Julius Caesar - History, Characters and plot analysis- All in one

  Julius Caesar formed alliance with Pompey and Crassus to rule over Rome. After Caesar's victory in the Gaelic war, he was instructed not to cross the Rubicon river with his army. However, Caesar crossed the river with his army and began the civil war. (From here evolved the idiom 'To cross the Rubicon which means to cross a certain point from where the already taken decision can not be withdrawn'.) Fearing attack from Caesar, Pompey fled out of Rome but his 'Yes Men' (Cassca, Cassius, Dacius Brutus and many other Senators) still stayed in Rome. Marcus Brutus was a noble man, not a 'Yes Man' of Pompey but he wanted Democracy in Rome when the common people loved Caesar.  forced Pompey. To listen to the historical backdrop of Julius Caesar

Historical character Julius Caesar and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar have some differences. However, the difference was purposefully created by Shakespeare to make the play stageable. 
To listen to the factual difference between real emperor Julius Caesar and Julius Caesar of Shakespeare 

soliloquy is A mode of speech where thoughts are loudly pronounced foor the audience to understand what is going on in the mind of the character. Sometimes the same is done in presence of other characters, but they act as if they don't hear it. It is chiefly used to denote the speaker's emotion and mindset. Opposite to this is the Monologue- A speaker addresses an audience. Here content matters.) - 

The Drama (the excerpt given in the book) begins with Caesar's soliloquy- 'Nor heaven..... they murder Ceasar'. Caesar was thinking this, not speaking. It indicates that Caesar, as he posed and claimed that he was fearless, was actually not. Just at that time a servant was passing by. Caesar stopped him and asked the sevant to tell the priests to offer sacrifice and to come back and tell Caesar about the success of sacrifice. This ritual was prevalent in the festival of Lupercal- a festival for fertility (Calpurnia did not have children).This indicates that Caesar was confused, superstitioous and scared. Just at that time, Capurnia entered and debated with caesar persuading him not to go. Caesar agreed to stay at home only when Calpurnia said it was her fear, not his because that would hurt his ego. 

Note the hypocrisy of Caesar, when Calpurnia said it was her fear, Caesar agreed and said that Mark Anthony would say Caesar would not come that day. However, when Dacius Brutus enticed Caesar by interpreting Calpurnia's dream and that the senators decided to offer him the crown, he agreed to go. Caesar did not say exactly what Calpurnia said, instead he said that Calpurnia dreamt that Caesar's body was releasing blood from several wounds and famous Romans joyfully bathed their hands in his blood. This is foreshadowing in the drama because later when Caesar was killed all the conspirators smeared their hands up to elbow to make it appear gory before the common romans.   To listen to the part from the beginning till Caesar agrees to go

Note what Brutus said- That every like is not the same and Butus's heart yearns to think upon'. It shows that Brutus did not have the same intention as the other conspirators. They killed Ceasar for their personal safety whereas Brutus killed Caesar to bring democracy. 

Note the arrogance and rudeness of Caesar when he spoke to Metellus Cimber and others. The conspirators knew that Caesar would not accept their request to Publius Cimber and that they would encash as their evidence of Caesar being a dictator. Before this, they sent Anthony out of the room and naturally Anthony did not see what happened. Right after the assassination, Anthony enters and sees Caesar lying on the ground, bloody and cold. He understood but very tactfully snatched his opportunity to present the deadbody before the crowd and deliver the funeral speech. Marcus Brutus was also a hypocrite. He thought once he spoke, nobody would believe in Anthony. Cassius said he did not like it and he said, 'you know not what may come of it'. (This is the difference between M.Brutus, a proud  hypocrite, and Cassius, a practical person). This is also foreshadowing as it foretells that something unexpected is going to happen. Anthony agreed to all the conditions laid by Brutus to deliver his funeral speech. All the consiprators plan to go up to the common pulpit and other places to declare 'Tyranny was dead' (They specifically decided to say so to project that Caesar was a dictator and that the Romans had been freed from his clutch. And this great act was done by them for the sake of common Romans. Naturally, common people would support the cause.) To listen to the part from Anthony's entry after Caesar's death upto conditions that Brutus put forth for Anthony if he desired to deliver his funeral speech 

Now Anthony is left alone in the room with the deadbody of Caesar lying at the foot of Pompey's statue. Here, it is ironical because Pompey fled from Rome in fear of Caesar but now Caesar is lying  at the foot of Pompey's statue. This is the time when the audience comes to know what is going on in the mind of Anthony, his emotion and his future plan. Most of the part is Soliloquy as we (readers and audience) delve into Anthony's emotion and mind until he says 'Cry havoc'. Here Anthony calls the conspirators as ''Butuchers'. This is what Anthony envisages about the future of Rome, this is how he plans to avenge the death of Caesar  To listen to the soliloquy of Anthony when he was left alone with Caesars deadbody 

Now Brutus appears in the pulpit before an excited crowd who have already heards senaators loudly announcing Caesar's death. They are ready to listen to Brutus to understand the reason for Caesar's death. Brutus addresses the crowd without descending and mingling with the crowd. His oratorical skill was far beyond the ability of common Romans to understand as he used literary devices like Repetition, alliteration and rhetorical questions. He tried to justify by saying that he freed the Rmans from a dictator without presenting convincing reason. He played the emotion card by saying that he preserved the same dagger and if the need be for the sake of Rome, the dagger may be used to kill him. to listen to the analysis of Brutus's speech

Now comes Anthony. 

Imagine how difficult it was for him to start when the entire crowd had been convinced by Brutus, not by his logic but by his honour, respect and reputation. Anthony started saying (it is a Monologue because there is audience whom the speaker addressed)  that by the grace of Brutus and others he was able to see the crowd from the pulpit which meant that by their permission he was standing on the pulpit. This statement made a common man react as he could not hear him well. He soon siad that 'It is better that he (Anthony) does not speak anything against Brutus. Imagine the hostility. However, Anthony started with the billion dollar quote 'Lend me your ears'. He never attempted to contradict what Brutus said as that would infuriate the common people. So, he showed respect to the conspirators and then placed his logic. Quickly the common men understood that Caesar was wrongfully assassinated. Now Anthony took a break stating that his emotion went to Caesar and he may be allowed some time till he regains mormalcy. He actually was noticing the impact of he speech on the common Roman. Anthony addressed the Romans as 'Gods and Judge' which naturally elevated their status and importance. Then he went on discuss about Ceasar's will. Here, we the greedy character of the common Romans as they are only interested in the content of the will. On the pretext of reading the will Anthony came down and played the emotion card by showing the blood stained clothe of Caesar. (Note that Anthony was not present when Caesar was assassinated. Then how would he know which wound was made by whom). Anthony did not utter the word 'conspirators' instead instigated the common people so much that they called the conspirators as 'butchers' and refused to respect them as 'honourable men'.        to listen to the explanation of Anthony's speech 

In the entire drama, the common people are introduced to the audience after the death of Caesar. Their character traits are important. Sometimes they are foolish, naive, ignorant, respectful but sometimes emotional and very violent. to listen to the character traits of common Romans