Shakespeare’s account of the Roman general Julius Caesar’s murder by his friend Brutus is a meditation on duty. First performed around 1599, when the English royal succession was uncertain, Julius Caesar confronts the dangers of political turmoil. Read a Character Analysis of Brutus, Full Plot Summary, and important Quotes.
Summary
Read our full plot summary and analysis of Julius Caesar, chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, and more.
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in Julius Caesar and in-depth analyses of Brutus, Julius Caesar, Antony, Cassius, and Calpurnia.
Literary Devices
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in Julius Caesar, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
Questions & Answers
Explore our selection of frequently asked questions about Julius Caesar and find the answers you need.
- What are Flavius and Murellus angry about at the beginning of the play?
- Why does Caesar decide to go to the Senate despite his wife’s warnings?
- Why does Brutus allow Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral?
- How does Cassius die?
- Was assassinating Caesar the right decision?
- Why does Cassius hate Caesar?
- What is the significance of the comet?
- Why does Caesar refuse the crown when Antony offers it to him?
- What happens to Murellus and Flavius?
- Why does Antony shake hands with the conspirators?
- Why does Caesar’s will have such a powerful impact on the plebeians?
- What happens to Portia?
- How are Octavius and Caesar related?
- Why does Brutus refuse to swear an oath?
- Why does Brutus kill himself?
Quotes
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of Julius Caesar by reading these key quotes.
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By Character
- Brutus
- Julius Caesar
- Antony
- Cassius
- Octavius
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By Symbol
- Women and Wives
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By Setting
- Rome, 44 BCE
Quick Quizzes
Test your knowledge of Julius Caesar with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.
Essays
Get ready to ace your Julius Caesar paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, a sample A+ student essay, and more.
Further Study
Go further in your study of Julius Caesar with background information, movie adaptations, and links to the best resources around the web.
