Brutus in Julius Caesar

Marcus Junius Brutus was one of the senators who conspired against the dictator of Rome, Julius Caesar. Brutus was a noble and honest man. Unlike others in the conspirator group, Brutus’ main aim in the conspiracy was to bring freedom to Rome, instead of his own greediness. This was admitted by Caesar’s friend, Mark Antony:

“This was the noblest Roman of them all.

All the conspirators, save only he,

Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;

He only, in a general honest thought

And common good to all, made one of them.”

When he was first approached by Cassius to become the conspirators’ chief, he did not agree at once, but he took time to reflect it. He did not seek fame, and he was far from ambitious.

“Brutus had rather be a villager,

Than to repute himself a son of Rome”

If he finally agreed to lead the conspiracy, it was for Romans sake, because he felt Caesar had become more ambitious, and this would endanger Rome. Brutus was one of the straight men in Rome—Cicero was the other I have in mind—who really cared about his country’s moral corruption. I don’t think a noble man like Brutus would think about killing others, but he did stabbed Caesar because he thought it ought to be done for Rome. Moreover, Brutus condemned a senator called Lucius Pella for bribery, although Cassius—his friend—defended him. Brutus was not reluctant either to warn Cassius of his greediness.

Brutus was an affectionate husband, and unlike most of Romans at that time, he respected his wife, Portia. He treated her as an equal companion. He shared many things with his wife and had not any objection when Portia suggested things to him; he valued her opinions. Brutus valued a true friendship too. He was sad and disappointed when he was told that Cassius did not welcome Brutus’ man with warm affection as usual.

“When love begins to sicken and decay

It useth an envorced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;

But hollow men, like horse hot at hand,

Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;

But when they should endure the bloody spur,

They fall their crests and like deceitful jades

Sink in the trial.”

Ercole di Roberti, c. 1490
[source]

If Brutus had a weakness, it was that he was too straight and naïve that he did not realized Cassius’ taking advantage of him. When Brutus was weighing whether he should kill Caesar or not, Cassius’ false letters came, and I believe those letters helped Brutus to make decision. Brutus was born as a noble man, but he should have never involved in politics!

If It Be Love Indeed, Tell Me How Much: Antony and Cleopatra - Act I

Scene I – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

Demetrius and Philo—two of Mark Antony’s friends—opened this play by remarking how Mark Antony has completely changed from a great general of Rome to be the love slave of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Mark Antony, who was poised by his love to Cleopatra, even dared to reject a messenger from Rome—whom Cleopatra took as a beckoning from either Fulvia (Antony’s wife) or Octavius the Caesar. All the same, Antony rejected to hear the message, which astonished Demetrius and Philo who thought that as a sign of Antony’s disrespect towards Caesar.

Notes:

* Well, after listening to Mark Antony’s great speech at Julius Caesar’s funeral, now I must admit that Antony has never lost his skill when he was falling in love. Look at his smart replies when Cleopatra asked him to measure his love.

Cleopatra: “If it be love indeed, tell me how much.”

Antony:     “There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned.”

Cleopatra: “I’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved.”

Antony:     “Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.”

He’s still that clever man with the skill of pouring the right words in the right situation, eh?

* I think it’s Mark Antony who was crazy in love with Cleopatra, while Cleopatra was just using Antony.

“Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?

I’ll seem the fool I am not. Antony

Will be himself.”

Scene II – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

This was a funny dialog between Cleopatra’s servants, who were listening to prophecies from a soothsayer. The soothsayer prophesied that a husband would be cheated by his wife, but when Charmian asked the soothsayer to tell about her fortune, came these witty dialog:

Soothsayer: “You shall be yet far fairer than you are.”

Charmian:    (to the others) “He means in flesh.”

Iras:             “No, you shall paint when you are old.”

Charmian:    “Wrinkles forbid!”

Antony finally listened to the messengers (three of them) anyway, who sent bad messages about a Labienus had conquered Asia, and the worst one was the news of Fulvia’s death. Antony realized that he had wasting his time in his lust towards Cleopatra while everything has gone worse. He then decided to leave for Rome. Moreover, Pompey’s son Sextus Pompeius had received more attention from citizens, and Antony knew that they must handle it before Sextus gain more power.

Notes:

* Funnier pieces in this scene:

“Good now, some excellent fortune!

Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon and widow them all.

Let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage.”

A witty-smart piece from the Bard! :) But was ‘Herod of Jewry’ here represented the event of King Herod ordering slaughter of infants in Betlehem to kill the prophesied child who would become the King of Israel? But then, Jesus Christ was born on Tiberius’ reign who was Octavius’ successor; and thus Charmian would not have known about it at that time, right? Oh, whatever it was, that was still funny :)

* Another witty piece of dialog was the one between Enobarbus and Antony. Enobarbus suggested that Antony should be thankful to the god that Fulvia was dead so that he could replace her with Cleopatra. The way Enobarbus using metaphor of cloth was really funny, not to mention what he said about shedding tears!

“Your old smock brings forth a new petticoat;

and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.”

Well, that was very funny! :))

Scene III – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

Cleopatra, who was afraid that Antony would leave him, used old trick of ‘just-go-if-you-don’t-love-me-anymore’ as suggested by Charmian to make Antony stay. Antony determined to leave Egypt, and Cleopatra determined to make Antony stay. At the end, Antony had a better idea, why wouldn’t both of them—for their loves were inseparable—go together to Rome?

Notes:

* This is an interesting ‘battle’ between Antony and Cleopatra, and the winner was… Cleopatra! :) Thanks to Charmian’s advice, Cleopatra played her part very well; she let Antony thought that she did not want to dissuade his leaving, but she was tortured by the thought that Antony would soon forget her. Antony grew impatient at first, but he soon melted on Cleopatra’s ‘heroic sacrifice’, that he ended this act beautifully:

“Our separation so abides and flies

That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,

And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.”

The stage performance of Scene I and II, Timothy Dalton played as Mark Antony

Scene IV – Rome. Caesar’s House

Octavius was furious at Antony’s lustful business at Egypt and his indifference of his tasks in Rome, while Lepidus was more mildly forgave Antony. In the meantime people started to gather around Sextus Pompeius.

Octavius described people’s behavior so well:

“That he which is was wished until he were,

And the ebb’d man, ne’er lov’d till ne’er worth love,

Comes dear’d by being lack’d. This common body,

Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,

Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide

To rot itself with motion.”

But then, it represented all politicians and senators in Rome, right? Won’t you act the same had you weren’t the present Caesar, Octavius?

Two famous pirates, Menecrates and Menas, who were approaching Rome just added the Triumvirs’ headaches; they were preparing for a war.

Scene V – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

I just knew from this play that Cleopatra was also Pompey’s son's lover! (besides Julius Caesar and Mark Antony). Was that really historical?

When Cleopatra said:

“By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth

If thou with Caesar paragon again

My man of men.”

I just wonder whom she regarded as “my man of men”. Of course, it supposed to be Antony, for this play was about him and Cleopatra, but I’m just curious, which one of her two lovers whom she really loved the most. Or both of them were merely her political tools?

Weekend Quote 11: Julius Caesar

From Julius Caesar I learned that Brutus was a loveable and loyal friend. However, it was a bit of ironic that he was sad when his relationship with Cassius grown cold, after what he had done to his other intimate friend: Julius Caesar. Anyway, what Brutus said about friendship is deserves our reflection, because it is so true….

When love begins to sicken and decay, It useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith. But hollow men, like horses hot at hand, Make gallant show and promise of their mettle.

Be careful if one of your friends suddenly changes his/her behavior! :)

This Weekend Quote is hosted by Half-Filled Attic. Feel free to join. You can:

• Give the context of the quote
• Give your opinion whether you agree or disagree with it
• Share your experience related to the quote
• Share similar quotes you remember
• Or anything else. Just have fun with the quote.

Back To The Classics Challenge 2012 – Wrap Up

This is my wrap up for Back To The Classics Challenge 2012 hosted by Sarah.

Any 19th Century Classic -- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Any 20th Century Classic -- Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Reread a classic of your choice -- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

A Classic Play -- A Midsummer Night's Dream -- by William Shakespeare

Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Classic Romance -- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Read a Classic that has been translated from its original language to your language -- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (translated to Bahasa Indonesia)

Classic Award Winner -- Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Pulitzer)

Read a Classic set in a Country that you (realistically speaking) will not visit during your lifetime -- Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

I wrote this post as soon as I have finished all the readings (this is the first challenge I have completed this year), there are many others I still have to complete.. :(

And I’d like to thank Sarah for this challenge, it’s been fun, although I haven’t got the chance to hop to each of other participants posts.

Pearl in The Scarlet Letter: Character Thursday (37)

Little Pearl is one of the most interesting characters I have featured here in Character Thursday. First, she was just a little girl—around seven years old—however she played a major role in The Scarlet Letter. She was Hester Pryne’s daughter, a child that born from adultery.

Just after I finished the book, I realized that Pearl’s most important role is as a mere symbol. Pearl was a product of her parent’s passionate sins, and Hawthorne often used her to criticize or even to point out the moral essence of this story. Throughout the story, Pearl’s character was often preternatural. She was sometimes described as a nymph or elf, and other mystical creatures. Maybe Hawthorne did use her as a symbol, instead of creating a true character, but I prefer to see her as a child.

To me, Pearl’s life from the beginning was not an ordinary one, especially at that era. She grew up without a father, and from her childhood, she was constantly encircled with hatred and loneliness. She lived with her mother in a secluded cottage, and whenever they were strolling on the street, people avoided them. I imagine Pearl often heard how people talked to Hester in condescending tones, without any respect. Pearl might have caught their scrutinizing eyes upon her mother, or—perhaps—even their slightly disgusting looks on her and her mother.

Moreover, Little Pearl did not have any friends to play with. She used to play by herself or with her imagining friends. Children of her age (got examples from their parents) used to throw pebbles to Pearl and her mother while they were passing by neighbors’ houses. In short, those treatments affected Little Pearl much more than Hester. I believe those conditions built the evil or wicked temperament in Pearl. While you were surrounded by negative atmosphere, the same sense will root in your soul too.

However, beyond that, I think Hester’s love had an effect too to Little Pearl. With their solitude life, they had been depending to one another, and they pour their loves to one another, because they had no one else. This soften Pearl’s hear, that sometimes when she was in good mood, she could appear as a little loveable angel. And look what she did when some children were throwing pebbles to Hester, she defended her mother by chasing those bigger kids out of their way. Ha!

And when they left New England, stayed away from negative influences of Puritan’s unfair system, Pearl could finally live a happy normal life. Good for Pearl!

Julius Caesar – Final Review

“Beware the ides of March.” If only Julius Caesar had believed in this prophecy, Shakespeare might have never written this tragedy….

Roman history is one of my favorite interests. I have read several historical fictions with Roman history theme, but so far I have never read about Julius Caesar, or his assassination in particular. Reading this favorite subject of mine as a play, only increased my excitement! This is the second Shakespeare’s play I have ever read, and unlike my first encounter (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), I enjoyed Julius Caesar a lot. Maybe it’s because of the theme, but maybe I fit more with tragedy than comedy.

Gaius Julius Caesar was one of the most successful rulers of Rome; and this play depicted the era of his dictatorship in Rome—while Rome was actually still a Republic. This condition created political envies among senators and aristocracy in the Senate, because Senate was practically muted by Caesar. Caius Cassius was one of the unsatisfied senators. He persuaded a noble man among them who were a close friend to Caesar: Brutus, to join his group of Conspirator. Brutus was so naïve that he was persuaded and agreed to murder Caesar.

The murder scene was great—although I believe the reality was even more horrible than the play’s scene. There were originally around 60 senators who took roles in this assassination, and Caesar died after receiving 23 stabs. What made it more tragic, was Caesar’s last words. He always loved and trusted Brutus, and at first he tried to defend himself despite of his wound; however knowing that Brutus was one of his murderers, he finally surrendered and died. The original murder scene was more brutal I think, because even when Caesar had fell and laid down helplessly, they (60 senators!) continued to stab him. He uttered his last word to Brutus: “Et tu, Bruté?” (You too, Brutus?) before he finally died. This was one of my favorite moments in this tragedy. It was so tragic to know that a person so noble, so honorable that you loved and trusted so much, betrayed you and literally stabbed you. I think for Caesar, the hurt from Brutus’ betrayal was even more than the stabs....

"Et tu, Bruté?"

And what was it all about, actually? Did Roman lower class really suffer at that time under Julius Caesar (the excuse they had given to legitimate the assassination)? No! The first scene in Act I proved that, the workers took a day off and well-dressed to celebrate Caesar’s triumph. So it’s was all about political envies. Cassius was the promoter, but so the rest of the conspirator—well, all except Brutus. Like what Mark Antony later stated:

“This was the noblest Roman of them all.

All the conspirators save only he

Did that they did in envy of great Caesar.

He only in a general honest thought

And common good to all, made one of them.”

Like I have said in Act 5 post, it’s so ironic that Brutus’ (or the Conspirators’) excuse to kill Caesar was to prevent him from transforming the republic into a monarchy, but after that, Rome fell into civil war and finally became a monarchy anyway.

There were also some other ironic misunderstandings or mishaps within the play. When Caesar was on the way to the Senate House, for example, Artemidorus submitted a warning letter—and an exact one—that if Caesar has read it before he arrived at the Senate, well…the story would be altered :), but Caesar refused to read it just because Artemidorus insisted on it. Another irony ‘letters-related’ was false letters Cassius wrote for Brutus. I believe it was those letters that finally convinced Brutus to take action. It was so a child game that you might wonder how a politician could be that naïve (if not stupid) to believe in.

But the biggest ironical scene was perhaps in the battle field when Cassius thought Titinius was captured and murdered by the enemies, while in fact the shouts of joy he heard was of Brutus’ armies who were welcoming Titinius. Cassius just believed what his servant, Pindarus told him, he took it as a truth, and killed himself without re-checking. A politician like Cassius done that, can you believe that? Or, was it merely a guilty feeling?

Another favorite moment of mine was Mark Antony’s oration at Julius Caesar’s funeral. It’s a very clever and wise move from Antony. He knew that he must looked as if he made an allegiance with the conspirator, and he knew he could trusted Brutus on this—once again Brutus made mistake by trusting Antony, poor Brutus…you should never be a politician! So Antony grabbed Brutus’ confidence to perform a funeral oration, and look how he swayed beautifully from praising Brutus and co as noble men to cursing them as brutal murderer of a great man of Julius Caesar! And look how clever he was to tease the citizens by revealing that he had Caesar’s will earlier in the speech, but kept the content only near the end, which convinced the citizens that Caesar was a generous and honorable King who had been murdered by villain conspirators, and that they must take avenge. Well done, Antony!

Five stars I granted to this play, for I was really enjoying every moment of it, and Shakespeare has helped me to vividly imagining the real scenes. Well, I must confess here, that through the play I couldn’t help to imagine the real setting, instead of the play’s setting. I know I should have been concentrating on the play, but I don’t know how my imagination always hops to Rome’s streets, the forum, and even the battle field… :) And at the end, I was thinking….which was the real tragedy in this play? Caesar’s death? Or Brutus’ ? I pick the first, because Caesar was murdered merely because his enemies’ envies, not purely for the sake of Rome; so it was just a political move, not a heroic action. Tragic, yet ironic….

You can also read my thorough analysis of each act: Act I – Act II – Act III – Act IV – Act V

*I read ebook from Gutenberg project*

*with Sparknotes’ No Fear Shakespeare to guide me here and there*

Julius Caesar - Act V

Scene I – The Plains of Philippi

• The two opposite parties met, and after exchanged words and mocks, they began the battle.
• Cassius told Messala that bad signs had appeared in his camp that Cassius perceived as omens.
• Cassius and Brutus discussed about what they’d do if they lost. Brutus disagreed on suicide, but rejecting the idea to be led to Rome as a convict. At that, they exchanged farewells, and out to the battle!

Notes:

* Here Antony and Octavius had different opinion on battle strategy, and I think this was an early sign of the disharmony in their power-sharing in the future. Anyway, Antony made the decision by himself—as if Octavius was his assistant who should obey him—instead of asking his opinion.

Antony:   “Octavius, lead your battle softly on,

                    Upon the left hand of the even field.”

Octavius: “Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left.”

Antony:   “Why do you cross me in this exigent?”

Octavius: “I do not cross you, but I will do so.”

* Here I saw another proof of Mark Antony’s skill on words…

Brutus:    “Words before blows. Is it so, countrymen?”

Octavius: “Not that we love words better, as you do.”

Brutus:    “Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.”

Antony:   “In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.

                    Witness the hole you made in Caesar’s heart,

                    Crying “Long live! Hail, Caesar!”

Oh, I always love words game; and to analyze what they’re really up to is fun. I think Brutus actually preferred to settle matters without fighting, then Octavius sneered at him because Brutus preferred to talk rather than to have real battle. However Antony reminded Brutus of his betrayal, which was unforgiveable, thus the conspirators must be put off once and for all.

Scene II – The field of battle

Brutus’ armies met Octavius’ and at that time Octavius seemed to get weaker, so he and Messala went to the other side of the battle field to help Cassius.

Notes:

* I think I’d prefer to imagine a real battle field (with sounds of battle from afar) than imagining the play performed on stage. :)

Scene III – Another part of the field

• Cassius was left by his soldiers and was retreating—Titinius blamed it to Brutus who had given the order to soon after attacking Octavius. Now Mark Antony has invaded his tents, and his advisors suggested Cassius to run away.
• After seeing fire in the direction of his tent, Cassius sent Titinius to check whether it was friends or enemies’ troops.
• Cassius mistakenly thought Titinius was attacked by enemies as he heard shouts of joy; he was desperate, and instructed Pindarus to take his life. Cassius died.
• Titinius found his master dead, he killed himself too with Cassius’ sword.

Notes:

* So Octavius was right after all, Brutus was indeed not as good in battle as in words…

* Cassius’ death was a bit absurd, he trusted Pindarus’ observation just like that. But I think actually Cassius was haunted by his guilt, because it’s not for Rome he conspired against Caesar, it was his own personal envy. So at certain point he quite expected the loss, so the shouts of joy and Pindarus’ observation just confirmed his conscience, it’s time to end it.

Scene IV – Another part of the field

The battle continued, young Cato was the first victim, killed by enemies’ soldier; while Lucillius bravely claimed himself as Brutus and even bribed the soldiers to kill him at once, but they did not dare to do that. Mark Antony arrived and saw that it was not Brutus; he kept Lucillius as prisoner.

Notes:

* Two thumbs up for Lucillius who bravely praised Brutus:

“Brutus is safe enough.

I dare assure thee that no enemy

Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus.

The gods defend him from so great a shame!

When you do find him, or alive or dead,

He will be found like Brutus, like himself.”

* So, in the end this play was not only about killing the tyranny, but also about guilty. Look how the conspirators met their end, it was perhaps nobleness (like in Brutus’ case), but I tend to think it was actually guilty. They all knew what the price of murdering a man so cruelly (23 stabs!).

Scene V – Another part of the field

Brutus was trying to make his soldiers willing to kill him. He finally asked Strato to do that, considering that they were at the edge of losing the battle. Everyone agreed that Brutus died in honor, and the play ended with the win of Octavius and Mark Antony.

Notes:

* I think it’s ironic that Brutus agreed to murder Caesar to prevent the Republic turned into monarchy, but after Caesar’s death, the Republic finally turned into monarchy under Octavius. Well, Republic or monarchy, people are always greedy. But without that, we may not enjoy this tragedy from the Bard! :)