In Act 2, scene 1 of Julius Caesar, Brutus was acting very troubled about the conspiracy and details of the assassination. Brutus was not sleeping at night, not eating dinner, and walking around musing and sighing. As a stoic man Brutus spent all his time thinking and processing the conspiracy. As a very stoic, loving wife Portia noticed how troubled Brutus seemed and asked Brutus what the matter was. Brutus looked at his wife and stated that he was not well in health and that was all. Portia is a very smart woman and knew that Brutus was not sick and was lying to her about his troubles. Portia did not believe Brutus and told him that she saw six or seven men, hiding their faces even from darkness in their yard. Portia had suspicion and she wanted to be told through the vows of their marriage the secrets of Brutus. In the scene Portia said, “Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, Is it excepted I should know no secrets, That appertain you? Am I yourself But, as it were, in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus’s harlot, not his wife.” Brutus being the stoic man he was took this statement as an insult straight to his heart. By Portia saying that if he doesn’t share his secrets then she is not his wife just a prostitute made Brutus realize the promises they made at their wedding. Brutus agreed to tell Portia every detail of why he was troubled. Brutus promised to tell Portia the whole plot and as a stoic man when Brutus promises his wife, he will succeed in doing so.
In Act 2, scene 2 of Julius Caesar, Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, has a nightmare that Caesar was murdered. Calpurnia very frightened by her nightmare approached Caesar and told him not to go to work that day, and to stay home not leaving the house. Caesar looked at Calpurnia and told her that he was not scared of her dream and that he was to go to work that day. Calpurnia and Caesar are a very epicurean couple but Calpurnia states that,“ She has never stood on ceremonies”, meaning that she wishes they were more stoic right then. Caesar being epicurean and trying not to act troubled and worried said that the warning was for the commoners not him personally. Calpurnia said in the text “ when beggars die, there are no comets seen”. Ghosts, fire, storms, all don’t happen for just common people and that Calpurnia fears them. Caesar finally looked at Calpurnia and told her that he would send Mark Antony to the senate-house to tell them he is not well.
Decius Brutus is one of the conspirators planning to assassinate Julius Caesar at the senate-house on the Ides of March. In Act 2, scene 2 of Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus went to Caesar’s house to fetch him to the senate-house. Caesar seeing Decius coming into the house told him that he will not going to go to work that day. Calpurnia looked at Decius and said, “ say he is sick”, like her and Caesar had decided earlier together. Caesar though hearing her say this turned to Calpurnia angrily and told her he would not lie about being sick and that saying he will not go to work which shall be good enough. Though Caesar had agreed with Calpurnia to say he was not well when Decius entered into his presence he completely ignored Calpurnia and changed their discussion. Decius needing Caesar to come to work to start the conspiracy asked Caesar why he will not go to work. Decius was then educated on Calpurnia’s nightmare. Decius being the conniving man he was said, “this dream is all amiss interpreted; this nightmare signifies that from you great Rome shall suck reviving blood, and that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance this is what Calpurnia’s dream is signified”. Caesar completely believed Decius, shoved Calpurnia’s dream and begging aside and told Decius and Calpurnia that he was going to work that day.
I chose these three segments in Act 2 as the most interesting and effective because these segments are all showing different relationships between members of the cast. They showed how different the men acted privately with their wives and publicly. Brutus in the first paragraph shows commitment and love toward Portia. In this segment you see how stoic their relationship is and that they are committed to one another. Portia and Brutus have a relationship and through their wedding vows have promised each other to never keep secrets and that they are part of each other. In the second paragraph Caesar also shows that he does value his wife’s opinion and listens to his wife privately like Brutus. Caesar and Calpurnia have a very epicurean relationship but privately Caesar does show some love and trust towards Calpurnia. In the third paragraph though Decius enters the scene and Caesar completely changes the way he acts around Calpurnia. This showed that publicly Caesar doesn’t have the same respect towards Calpurnia as he does privately. These segments are interesting because they show the different relationships and help us see the real characters of the play.
