Here are some questions and answers based on Act 1, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”:
Questions and Answers:
1. Who are the main characters present in Act 1, Scene 2?
- Answer: The main characters present in this scene are Julius Caesar, Calpurnia, Mark Antony, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and a Soothsayer.
2. What is the significance of the Feast of Lupercal in this scene?
- Answer: The Feast of Lupercal is significant because it sets the scene for the public gathering where Caesar is warned by the Soothsayer to “Beware the Ides of March.” It’s also a fertility festival, during which Caesar instructs Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her barrenness.
3. How does Cassius try to persuade Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar?
- Answer: Cassius tries to persuade Brutus by appealing to his sense of honor and the well-being of Rome. He points out Caesar’s weaknesses and suggests that Brutus is just as worthy, if not more so, to lead Rome. Cassius also manipulates Brutus by questioning why Caesar should be more important than they are.
4. What is the Soothsayer’s warning to Caesar, and how does Caesar react?
- Answer: The Soothsayer warns Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March.” Caesar reacts dismissively, calling the Soothsayer a dreamer and ignoring the warning.
5. Describe Brutus’s internal conflict as revealed in this scene.
- Answer: Brutus reveals his internal conflict through his conversation with Cassius. He loves Caesar but is worried about his rise to power and the potential threat it poses to Rome. He struggles between his loyalty to Caesar and his duty to Rome.
6. How does Caesar view Cassius, and what does he say about him?
- Answer: Caesar views Cassius with suspicion and distrust. He describes Cassius as having a “lean and hungry look,” which he finds dangerous. Caesar believes that Cassius thinks too much and is therefore not to be trusted.
7. What event does Casca describe, and how does he feel about it?
- Answer: Casca describes the event of Caesar being offered the crown three times by Antony and refusing it each time. Casca feels that Caesar’s refusals were insincere and staged to manipulate the crowd. He is cynical about the whole display and believes it was a way for Caesar to appear humble while actually seeking more power.
8. How does this scene establish the political tension in Rome?
- Answer: This scene establishes political tension through the conversations between the characters. The differing attitudes toward Caesar’s power, the Soothsayer’s warning, and Cassius’s manipulation of Brutus all highlight the underlying unease and potential for conflict in Rome.