Acting thing

Aidan Hawksby

AND

Sabreena Shajahan

ACT 2/ SCENE 2/ LINES 8-56/Page 88-92

In this scene Calpurnia is trying to convince Caesar to stay at home and not go to the senate, because she had a dream of Caesar being murdered. In Calpurnia’s dream she saw Caesar’s statue with 100 stabs and while the blood was pouring the Romans would wash their hands in the blood with joy. This scene is foreshadowing of the assassination which is about to happen; Calpurnia is in vision what will happen at the senate.

This scene was chosen to show Caesar’s private and public sides. Also to show the love and respect Calpurnia has on her husband and it is a battle between faiths vs. freewill. Caesar’s private side was shown when he pates Calpurnia’s head and says that he will stay home for her but actually he is also staying with his own fear. Caesar’s shows he is brave by saying that he is more dangerous than danger itself and also says that if he stays home he would be a be a beast without a heart. Calpurnia’s love and respect is shown when she kneels and begs to him telling Caesar not to go to the senate.

Quote : (only the lines that’s going to be said)

“CALPURNIA
What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

CAESAR
Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me
Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

CALPURNIA
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

CAESAR
What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.

CALPURNIA
When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

CAESAR
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.

CAESAR
The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
We are two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible:
And Caesar shall go forth.

CALPURNIA
Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house:
And he shall say you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

CAESAR
Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.”