Please review the directions from the previous post on "Unanswered Questions." Your task is the same: post questions or Ah-HA! momments and comment on another student's post.
I doubt Caesar died on the foot of Pompeys statue, but what was the reason Shakespeare decided to include this in his play? Did he want to show Caesar was wrong in killing Pompey, and he got what he deserved, or....??
Shakespeare included this mostly for dramatic purposes. Many of the people attending the plays were wealthy aristocrats, which meant they were educated. This meant that if he included this, many would see the irony that had just occurred. This display of situational irony seems to show that Caesar's road to power, riddled with victories over people who wanted power like him, such as Pompey, eventually ended in him dying in front of the statue that honored the man he defeated; his victory over Pompey was also one of the reasons that Caesar was named dictator for life, as he won a civil war between his own army and Pompey's army.
I agree with Mir that Shakespeare included this mostly for dramatic purposes. I also like to point out that Caesar indeed died at the foot of a statue of Pompey (referring to the packet Ms. Rowley gave us.)
I agree with Shushmita that it this coincidence did occur, though it sounds to dramatic to be true. I think that Shakespeare included this to show that irony, and in some way to show that what goes around comes around.
It was something Shakespeare did, as i recall from class. I believe that Shakespeare did this third person speaking so the people in the audience would be able to know who is speaking. The people watching this play in the audience will not have the script.
Adding on to what Jeffrey said, I think that is true. At first I thought he just did it to show emphasis on how important they were but it could be for both reasons.
I think it is something Caesar did, because in the Gallic War excerpt from the Roman Packet, Caesar talks in the third person to make the piece appear objective. Although Shakespeare uses it in the play to show who is speaking and how Caesar views himself, I think at least Caesar spoke in 3rd person during the Roman era.
Adding on to what everyone was saying, I think its something that Shakespeare's using. I remember Mr. Shellhase saying that Shakespeare does this because the audience is unaware of who is who, so they need to speak in 3rd person so that audience is aware of who is actually speaking, because they don't have the scenes in front of them, like we do.
I agree with everyone,I think it was something Shakespeare did and also to show the importance of someone. For example, if you were high in rank, you would talk in third person and use words such as "thy" to others.
The fact that Cinna was killed only because of the fact that he had the same name as Cinna the conspirator makes me wonder if they would ever go into detail about crimes before killing the person who is supposedly "guilty." Did they?
I think the fact that Shakespeare included the part you mentioned was to sort of show the type of chaos that erupted after Caesar's murder. From my interpretation of this, I assume that Shakespeare didn't need to go in detail as he just showed how chaotic Rome was as anyone was suspected to be a conspirator, just by the fact that they had the same name made this justifiable.
^ I agree with Mir. Everyone was probably so panicked that they picked the first person that seemed to be part of the conspirators. And since Cinna had the same name as the conspirator, he just got the blame and got killed. Shakespeare probably did this for dramatic purposes, too.
I agree with both Angela and Mir. It also shows how the towns people were so quick to react to a problem. They were easily persuaded by a good orator. Mir chose the right words by describing Rome as chaotic
I believe that Shakespeare wanted to respect the death of Caesar by not changing the last words he said before dying. Shakespeare may have also wanted to make the death of Caesar more dramtic.
This was mostly for dramatic effect as many historians debate as to what Caesar actually said when he was murdered. If it's blurred now with our understanding of history, I'm guessing Shakespeare didn't have a clear idea as to what Caesar actually said. Some of the transliterated Greek texts of accounts of the actual event show that Caesar may have actually said Kai su, teknon?, or "You too, my child?"
I agree with everyone above. Perhaps these lasts few words of Caesar was so important, and it showed some time of respect to keep in it his native tounge.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.thorns/theory/symbolism.pdf This pdf. file i found shows some symbols commonly used in literature, such as the symbol of blood. The interesting thing about this is the fact that it uses the Christian meaning of Christ's blood, sacrifice, forgiveness, death. My question is how can these meanings be fit into this play? Besides death, I can see sacrifice as the conspirators need to "sacrifice" Caesar for the integrity of the Republic. Forgiveness can be used for Brutus' and Mark Antony's need for forgiveness; in Antony's case by the fact that he even shook hands with the conspirators and in Brutus' case in that he just killed a friend.
-What is the significance of smearing an enemy's blood on your hands? Did Roman generals and their army actually do this? (Act 3 Scene 1 line 120). -According to lines 162-173, did Antony truly love and care Caesar in real life? If he did, i find it pretty ironic that he went after Cleopatra...the same woman Caesar loved. -pg. 135 What could Brutus have done to make his speech more appealing than Antony's speech? -pg. 137 Were the plebeians that easily convinced in real life in ancient Rome by Antony's speech? -pg. 125 Did Antony really find the will or did he make it himself?
Keep in mind that society didn't have the same views in Caesar's time as it does now. Just because "cheating" is frowned upon in our time, it doesn't mean that the same applies for the society during that time.
-We all knew that the plebeians went after the senators and that Antony was a great public person. So it was most likely that they were easily convinced. Also, they were already honoring Caesar.
"The power of love" It wasn't really ironic though. Cleopatra was seducing Antony and he just fell to her whims, I guess.
I think that smearing the enemy's blood on their hands was a gesture of superiority; you are the greater person, so you have earned the right to dehumanize those who you have defeated.
Page 107, lines 201 to 230, why did Antony been speaking in a calm tone and decides to have positive names (such as good Trebonius) for the conspirator as he asks to shake their hands?
Probably to mask his anger and his emotions for vengeance so that the conspirators wouldn't seen him that much as a threat, especially Brutus. Brutus is going to make a speech to plebeians, and if Antony had fully expressed his anger, Brutus might have made a better speech to win the plebeian's side.
Plus, Antony was standing among a group of men who had just committed a cold-blooded murder in front of him, he most likely also did this for the fear of his own life being taken.
Going along with what Shusmita and Mir said, it was probably because he had to gain their trust. Because in the end, he actually did gain Brutus' trust in a way because Brutus allowed Antony to speak in the funeral service of Caesar. This was very important for Antony because it turned the crowds of people against Brutus and the other conspirators, resulting in their downfall.
On pg. 117 Act 3 scene 2, when Brutus was addresing the crowd about Caesar's death did he tell the crowd who killed him because to me it sounds like he is the one who killed Caesar?
WHEN HE WAS ADDRSING THE CROWD, HE WAS TELLING THAT THE CONSPIURATORS KILLED IM, AND HE MADE IT SEEM AS IF HE WAS PART OF THE CONSPIRACY, WHICH HE WAS.
Why does Antony agree to Brutus's order to not blame Brutus and Cassius during his speech for Caesar's funeral even though Caesar was Antony's good friend? — pages 111-112
Antony probably agreed to Brutus's order because if he didn't, then the conspirators would be against him and his life would be in danger. Also, Brutus would have never let Antony speak in Caesar's funeral if he knew that Antony was going to make a speech that would make the crowd go against the conspirators.
--------Why would Brutus be so hesitant in everything and when it came to Antony’s speech, he didn’t realize its effects? --------Which speech had more effect on the class? Brutus or Antony? --------Why was Octavian nowhere in sight at the time of the scene (Assassination)?
I think that Brutus was so hesitant because in mind he probably still felt guilt for killing the person that loved him. He probably didn't think that much about Antony's speech and its effects for two points. 1. He didn't know that Antony's rhetoric could be so powerful and moving. 2. He himself probably would've done the same thing that Antony said that he was going to do which was to commemorate Caesar and share the memories and talk about his positive attributes.
In Antony's speech, why does he keep saying "But Brutus says he was an ambitious and Brutus is an honorable man"? Is he being sarcastic? (page 123) Who is Publius Cimber? What did he do that had him banished? (page 97)
I think Antony is being sarcastic because in the line,
"You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And, sure, he is an honorable man."
After mentioning that Caesar refused the crown thrice, Antony asked if this was ambitious (it obviously was not an ambitious move by Caesar). This basically shows that Antony disagreed with Brutus and was sarcastic when he called Brutus an "honorable man".
It is a form of repetition in which Antony tries to show the plebians that Caesar was not ambitious and that Brutus is just lying. I do not know who Publius Cimber is or why he is banned
2) The language was latin, the language Caesar actually spoke. The reason for not including the lines in english was to preserve the last words of Caesar and to emphasize Caesars hurt and feeling of betrayal.
I agree with Daniel, it just wouldn't have the same effect if it was translated to English,this technique, as I am calling it is found in many movies, I just can't think of one right now.......
In Act 3 Scene 1 Page 111, why does Brutus allow Mark Antony to take such a big part in Caesar's funeral while knowing that Antony and Caesar were close friends?
1) Why do the conspirators dip their hands in Caesar's blood? 2) Why did Brutus easily let Antony have the body when Cassius already warned him that he should not be trusted?
2) Brutus probably let Antony have Caesar's body because he didn't think Antony was plotting anything against them at the moment. He also may have been feeling guilty over murdering Caesar in the first place, and adding on to that was Antony being extremely distressed over the death of his close friend. Brutus may have decided that they took enough away from Antony by murdering his friend and that they should just let him grieve.
I totally agree with what Kaitlyn said. Also, I think that they dipped their hands into the blood of Caesar because I remember when they were meeting at Brutus's house and he was talking about how they wanted to kill Caesar boldly and almost wanted to respect him when they killed him. Having that in mind, I think that dipping one's hand into the blood of someone that you killed is almost symbolic and like venerating that person. On the flip side, I think that they may have dipped their hands into his blood because it may show triumph over your enemy. Also I think that Shakespeare may have included it in just to be dramatic.
Some questions of mine have to be: -Why did the conspirators have to wash their hands in Caesar's blood. Was this something that symbolized defeat perhaps? -Why did Antony shake hands with these men after they did this? Couldn't he have possibly gotten their trust another way?
Umm...I think that he shook their hands because it was probably a DEEP sign of respect and coordination. Remember, we see them shake hand when the conspirators are meeting at Brutus's house that other night when they plotted to kill Caesar. I think that the best way to convince these fools was to shake their hands because back then was the most legit way of getting someones trust and cooperation.
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.
I think he was acting out of pride because he even disowned hos wife, Calphurnia's, cry to stay home and the message from the priests doing the sacrificed over Decius Brutus. It showed to me a sort of sexist side of Caesar because of how he disowned his wife's cry over hos work with other men.
Being that he is a bit of "self-centered" person, I feel that Caesar was disregarding everyone's warnings warning of his death. Maybe he feels himself to be godly.
True, but because Shakespeare did this, the story is a lot better this way, it is common in many books and movies today, how the protagonist is completely unaware of what is going to happen, but everyone who is reading or watching the movies is screaming at the tv telling him not to go in the basement- as Ms. Rowley said in class. Think about it, if Caesar had suspicions about Brutus, and realized what was going to happen to him, the story wouldn't have been as great as it is.
What I really want to know is: Why did the Conspirators even announce that they killed Caesar? It doesn't really make much sense. If you killed someone, you KILLED someone. I think they should've kept it a secret because they didnt have forensics and DNA fingerprinting like today. They barely had anyone really smart enough to find the killers and then be able to prove that they had killed Caesar. Stupid move on the conspirators
I was wondering about what the washing of the blood symbolized? For example, when someone was killed, the defeated head was shipped to the defeater. Was this anything like it?
I believe that because he was fooled by Anthony. Anthony approached him as him as a person who wasn't against him. Also Brutus probably thought that Anthony was in grief due to Caesars death. Anthony was one of the people closest to Caesar. Since Anthony didn't seem like a threat I suppose that Brutus allowed him.
I doubt that it was a norm. I believe that, to them, it symbolized salvation. Also, many conspirators had personal reasons to kill Caesar. Disrespecting his corpse (which, as we learned, is very sacred) greatly disrespects him.
Really sorry for the late reply, but apparently my computer glitched and never posted the question...
Would Rome have fluorished and remained stable, had Caesar avoided assasination? We could be looking at an entirely different story if Caesar had missed the meeting due to an injury or some other obstacle...
I believe that Rome would have flourished if Caesar was alive. After his death, there were power struggles through civil wars. However, I believe that if he had missed the meeting the conspirators would have killed him another way.
Why was Brutus telling the conspirators to stay put and not to celebrate after killing Caesar. Wasn't he supposed to be celebrating Caesars death like the others?
To my understanding, Brutus killed Caesar for Rome not for personal reasons. He did, however, respect Caesar but just felt that Rome would be better w/o him. Maybe he didn't want to celebrate because he did feel a sense of loss. Also, their main point was to protect the republic, so the preservation of the republic should be celebrated, not the death of Caesar.
I doubt Caesar died on the foot of Pompeys statue, but what was the reason Shakespeare decided to include this in his play? Did he want to show Caesar was wrong in killing Pompey, and he got what he deserved, or....??
ReplyDeleteShakespeare included this mostly for dramatic purposes. Many of the people attending the plays were wealthy aristocrats, which meant they were educated. This meant that if he included this, many would see the irony that had just occurred. This display of situational irony seems to show that Caesar's road to power, riddled with victories over people who wanted power like him, such as Pompey, eventually ended in him dying in front of the statue that honored the man he defeated; his victory over Pompey was also one of the reasons that Caesar was named dictator for life, as he won a civil war between his own army and Pompey's army.
DeleteI agree with Mir that Shakespeare included this mostly for dramatic purposes. I also like to point out that Caesar indeed died at the foot of a statue of Pompey (referring to the packet Ms. Rowley gave us.)
DeleteI agree with Shushmita that it this coincidence did occur, though it sounds to dramatic to be true. I think that Shakespeare included this to show that irony, and in some way to show that what goes around comes around.
DeleteDid everyone during Caesar's time actually go around speaking in the third person all the time or was that just something Shakespeare did?
ReplyDeleteIt was something Shakespeare did, as i recall from class. I believe that Shakespeare did this third person speaking so the people in the audience would be able to know who is speaking. The people watching this play in the audience will not have the script.
DeleteAdding on to what Jeffrey said, I think that is true. At first I thought he just did it to show emphasis on how important they were but it could be for both reasons.
DeleteI think it is something Caesar did, because in the Gallic War excerpt from the Roman Packet, Caesar talks in the third person to make the piece appear objective. Although Shakespeare uses it in the play to show who is speaking and how Caesar views himself, I think at least Caesar spoke in 3rd person during the Roman era.
DeleteAdding on to what everyone was saying, I think its something that Shakespeare's using. I remember Mr. Shellhase saying that Shakespeare does this because the audience is unaware of who is who, so they need to speak in 3rd person so that audience is aware of who is actually speaking, because they don't have the scenes in front of them, like we do.
DeleteI agree with everyone,I think it was something Shakespeare did and also to show the importance of someone. For example, if you were high in rank, you would talk in third person and use words such as "thy" to others.
DeleteThe fact that Cinna was killed only because of the fact that he had the same name as Cinna the conspirator makes me wonder if they would ever go into detail about crimes before killing the person who is supposedly "guilty." Did they?
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that Shakespeare included the part you mentioned was to sort of show the type of chaos that erupted after Caesar's murder. From my interpretation of this, I assume that Shakespeare didn't need to go in detail as he just showed how chaotic Rome was as anyone was suspected to be a conspirator, just by the fact that they had the same name made this justifiable.
Delete^ I agree with Mir. Everyone was probably so panicked that they picked the first person that seemed to be part of the conspirators. And since Cinna had the same name as the conspirator, he just got the blame and got killed. Shakespeare probably did this for dramatic purposes, too.
DeleteI agree with both Angela and Mir. It also shows how the towns people were so quick to react to a problem. They were easily persuaded by a good orator. Mir chose the right words by describing Rome as chaotic
DeleteI personally thought it was a sort of comedic entry by Shakespeare but also foreshadowed what would happen to all of the conspirators
DeleteRight before Caesar is killed, why does Shakespeare decide to make Caesar speak in Latin (Et tu, Brute?) instead of English (and thou, Brutus)?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Shakespeare wanted to respect the death of Caesar by not changing the last words he said before dying. Shakespeare may have also wanted to make the death of Caesar more dramtic.
DeleteThis was mostly for dramatic effect as many historians debate as to what Caesar actually said when he was murdered. If it's blurred now with our understanding of history, I'm guessing Shakespeare didn't have a clear idea as to what Caesar actually said. Some of the transliterated Greek texts of accounts of the actual event show that Caesar may have actually said Kai su, teknon?, or "You too, my child?"
DeleteMaybe since that was Caesar's last line in real life, Shakespeare probably want to show what Caesar exactly said as a "memento" for the audience.
DeleteI agree with everyone above. Perhaps these lasts few words of Caesar was so important, and it showed some time of respect to keep in it his native tounge.
Deletehttp://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.thorns/theory/symbolism.pdf
ReplyDeleteThis pdf. file i found shows some symbols commonly used in literature, such as the symbol of blood. The interesting thing about this is the fact that it uses the Christian meaning of Christ's blood, sacrifice, forgiveness, death. My question is how can these meanings be fit into this play? Besides death, I can see sacrifice as the conspirators need to "sacrifice" Caesar for the integrity of the Republic. Forgiveness can be used for Brutus' and Mark Antony's need for forgiveness; in Antony's case by the fact that he even shook hands with the conspirators and in Brutus' case in that he just killed a friend.
-What is the significance of smearing an enemy's blood on your hands? Did Roman generals and their army actually do this? (Act 3 Scene 1 line 120).
ReplyDelete-According to lines 162-173, did Antony truly love and care Caesar in real life? If he did, i find it pretty ironic that he went after Cleopatra...the same woman Caesar loved.
-pg. 135 What could Brutus have done to make his speech more appealing than Antony's speech?
-pg. 137 Were the plebeians that easily convinced in real life in ancient Rome by Antony's speech?
-pg. 125 Did Antony really find the will or did he make it himself?
Keep in mind that society didn't have the same views in Caesar's time as it does now. Just because "cheating" is frowned upon in our time, it doesn't mean that the same applies for the society during that time.
Delete-We all knew that the plebeians went after the senators and that Antony was a great public person. So it was most likely that they were easily convinced. Also, they were already honoring Caesar.
Delete"The power of love" It wasn't really ironic though. Cleopatra was seducing Antony and he just fell to her whims, I guess.
I think that smearing the enemy's blood on their hands was a gesture of superiority; you are the greater person, so you have earned the right to dehumanize those who you have defeated.
DeletePage 107, lines 201 to 230, why did Antony been speaking in a calm tone and decides to have positive names (such as good Trebonius) for the conspirator as he asks to shake their hands?
ReplyDeleteProbably to mask his anger and his emotions for vengeance so that the conspirators wouldn't seen him that much as a threat, especially Brutus. Brutus is going to make a speech to plebeians, and if Antony had fully expressed his anger, Brutus might have made a better speech to win the plebeian's side.
DeletePlus, Antony was standing among a group of men who had just committed a cold-blooded murder in front of him, he most likely also did this for the fear of his own life being taken.
DeleteGoing along with what Shusmita and Mir said, it was probably because he had to gain their trust. Because in the end, he actually did gain Brutus' trust in a way because Brutus allowed Antony to speak in the funeral service of Caesar. This was very important for Antony because it turned the crowds of people against Brutus and the other conspirators, resulting in their downfall.
DeleteOn pg. 117 Act 3 scene 2, when Brutus was addresing the crowd about Caesar's death did he tell the crowd who killed him because to me it sounds like he is the one who killed Caesar?
ReplyDeleteBrutus only says that he killed Caesar. On page 117, line 28, Brutus only says, "But as he was ambitious, I slew him."
DeleteWHEN HE WAS ADDRSING THE CROWD, HE WAS TELLING THAT THE CONSPIURATORS KILLED IM, AND HE MADE IT SEEM AS IF HE WAS PART OF THE CONSPIRACY, WHICH HE WAS.
DeleteWhy does Antony agree to Brutus's order to not blame Brutus and Cassius during his speech for Caesar's funeral even though Caesar was Antony's good friend? — pages 111-112
ReplyDeleteAntony probably agreed to Brutus's order because if he didn't, then the conspirators would be against him and his life would be in danger. Also, Brutus would have never let Antony speak in Caesar's funeral if he knew that Antony was going to make a speech that would make the crowd go against the conspirators.
Delete--------Why would Brutus be so hesitant in everything and when it came to Antony’s speech, he didn’t realize its effects?
ReplyDelete--------Which speech had more effect on the class? Brutus or Antony?
--------Why was Octavian nowhere in sight at the time of the scene (Assassination)?
I think that Brutus was so hesitant because in mind he probably still felt guilt for killing the person that loved him. He probably didn't think that much about Antony's speech and its effects for two points. 1. He didn't know that Antony's rhetoric could be so powerful and moving. 2. He himself probably would've done the same thing that Antony said that he was going to do which was to commemorate Caesar and share the memories and talk about his positive attributes.
DeleteIn Antony's speech, why does he keep saying "But Brutus says he was an ambitious and Brutus is an honorable man"? Is he being sarcastic? (page 123)
ReplyDeleteWho is Publius Cimber? What did he do that had him banished? (page 97)
I think Antony is being sarcastic because in the line,
Delete"You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And, sure, he is an honorable man."
After mentioning that Caesar refused the crown thrice, Antony asked if this was ambitious (it obviously was not an ambitious move by Caesar). This basically shows that Antony disagreed with Brutus and was sarcastic when he called Brutus an "honorable man".
It is a form of repetition in which Antony tries to show the plebians that Caesar was not ambitious and that Brutus is just lying. I do not know who Publius Cimber is or why he is banned
Delete1. What was smearing blood on your weapons supposed to mean? What were the conspirators trying to prove by doing that.
ReplyDelete2. When Caesar says "Et tu Brute" at the end of his assassination, what does the language difference mean?
2) The language was latin, the language Caesar actually spoke. The reason for not including the lines in english was to preserve the last words of Caesar and to emphasize Caesars hurt and feeling of betrayal.
DeleteI agree with Daniel, it just wouldn't have the same effect if it was translated to English,this technique, as I am calling it is found in many movies, I just can't think of one right now.......
DeleteIn Act 3 Scene 1 Page 111, why does Brutus allow Mark Antony to take such a big part in Caesar's funeral while knowing that Antony and Caesar were close friends?
ReplyDelete1) Why do the conspirators dip their hands in Caesar's blood?
ReplyDelete2) Why did Brutus easily let Antony have the body when Cassius already warned him that he should not be trusted?
2) Brutus probably let Antony have Caesar's body because he didn't think Antony was plotting anything against them at the moment. He also may have been feeling guilty over murdering Caesar in the first place, and adding on to that was Antony being extremely distressed over the death of his close friend. Brutus may have decided that they took enough away from Antony by murdering his friend and that they should just let him grieve.
DeleteI totally agree with what Kaitlyn said. Also, I think that they dipped their hands into the blood of Caesar because I remember when they were meeting at Brutus's house and he was talking about how they wanted to kill Caesar boldly and almost wanted to respect him when they killed him. Having that in mind, I think that dipping one's hand into the blood of someone that you killed is almost symbolic and like venerating that person. On the flip side, I think that they may have dipped their hands into his blood because it may show triumph over your enemy. Also I think that Shakespeare may have included it in just to be dramatic.
DeleteSome questions of mine have to be:
ReplyDelete-Why did the conspirators have to wash their hands in Caesar's blood. Was this something that symbolized defeat perhaps?
-Why did Antony shake hands with these men after they did this? Couldn't he have possibly gotten their trust another way?
Umm...I think that he shook their hands because it was probably a DEEP sign of respect and coordination. Remember, we see them shake hand when the conspirators are meeting at Brutus's house that other night when they plotted to kill Caesar. I think that the best way to convince these fools was to shake their hands because back then was the most legit way of getting someones trust and cooperation.
DeleteSome 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.
ReplyDeleteI think he was acting out of pride because he even disowned hos wife, Calphurnia's, cry to stay home and the message from the priests doing the sacrificed over Decius Brutus. It showed to me a sort of sexist side of Caesar because of how he disowned his wife's cry over hos work with other men.
DeleteBeing that he is a bit of "self-centered" person, I feel that Caesar was disregarding everyone's warnings warning of his death. Maybe he feels himself to be godly.
DeleteTrue, but because Shakespeare did this, the story is a lot better this way, it is common in many books and movies today, how the protagonist is completely unaware of what is going to happen, but everyone who is reading or watching the movies is screaming at the tv telling him not to go in the basement- as Ms. Rowley said in class. Think about it, if Caesar had suspicions about Brutus, and realized what was going to happen to him, the story wouldn't have been as great as it is.
DeleteWhat I really want to know is: Why did the Conspirators even announce that they killed Caesar? It doesn't really make much sense. If you killed someone, you KILLED someone. I think they should've kept it a secret because they didnt have forensics and DNA fingerprinting like today. They barely had anyone really smart enough to find the killers and then be able to prove that they had killed Caesar. Stupid move on the conspirators
ReplyDeleteOne question I have is: What would've happened if Antony spoke before Brutus?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering about what the washing of the blood symbolized? For example, when someone was killed, the defeated head was shipped to the defeater. Was this anything like it?
ReplyDeleteI was a bit confused of why Brutus told Antony to remove the body? Why out of all people, Antony?
ReplyDeleteI believe that because he was fooled by Anthony. Anthony approached him as him as a person who wasn't against him. Also Brutus probably thought that Anthony was in grief due to Caesars death. Anthony was one of the people closest to Caesar. Since Anthony didn't seem like a threat I suppose that Brutus allowed him.
DeleteWhy did the conspirators put blood on their weapons, was that a norm back then?
ReplyDeleteI doubt that it was a norm. I believe that, to them, it symbolized salvation. Also, many conspirators had personal reasons to kill Caesar. Disrespecting his corpse (which, as we learned, is very sacred) greatly disrespects him.
DeleteReally sorry for the late reply, but apparently my computer glitched and never posted the question...
ReplyDeleteWould Rome have fluorished and remained stable, had Caesar avoided assasination? We could be looking at an entirely different story if Caesar had missed the meeting due to an injury or some other obstacle...
I believe that Rome would have flourished if Caesar was alive. After his death, there were power struggles through civil wars. However, I believe that if he had missed the meeting the conspirators would have killed him another way.
DeleteWhy was Brutus telling the conspirators to stay put and not to celebrate after killing Caesar. Wasn't he supposed to be celebrating Caesars death like the others?
ReplyDeleteTo my understanding, Brutus killed Caesar for Rome not for personal reasons. He did, however, respect Caesar but just felt that Rome would be better w/o him. Maybe he didn't want to celebrate because he did feel a sense of loss. Also, their main point was to protect the republic, so the preservation of the republic should be celebrated, not the death of Caesar.
DeleteOn page 111, why does Brutus want Anthony to take the body?? Does this symbolize something??
ReplyDelete