before he does the ceremonial run as superstition deems that this will cure barrenness in a woman. Caesar moves off with the procession and Brutus and Cassius linger and talk.

When questioned by Cassius why Brutus has seemed distant of late, Brutus reveals that his mind has been at war with itself. Cassius reminds Brutus of how highly respected he is. When they hear people shouting they fear that the common people want to make Caesar their king. Brutus shows reservations even though he loves Caesar. Cassius points out that “I was born as free as Caesar, so were you.” Cassius also points out Caesar’s predisposition to fits and seizures. Cassius points out that Caesar should not be treated like a God. Brutus agrees to meet with Cassius to discuss ideas surrounding Caesar. Caesar and the others re-enter and he makes some comments regarding his mistrust of Cassius because Cassius thinks and reads too much as does not indulge himself in plays and music.  

“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;

He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.”

Caesar reinforces his mistrust of Cassius directly to Anthony. Caesar and his entourage then exit.

After Caesar departs, Brutus and Cassius ask Casca what happened with the procession and the crowd and Casca relates how Antony three times offered a crown to Caesar but he refused the crown and eventually fell into a fit (an epileptic fit) near the end.

Alone, Cassius reveals that although he thinks Brutus noble, he hopes that Brutus can be seduced to join the fight against Caesar. Cassius decides to write fake documents showing popular support for Brutus and intends to throw these documents into Brutus house that very night.

Soon after, Casca and Cicero meet and discuss a number of strange natural phenomenon which seem to be bad omens. Casca finally declares: “Indeed it is a strange-disposèd time…” Then Cicero, warns that he feels that it is not a good time for Caesar to be outside for too long.

Cassius enters and Casca and him discuss the perilous state that the government seems in. Cassius uses an analogy to compare this “dreadful night” with Caesar himself. Casca then expresses the view that the senate plans to make Caesar kign the very next day. In response, Cassius draws his dagger and declares that he has ways to control a tyrant such as Caesar. We see Cassius embrace what Casca calls “…the part of men to fear and tremble…” as his plot unfolds. Then a co-conspirator called Cinna appears and Cassius reveals that getting Brutus on board will be the key part of the plan to stop Caesar. He talks to Cinna and tells him: “

“… good Cinna, take this paper,

And look you lay it in the praetor's chair,

Where Brutus may but find it…

See Brutus at his house: three parts of him

Is ours already, and the man entire

Upon the next encounter yields him ours…

His countenance, like richest alchemy,

Will change to virtue and to worthiness.”