Explore & Practice Mod 1

Act III Focus

Act III of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (or you can choose to read it in the textbook) is when Caesar's greatest flaw, his refusal to acknowledge his mortality, bites him in the butt, or rather, his back (and chest, and stomach, etc.). Often referring to himself in the third person, he develops a sense of greatness and godliness that distracts him from taking appropriate precautions. Artemidorus tries to hand him a note warning him about the dangers of the conspirators, but Caesar refuses because Artemidorus informs him that the note is personal. "What touches us ourself shall be last served" (III.i.7). Be sure to focus on his exclamations of himself. They are rather egotistical.

The moments immediately following Caesar's death are highly ironic, as the murderers cry out, "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!" (III.i.78). They have committed an extralegal (beyond the authority of the law) act and yet now cry out in the name of liberty. ***FUN FACT*** These lines were even used during the French Revolution, due to their simultaneous expression of grotesque death and the rallying cry of "peace, freedom, and liberty!" Brutus and the other conspirators fail to grasp the hypocrisy of their actions.

Mark Antony does not believe the conspirators are justified in crying "peace," and is the first to condemn their actions. When Antony states, "Let each man render me his bloody hand" (3.1.185), he is marking them for revenge rather than celebrating their actions. Even Trebonius, who did not stab Caesar, but prevented Antony from protecting him, is marked by Antony. Antony shakes hands with Trebonius last, transferring Caesar's blood, collected from his previous handshakes, to his clean hands.======> cool symbolism

At this moment, Antony symbolizes anarchy, blaming the conspirators and marking them for revenge. He shows his taste for chaos when finally left alone with Caesar, saying, "O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth / That I am meek and gentle with these butchers" (III.i.257-258). His final words indicate his goals, stating, "Cry 'Havoc,' and Let slip the dogs of war." (III.i.273). Meaning "oh ya, it's on like Donkey Kong!"