The fact that he calls upon another man, known for his athleticism, carousing, and womanizing, suggests that Caesar is impotent. A lack of virility is not Caesar's only problem. He also is unable to recognize and take heed of good advice. A soothsayer enters the scene and "with a clear tongue shriller than all the music," warns Caesar of the ides of March. Caesar doesn't hear the man clearly, but others do, and it is Shakespeare's ironic hand that has Brutus, who will be Caesar's murderer, repeat the warning.
Caesar has every opportunity to heed these words. He hears them again from the soothsayer and even takes the opportunity to look into the speaker's face and examine it for honesty, but he misreads what he sees. The soothsayer is termed a dreamer and is dismissed.
Some critics of this play call Caesar a superstitious man and weak for that reason, but that is not the real root of the problem. All of the characters in this play believe in the supernatural.
It is one of the play's themes that they all misinterpret and attempt to turn signs and omens to their own advantage. What characterizes Caesar as weak is susceptibility to flattering interpretations of omens and his inability to distinguish between good advice and bad, good advisors and bad. Those who surround Caesar are not all supporters. At Caesar's departure, Cassius and Brutus are left onstage.
Cassius, whose political purpose is to gather people around him and overthrow Caesar, tests the waters with Brutus. He asks if he intends to watch the race and Brutus is less than enthusiastic. Brutus speaks disapprovingly of Antony's quickness. Cassius, who is a very good reader of other people, interprets this as Brutus' dislike of the new regime and goes on to probe a little further to find out if he will join his group of conspirators.
Brutus resists the idea of speaking against Caesar, but Cassius flatters him, suggesting that no matter what Brutus says or does, he could never be anything but a good man. Their speech is interrupted by a shout offstage and the abruptness of it causes Brutus to display more of his feeling than he may have otherwise.
He says that he fears that the people have elected Caesar their king. They raced through the water, but Caesar became weak and asked Cassius to save him. Cassius had to drag him from the water. Cassius also recounts an episode when Caesar had a fever in Spain and experienced a seizure.
Cassius marvels to think that a man with such a feeble constitution should now stand at the head of the civilized world. Caesar stands like a Colossus over the world, Cassius continues, while Cassius and Brutus creep about under his legs. He tells Brutus that they owe their underling status not to fate but to their own failure to take action.
He wonders in what sort of age they are living when one man can tower over the rest of the population. Although unwilling to be further persuaded, he admits that he would rather not be a citizen of Rome in such strange times as the present. Meanwhile, Caesar and his train return. Caesar sees Cassius and comments to Antony that Cassius looks like a man who thinks too much; such men are dangerous, he adds.
Antony tells Caesar not to worry, but Caesar replies that he prefers to avoid Cassius: Cassius reads too much and finds no enjoyment in plays or music—such men are never at ease while someone greater than themselves holds the reins of power. Caesar urges Antony to come to his right side—he is deaf in his left ear—and tell him what he thinks of Cassius.
Shortly, Caesar and his train depart. Brutus and Cassius take Casca aside to ask him what happened at the procession.
Casca relates that Antony offered a crown to Caesar three times, but Caesar refused it each time. While the crowd cheered for him, Caesar fell to the ground in a fit. Casca then departs, followed by Brutus. Just as Caesar himself proves fallible, his power proves imperfect.
The implication that Caesar may be impotent or sterile is the first—and, for a potential monarch, the most damaging—of his physical shortcomings to be revealed in the play. This conversation between Brutus and Cassius reveals the respective characters of the two men, who will emerge as the foremost conspirators against Caesar. How does Julius Caesar feel about Cassius?
Category: books and literature biographies. Caesar feels suspicious of Cassius and somewhat apprehensive, although Caesar twice denies that he is afraid of him. Caesar explains to Antony in detail what he thinks of Cassius and how he feels about him. Cassius is already plotting to organize a group of similar-minded men to assassinate Caesar. How does Julius Caesar feel about Brutus?
Why does Caesar not like Cassius? How does Cassius take advantage of Brutus conflicting feelings? Why does Caesar fear Cassius? Does Cassius want to kill Caesar? What does Brutus say about killing Antony? Why does Calpurnia tell Caesar to stay home? What sickness does Caesar have? Who was Antony in Julius Caesar? How does Casca describe what happened when Caesar was offered the crown? What is Casca's opinion of Caesar?
Who were Brutus and Cassius? How did Cassius save Caesar life? How did Cassius kill Caesar? What did Brutus? Who is Cassius wife in Julius Caesar? How was Julius Caesar? Similar Asks.
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