The Sunday News
Charles Dube
The conspirators desperately wanted the noble Brutus to join their cause hence Cassius tricked Brutus into joining them. He fabricates a petition pretending it is from the angry citizens demanding Caesar’s removal and sends Cinna to throw them in Brutus’ window.
Cassius says: “Be you content Good Cinna, take this paper; And look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this in at his window; set this up with wax upon old Brutus’ statue.” Cassius makes sure that Brutus gets to see those notes. He is confident to win over Brutus as he tells Casca that: “three parts of him is ours already, and the man entire upon the next encounter yields him ours.”
Casca agrees with Cassius. He says Brutus is held in great respect by the people and that which appears a crime in them, his looks, and rich personality will turn into virtue. “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts: And that which would appear offence in us, His countenance; like the richest alchemy, will change to virtue and worthiness.”
This is as if to say that all Brutus touches turns to gold. Cassius concurs with what Casca says of Brutus and he suggests they wake him up and be sure of his support before daybreak.
Brutus is undecided on whether to join the conspiracy to kill Caesar or not. He has a torn conscience hence he is failing to sleep. But he says it has to be by his death, and so far as he is concerned, he knows no reason to disdainfully reject him except for the general good of the people. He is sure Caesar would be crowned king, and he is afraid how that might change his character. He declares that as the main question. He adds it is a bright day that brings the serpent out of its hole to sun itself; similarly it is a sunny day of power that reveals the true character of a man.
It is due to that reason that Brutus says they should walk cautiously. “And that craves wary walking. Crown him? — that: — And then I grant, we put a sting in him. That at his will he may do danger with.” Suppose Caesar is crowned, that might put a sting in him; which might endanger all of them. It is clear from this that Brutus joins the conspiracy not because of what Caesar is, but what he might do. After Brutus has met the conspirators and he has agreed to join them he asks them to give him their hands all over, one by one.
Cassius suggests that they take a vow of their resolution but Brutus strongly objects to that. He says they should not take an oath and goes on to lecture the conspirators saying if men are troubled and their souls tortured, if things around them are abused — if those are so insufficient to bind them together that they have to take an oath, then it would be better that they part immediately, and forget the idea of challenging the tyranny that they have to bear. He suggests they break up and let every man return home to his empty bed.
He adds to this saying they should let tyranny with its arrogant looks go unrestricted in search of its prey till each man has become a victim of its wickedness. “But if these, as I am sure they do, bear fire enough to kindle cowards, and to steel with valour the melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, what need we any spur but our own cause to prick us to redress? That secret Romans, which have spoken the word and will not palter? And what other oath than honesty to honesty engaged,”
According to Brutus there is no need for conspirators to take an oath. Brutus objects to the inclusion of Cicero in the conspiracy despite the fact that the rest see value in him. Cassius says Cicero will back them strongly. Others suggest that they should not leave him out. Metellus says they should have him by all means. His silver hair will get for us a very good opinion, and men will approve their actions. It shall be said that his wisdom inspired their actions. No one will notice the wild youthfulness in their act, for his well-known maturity will shelter them.
But, Brutus is emphatic in his response: “O, name him not; let us not speak with him: For he will never follow anything that other men begin.” Cassius as we shall see as the play progresses gives way to Brutus. Brutus overrules Cassius in most decisions giving credence to the idea that “Cassius is able to start Brutus but fails to regulate him.” Cassius agrees with Brutus saying: “Then leave him out.”
Cassius is grateful to Decius for asking whether no one else should fall with Caesar. Cassius says he thinks Antony cannot outlive Caesar who loves him dearly. Cassius adds that they shall find Antony “a shrewd contriver” — he is a clever schemer and they all know the means at his command. If he decides to use it to his advantage, they would be enough to enable him to harm them considerably. He concludes that Antony and Caesar should fall together.
Brutus overrules Cassius’s opinion saying their actions would appear too bloody. To cut off the head and then cut out the limbs would look as if we killed a man in anger and display their ill-will if they let his friends have the same fate, for Caesar is the head and Antony is but a limb of him. Brutus proves to be a poor judge of character as Mark Antony turns against them teaming with Octavius to defeat the conspirators.
There is doubt as to whether Caesar will come to the Capitol on the day he was to be killed. Cassius says Caesar has grown superstitious of late, contrary to the opinion he once so strongly held about fantasy, dreams and omens.
It might happen that the horror of this night and the persuasion of his sooth-sayers may stop him coming to the Capitol. Decius tells them not to fear that for he could change his mind if he resolves not to come. Decius says Caesar likes to hear that flattery cannot impress him, though right now he is most deceived by flattery since he accepts his words that he is not deceived by flattery like other men.
Decius sets to work upon Caesar; for he could turn his mind to believe what he wishes to believe, thus he will succeed in bringing Caesar to the Capitol. Areas to be considered next time:
How does Portia prove she is worthy to hear the plans of her husband, Brutus? What is the significance of Caesar’s dying words, “Et tu Brute? Then fall Caesar!”? Some other quotations to note: “Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once” “Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods.” Not that I loved Caesar less, and that I loved Rome more.” “This was the noblest Roman of them all.”
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