Julius Caesar, is written by William Shakespeare and it is prescribed for the students of Classes IX and X of the Council for the ISC Examinations, New-Delhi. To understand this play, you need to understand the significance of each and every word of the play, which I shall try to explain in a lucid language.
While listening to my explanation, I would advise to keep the text or the textbook in your hand along with a pencil. While the explanation will go on, you should go on writing the meanings or the significance of the words which we will cross. In case you miss out anything, I would advise you to rewind the audio and listen again and again, so that, it becomes easy for you to understand the play.
THE SCENE
JULIUS CAESAR
ACT – I
SCENE – I
Line No – 71 to 78
Rome. A street.
EXPLANATION : The common people had gathered to welcome Caesar. There is a large gathering of common people in the streets of Rome. The common citizens and artisans of Rome have come out in the streets to see Caesar pass and to rejoice his triumphs. Artisans means – common people.
It is a holiday crowd composed of tradesmen and mechanics and artisans who are enthusiastically celebrating the triumph of Julius Caesar at the defeat of the sons of Pompey. The tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, (who belong to Pompey’s party are afraid of Caesar’s increasing powers, who do have no sympathy for Caesar, rebuke the people most vehemently chase them home. They drive them away from the street, for they do not want Caesar to be shown any mark of honour. The crowd disperses “tongue tied in their guiltiness”. Flavius goes away to disrobe the images of Caesar wherever he finds them “decked with ceremonies”.
THE TEXT
FLAVIUS
It is no matter; let no images
Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about,
And drive away the vulgar from the streets:
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness
