SHAKESPodosphEARE

2.2 Dramatic Reading of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

October 13, 2006

I'd urge you to consider this the companion scene to 2.1 (involving Brutus and Portia). Brutus is the lead conspirator against Caesar.�He and his wife, Portia discuss the atmosphere of doom which pervades the�early morning air. Caesar and Calphurnia then discuss the same thing (in very general terms).�Brutus and Caesar contrast with one another dramatically in these two scenes. Pay attention to how each thinks about recent events, takes advice, listens to his wife, etc. In addition, consider the way Portia and Calphurnia contrast with each other.

If Brutus is introspective and somehwat indecisive at first, he is eventually convinced to go through with the plot and be active. Caesar starts out telling Calphurnia he cannot be passive (and is therefore decisive),�that he must go to the capitol. Calphurnia talks him out of it, and then Decius talks him back into going.

Portia is all bravery and strength and wants�at the very least to know what Brutus is doing. Calphurnia is very fearful, pushing Caesar to stay home.

These two scenes, in other words, show us�several��somewhat�binary forces at play in Rome.

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