ANSWERSJulius Caesar Act II and III Quotes
Quote / Speaker / Audience / Significance"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him". / Antony / commoners / to get them to listen to him because right now they are happy that Caesar is dead and think he was a tyrant
"Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". / Brutus / commoners / to explain to them why he had to kill Caesar – he thought it was for the good of Rome
"When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff". / Antony / commoners / to convince them that Caesar cared for them and that he was not ambitious
"Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. / Caesar / Calpurnia / Telling her that he’s not going to back away from a challenge or something scary – only cowards do that
“Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods. / Brutus / conspirators / Tell them that they will not also kill Antony – don’t want it to look like bloody murder but like a sacrifice
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded? / Portia / Brutus / Telling him she is strong because her father and her husband were strong
But I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament. / Caesar / Metellus Cimber and senate / Saying that he will never change and that he is permanent and superior
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol. / Calpurnia / Caesar / Telling him the bad omens she has heard about – get him to stay home today
"As he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him" / Brutus / commoners / Explaining why he had to kill Caesar – because Caesar was becoming ambitious and that would hurt Rome
It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him, / Brutus / himself / He’s trying to convince himself that he must kill Caesar even though he doesn’t personally dislike him
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles and affability; / Brutus / conspirators / Smile so that nobody knows what you’re up to
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! / Antony / Caesar’s body / Apologizing for acting all nice-nice to the conspirators
“How hard it is for women to keep counsel!” / Portia / herself / Admits she is weak and can’t keep a secret
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell / Brutus / Himself / Convincing himself to kill Caesar before he becomes dangerous and hurts Rome