Julius Caesar · Chapter
Scene II explained
Cassius begins to sway Brutus against Caesar, recounting Caesar's physical weaknesses and the crowd's fickle adoration.
What happens
Cassius begins to sway Brutus against Caesar, recounting Caesar's physical weaknesses and the crowd's fickle adoration. Casca describes how Caesar thrice refused a crown and then fell in a swoon. Cassius resolves to send Brutus forged letters to further turn him against Caesar.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Power
Caesar's public refusal of the crown contrasts with his apparent desire for it, while Cassius argues that Caesar's ambition threatens Roman liberty.
Manipulation and Rhetoric
Cassius skillfully uses rhetoric to plant doubts in Brutus's mind, and plans to use forged letters to further manipulate public perception.
The Mob and Populism
Casca describes the fickle Roman crowd, cheering and hissing at Caesar's actions, illustrating the volatile power of the masses.
Characters to notice
- Marcus Brutus
Brutus is conflicted, expressing love for honor over fear of death, and agrees to consider Cassius's arguments against Caesar.
- Caius Cassius
Cassius manipulates Brutus by recounting Caesar's frailties and planning to send forged letters to stoke Brutus's opposition.
- Julius Caesar
Caesar observes Cassius warily, noting his 'lean and hungry look,' and publicly refuses the crown three times before swooning.
- Casca
Casca provides a blunt, sardonic account of the crown-offering and Caesar's collapse, revealing the crowd's volatile nature.
- Mark Antony
Antony offers the crown to Caesar at the Lupercal and later defends Cassius to Caesar as a noble Roman.
- Calpurnia
Calpurnia is noted as having a pale cheek as Caesar returns from the games, hinting at her anxiety.
Key passages
“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.”
Caesar says Cassius looks thin and hungry, and that men who think too much are dangerous.
Caesar's instinctive distrust of Cassius foreshadows the conspiracy.
“I had as lief not be as live to be in awe of such a thing as I myself.”
Cassius says he would rather not live than live in fear of someone who is no better than himself.
Cassius expresses his resentment of Caesar's elevated status.
“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.”
Cassius says Caesar towers over the world like a giant statue, while ordinary men creep beneath him toward shameful deaths.
Cassius uses vivid imagery to convince Brutus of Caesar's overreaching power.
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
Cassius tells Brutus that their subordination is not due to fate but to their own choices.
Cassius argues for free will and personal responsibility in opposing tyranny.