Act 1 Scene 1

Act 1 Scene 2

Caesar arrives with his entourage, including his wife Calphurnia and loyal friend Antony. A Soothsayer in the crowd calls out a warning to Caesar, saying ‘Beware the ides of March’, but Caesar dismisses it. The entourage then leaves to go to a ceremonial race, leaving Brutus, a trusted friend of Caesar’s, and Cassius alone. Cassius begins to flatter Brutus, but Brutus is distracted by shouts he can hear coming from the race. He fears Caesar is being crowned king and accidentally voices this thought out loud. At this, Cassius begins to openly criticise Caesar, recalling times when Caesar showed physical weakness. Cassius reminds Brutus of his reputation and his concern for the good of Rome rather than personal triumph.

Caesar and his entourage return after the race and Caesar says to Antony that ‘Cassius has a lean and hungry look. / He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous’ but Antony assures him that Cassius is 'noble'. After Caesar leaves again, Casca tells Brutus and Cassius that Antony offered Caesar a crown three times at the race but that Caesar refused it. Casca adds that Caesar fell down and ‘foamed at the mouth’ and Brutus confirms that Caesar has ‘the falling-sickness’. He tells Cassius he will give his words thought. Left alone with the audience, Cassius points out how easily Brutus’ noble nature can be manipulated.

Act 1 Scene 3

Act 2 Scene 1

Brutus is in his orchard unable to sleep. In a soliloquy, he reveals he can see no way of stopping Caesar except 'by his death’. He reads a letter that Cassius and Cinna have planted. His servant tells him that tomorrow is 15 March (the Ides of March) and that several men have arrived with ‘half their faces buried in their cloaks’. Brutus lets the men, or conspirators, in. One of them is Cassius who introduces the rest. Brutus rejects Cassius’ wish to ‘swear’ their ‘resolution’. He believes an ‘oath’ is unnecessary if they are acting as ‘countrymen’ and ‘Romans’. Cassius argues that Antony should also be killed but Brutus says this will make them seem ‘too bloody’. They arrange to accompany Caesar to the Capitol the next day and the conspirators leave.

Portia, Brutus’ wife, enters. She is worried about him, saying ‘you have some sick offense within your mind'. Portia begs him to tell her his ‘cause of grief’. Brutus assures her that she is his 'true and honourable wife' and that he will explain later.

Act 2 Scene 2

The storm rages at Caesar’s house. Like Brutus, Caesar has had a troubled night. His wife, Calphurnia, has dreamt about his murder three times. Other omens have been noted in the streets of Rome and Calphurnia begs Caesar not to go to the Capitol as she is afraid of what the signs mean. Caesar maintains he is stronger than fate saying ‘Danger knows full well / That Caesar is more dangerous than he.’ However, he orders the priests to make a sacrifice to determine his success that day and, out of love for Calphurnia, he agrees to stay at home. Decius, one of the conspirators, arrives to fetch Caesar. Caesar says he’s not going because Calphurnia ‘saw my statue, / Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, / Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans / Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.’ Decius informs Caesar there are plans to crown him at the senate and if he does not go because of his wife, he will seem cowardly.

This is enough for Caesar to change his mind. The conspirators enter to escort him to the Capitol.

Act 2 Scene 3

Act 2 Scene 4

Act 3 Scene 1

Caesar approaches the Capitol. He observes that the ‘Ides of March have come’ but the Soothsayer points out they are not over yet. Caesar refuses to read Artemidorus’ warning. Cassius has a moment of panic and fears the plot has been discovered but Brutus reassures him.

The conspirators surround Caesar, pretending to kneel in appeal, and Caesar is stabbed to death by all the conspirators. Brutus is the last to strike, a betrayal of friendship which shocks Caesar. The conspirators claim publicly that ‘Tyranny is dead!’ and Brutus invites them to ‘bathe' their hands in Caesar’s blood, echoing the image in Calphurnia’s dream.

Antony, who has fled, returns to the scene. After being promised safety, he shakes hands with the murderers. Brutus tells him he will explain his motives at Caesar’s funeral where he will speak to the crowd. Antony asks to speak also. Cassius advises against this but Brutus allows it, as long as Brutus speaks first. When left alone with Caesar’s body, Antony weeps and speaks of revenge. We hear that Caesar’s great-nephew Octavius is coming to Rome.

Act 3 Scene 2

At Caesar’s funeral, the crowd demand an explanation from the murderers. Brutus speaks first. He argues with logic and reason, saying that he loved Rome more than Caesar and asking the crowd if they would rather be free with Caesar dead or ‘slaves' with him alive. The crowd are on his side, saying 'Caesar’s better parts / Shall be crowned in Brutus.’

Then Antony enters with Caesar’s body. He speaks with emotion, reminding the crowd of Caesar’s qualities and deliberately repeating that Brutus is ‘an honourable man'. Antony shows them the wounds on Caesar’s body, where each knife stabbed it before revealing Caesar’s will in which he has left the people of Rome money and land. Antony not only wins the crowd but turns them into an angry mob intent on revenge: 'They were traitors: honourable men?’ The conspirators flee from the mob. Caesar’s body is taken to be burnt ‘in the holy place’. A servant announces that Octavius and Lepidus have arrived in Rome.

Act 3 Scene 3

The angry mob of citizens chase and catch Cinna the poet, mistaking him for Cinna the conspirator and calling out ‘Tear him to pieces! He’s a conspirator!’

Cinna insists that he is a poet, not a conspirator but the mob don’t care. They kill Cinna with their bare hands.

Act 4 Scene 1

Act 4 Scene 2

Act 5 Scene 1

Act 5 Scene 2

Act 5 Scene 3

Act 5 Scene 4

Act 5 Scene 5