Thursday, March 8, 2012
Periods 8&9: Unanswered Questions for Acts I & II
Our class time is short. There many questions and insights that result from classwork and homework. I don't want your ideas to go unnoticed.
Your task:
1. Review your notes and annotations from Acts I & II.
What questions remain unanswered? Are you confused about the events of a particular scene? The meaning of a particular line? Maybe there's a word and you just can't find a definition that makes sense in context.
Or...
Share one of those "Ah-HA!" moments. Maybe there was a passage you couldn't make sense of. You came back to it. You reread those lines. You read those lines again. And again. You went to your dictionary. But the events still weren't clear. So you wrote out a question and...Ah-HA! It clicked. And you understand this passage in a whole new way. Tell us about your insight.
2. Click on the comments link below this post. Read through the questions and comments of your classmates. Post your questions and insights, with the relevant line notations (for ex: II.ii.999).
3. Comment on another student's comment. Click on reply directly under the student's comment.
IMPORTANT: Make sure your commenting on the right post. This post is for the morning class, periods 8 & 9.
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Throughout act 1 and act 2, why are Cassius, Marullus, and Flavius trying to convince Brutus to kill Ceasar. Why do they need him so much? Also, if Brutus is aware of this plan, why doesn't he wanr Ceasar?
ReplyDelete-----------I think that the senators need to convince Brutus because Brutus is somewhat on their plans already. He might decide to reveal what happened. Also, Brutus is Caesar's best friend. Having him on their side will probably justify their reason for killing Caesar. They'll feel that it is evil for Caesar to have too much power which leads them to kill him. It is too dangerous that even Brutus agrees with them.
Delete-----------It's not that Brutus doesn't want Caesar. I think that Brutus is worried that this plan might go wrong or that the public might disagree with the senators. He's also worried about betraying his friend who trusted him so much. Brutus is divided between loyalties.
Shusmita Roy
DeleteI agree with Shelly. To me, Brutus was having an internal battle.
I thought Brutus had no personal reasons to betray Caesar. However, he did believe that the end of his rule would be more beneficial to Rome. To my understanding, he saw this act as a civil duty.
DeleteIn my opinion , that was Cassius playing with Brutus's beliefs and making Brutus think of Caesar as a crooked man
DeleteI believe that acquiring Brutus was the most important part of the entire operation. Brutus was one of Caesar's closest friends; Caesar never would have thought that he was a threat, and would leave his guard down when near him.
DeleteAlso, as Shelly said, Brutus was divided between loyalties:
Help my friend, or help the rest of Greece?
*Rome
DeleteI believe that Brutus was a key factor in playing a part in Caesar's death. Being one of Caesar's best friends, and a powerful and influential senator, him being on the side of the conspirators would make their reason for killing Caesar seem legitimate. Also, Caesar would have never seen his death coming from his best friend, Brutus. Having Brutus was very important for Caesar's death.
Delete1. Maybe it's me but does anyone think that Caesar's a fool for not even paying a ounce of attention to all the omens, all the dreams, and the mojo going around? If he hadn't been such a bozo and listened to the soothsayer or at least his wife, maybe he wouldn't had died. WOW, maybe he could've became the first emperor... (act 2, scene 2)
ReplyDelete2. Why did Shakespeare choose to give Portia a role (or maybe some lines) in this play? Does he plan to encourage the fact that women have importance in this play? (act 2 scene 1)
3. Whose side should we be on? Is Cassius just a jealous man or is Caesar a wicked, conniving person, as Cassius say he is?
4. Which side exactly does Cicero support?
5. Why didn't the senators kill Octavius (future Augustus)? Aren't they worried that he might decide to avenge Caesar? Aren't they worried about him becoming emperor?
Shusmita Roy
Delete@ Q1) I thought Caesar was a fool too. I was thinking why was Caesar oblivious to all these strange signs, especially the obvious one with the soothsayer?
@ Q2) Well, Roman women had social status nearly equal as men, but I have a similar question as this.
@ Q3) I would be on Caesar side since he didn't do anything that harmed the public. I think Cassius was a jealous man since Caesar had too much popular and he didn't.
@ Q4) Cicero wouldn't be on Brutus's side because in Act 2, page 61, lines 162-164, Brutus said that Cicero would not follow anything that other men started.
@ Q5) They probably didn't want their mission to look too bloody or it would seen like they were trying to murder Caesar for their own personal means. If they killed Octavius what reasons would they give to the public for killing Octavius?
I agree with you when you say that Caesar was a complete fool; there were so many signs that he was completely unaware of; his distant and confused friend, the soothsayer's prediction, Calpurnia's pleading. If he had simply acknowledged these warnings and delayed his visit for a even one day, the entire history of the event might have been completely changed.
DeleteThat's the fun of the story, spectating the events,and constantly getting angry at how stupid someone in the story is being, even though our anger doesn't change the events of a story that was written ages ago. This to me, all adds up to a fun story.
DeleteShusmita Roy
ReplyDelete1. Why does Antony have so much loyalty towards Caesar whereas Cicero and others dislike Caesar? Why didn't Antony feel that Caesar is wicked like other nobles do? (Act 1 page 13)
2. What is the message Shakespeare is trying to show with Cassius's interpretations of the strange storm that is contrasting with that of Casca's? (Act 1 pg 37-19)
3. What could Caesar have done to appeal to the elected officials like Marullus and Flavius and the nobles?
4. What ideal of Brutus did Cassius needed to appeal to convince Brutus to betray Caesar? (Act 1 pg. 45)
5. If Cassius won't be able to convince Brutus to betray Caesar, would the murder plan be successful? (Act 1 pg. 45)
6. Why did Brutus believe the letter and decided to betray Caesar? Didn't it occur to him that he could have been tricked by Cassius? (Act 1 pg. 53)
7) What role do women play in Act 2? As obstacles? As warnings?
Hello!!!!!! I had an AH-HA moment after going over my annotations. Our table was having a discussion about Marullus's words on page 9. We believed that Marullus saw the common-people as ignorant. He wondered why people were celebrating Caesar's return. He thought that people were misguided and didn't realize that there was no reason to celebrate. When our group reread the line "...to grace in captive bonds..." my mind immediately thought of Plato's parable of the cave. I thought about how the men were ignorant (to Marullus) and how ignorant men were portrayed as captive men who knew nothing besides shadows. Although I realize that this probably wasn't the intended meaning, it was a nice thought which was entertaining yet insightful.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 2 pgs. 61-63, why does Cassius want Mark Antony and Caesar to die and why does Cassius fear Mark Antony?
ReplyDeleteCaesar is fond of Antony and Cassius did mention that Antony is a dangerous plotter, so when they kill Caesar, Cassius probably feared that Antony will plan to kill them. Also, according to Cassius, Antony has good connections, which means Antony can put them to good use. This might be enough to hurt Cassius, Brutus, and the others.
Deletethats interesting because in act 3 antony turns the crowd against the conspirators; Cassius, Brutus, and the others. It is as if Shakespeare was foreshadowing.
DeleteI agree with Daniel, I was also confused about that part
DeleteI don't see the reason behind fearing Mark Antony as well.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 1 Scene 2 line 55-56,what does Cassius mean by "By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations?" and what was his intention in saying these two lines?
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure but I believe that he is referring to how there are hidden or "buried" noble thoughts in Brutus which he mistakenly didn't realize. He may be trying to say that he never really understood him.
DeleteQuestions for Act 1 and Act 2
ReplyDelete1) Why is Caesar so oblivious and ignore the warning?If he didn't ignore it, would he get killed anyway?
2) Did Caesar do anything specific to them that made them hate him? Or all they all just jealous?
3) Does Antony hate Caesar and just pretending to be on Caesars side like everyone else in the play?
4)Does Brutus really want to kill Caesar? Or is he just agreeing with Cassius so he wouldn't be killed?
@ Q1) Nobody knows what could have happened, but it is likely that this story would have turned out very differently.
Delete@ Q2) Caesar was ambitious and popular, and he was quickly gaining power; others grew jealous that they were losing power and popularity.
@ Q4) Brutus did not want to kill Caesar, but he agreed to help because he believed that it would be beneficial to Rome.
DeleteQuestions for Act 1 and Act 2
ReplyDelete1) I didn't really understand why Portia was in the play. I understand that the Roman women had equal rights but was Shakespeare trying to portray this idea?
2)I also had the same question as Angela. Did Brutus want to kill Caesar or did he just go along with the plan in order for his survival?
3) In Act 1, Scene 1 line 13, is bad soles used as a pun for bad souls? "A trade sir, that, I hope, may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles."
4)Who exactly is the protagonist in this play? Is it Caesar or is it Brutus?
1) Portia, I think, served as a person who can serve as another way to introduce Brutus' internal conflicts by presenting him with a situation where he is torn between his beliefs of the Republic and the love of his wife.
Delete2) Brutus did want to kill Caesar but not out of hate. Instead, he did it in order to preserve the Republic.
3)I'm not sure but it seems as if the cobbler is describing the types of soles he gets to work with.
4) It is Brutus in a way as he exemplifies most of the traits of a tragic hero, unlike Caesar who dies half-way through the play and has less lines than Brutus, the latter is a good indication of who is the hero of a play usually.
I think that Portia was in the play to show why Brutus was so troubled. He was having an internal conflict with himself. Not being able to share his pain with his wife showed that it was really bothering him, and he felt guilty about it. Also, when we find out that Portia dies, I notice that Cassius is MUCH more troubled about this than Brutus is. This is what still confuses me. I also believe that Brutus did want to kill Caesar, but not for power like Cassius. Brutus believed that Caesar threatened the Republic. Cassius just hated Caesar, plain out.
DeleteZackary,
DeleteI have the same confusion about Brutus' relationship to Portia, and in my reading of the play, Cassius is much more sympathetic here. The performances of Julius Caesar have different takes on this. In the Mankiewicz film, Brutus seems devastated. But in the BBC radio play, Brutus seems very matter-of-fact.
Mr. Shellhase
1) Does Brutus really want to kill Caesar or was he pressured into the plan by seeing all the people he knew that Cassius recruited and thinks he wants to?
ReplyDelete2) Why is Antony the only one that doesn't want to kill Caesar?
For your first question, I feel Brutus was partially pressured, but there was also the fact that these senators were truly worried for the Roman Republic, and would do anything to preserve it.
DeleteFor your second question, we don't know if Antony was the only person who didn't want Caesar to die. He did have family and Cleopatra that he had a child with, so I am not sure that everyone but Antony wanted to kill him
I really don't like Brutus. Hes so.....fishy and annoying. My question is: Who really has the intention to kill Caesar, Cassius or Brutus? With all of this strange diction and syntax I really find it hard to understand how the characters may feel sometimes. Please help me.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was Cassius; as the text suggests, Brutus was very unsure of whether to follow his heart or Cassius' plan. Cassius, on the other hand, was employing sophisticated and well-thought tactics to persuade Brutus. The mere fact that he went after Brutus, one of Caesar's closest friends, illustrates his determination to assassinate Brutus.
DeleteAlso, the fishy/annoying description is most likely because he simply has no idea where his loyalties should lie.
I agree with DArwin Edwards because at the beginning of the play when Cassius is talking to Brutus about Caesar being king it seems as if he has everything planned out.
Delete1) Was Artemidorus going to get in trouble for warning Caesar about the assassination?
ReplyDelete2) What was Portia's role in Act 2, Scene 4? I was looking through the rest of the book and saw that was the only place where she really talked so I didn't understand why Shakespeare would add her in for just a small part.
3) Why was Caesar not worried about what was going to happen and not take Calphurnia's warnings into consideration? Did he really not realize that something was being planned against him?
1) Why does Caesar refuse to take the crown three times? Did he refuse the crown because he was being modest or trying to please the crowd? (Act1, page 27)
ReplyDelete2) Why doesn't Brutus question the letters that appeared in his house? Wouldn't it be suspicious how a letter appeared out of nowhere? (Act 2, Scene 1)
3) Why is Brutus unable to tell Portia about his conspiracy against Caesar? (Act 2, page 69)
4) What role does Portia and Calphurnia portray in Act 2?
1. What does Brutus mean when he says Caesar has the “falling sickness?
ReplyDelete2. What reason does Brutus give Cassius for his coolness towards him?
3. Is Brutus saying he really wants to kill Caesar or is he saying it us to go along with the conspirators and later betray them?
Can you provide the lines for Q#1?
Delete@ Q3) I believe that he did not want to kill Caesar, but he choose to do so because he wanted to do it for the benefit of Rome.
1-Why didn't Caesar take the crown??(p.27,line 230-235)
ReplyDelete2- Is Antony really on Caesar's side, or his he a two-face like the rest of them?
Some of my questions would be if Caesar was acting out of pride or just purposely disregarding everyone's warnings of his death. It especially surprises me because back then they were very superstitious.
ReplyDeleteHere's a super late post, but I was told commenting would get a grade above 0.
ReplyDelete._____.
Questions.
- Why would Caesar ignore such an obvious warning about his death?
- Why was Brutus so unwilling to tell his wife about what was bothering him?
Indeed, I agree with Kaitlyn.
ReplyDeleteSome questions I had were why did Brutus have to participate? Why couldn't the rest of them just kill Caesar and take control themselves?