Julius Caesar Scene This is the yoke: the oppression of these times; had his eyes: had the speaker’s eyes (to see himself as others see him); would use his eyes (to see things the speaker does). And groaning underneath this age’s yoke, Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes: Brutus, into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius? That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? Cassius, therefore good Brutus, be prepared to hear: And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus, Were common laughter; or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protester: If you know That I do fawn on men and hug them hard And after scandal them, or if you know That I profess myself in banqueting To all the rout; then hold me dangerous- Therefore: for that reason. Modestly: without exaggeration discover: reveal: Jealous of: suspicious of. Gentle: noble: Laughter: subject of jest, laughing stock. Did use protester: were in the habit of cheapening my friendship by promising to every new acquaintance who says he wants to be friends with me: Fawn on: make myself agreeable to scandal: slander: That rout: that when I’ve had a few drinks declare myself pals with the whole crowd. Hold: consider: Flourish: trumpet fanfare. Flourish and shout Brutus What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Caesar for their king. Cassius Ay, do you fear it? Then you must think you would not have it so. Brutus would not; Cassius, yet love him well: But why do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? 85 If it be aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye and death in the other And will look on both indifferently: For let the gods speed me as I love The name of honor more than fear death. Cassius I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus; As well as I do know your outward favor: ‘ard: concerning_ eral: public. Indifferently: unconcernedly: prosper: appearance.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
In this scene from Julius Caesar, we see a conversation between Cassius and Brutus, where Cassius tries to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar. The lines explore themes of honor, power, and self-perception, particularly in the way Cassius manipulates Brutus’ sense of honor and self-image.
Explanation of the Passage:
- “This is the yoke: the oppression of these times” refers to the burden or the control Caesar has over Rome. It is a metaphor for the political climate under Caesar’s rule, which Cassius views as oppressive.
- “Had his eyes: had the speaker’s eyes (to see himself as others see him)”: Here, Cassius is implying that Brutus would understand the situation better if he could see himself the way others do, suggesting that Brutus doesn’t fully understand how others perceive Caesar’s power. It’s also a subtle criticism of Brutus, implying he’s blind to the reality of Caesar’s growing influence.
- “Modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of”: Cassius is encouraging Brutus to reflect on his true feelings about Caesar and the potential for his own greatness, urging him to acknowledge things about himself that he hasn’t yet realized.
- “Be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus”: Cassius reassures Brutus not to be suspicious of his intentions. He tries to downplay any personal ambition, framing himself as a noble and trustworthy character.
- “For that reason”: Cassius implies that if Brutus were to see Caesar’s rise and his own situation clearly, he would recognize that action is needed to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant.
- “Flourish and shout”: This marks the moment when there is a fanfare, and the people cheer for Caesar, which Cassius uses as evidence of their dangerous love for Caesar, further feeding Brutus’ fears about Caesar’s growing power.
- “Set honor in one eye and death in the other And will look on both indifferently”: Brutus here is asserting that he values honor more than life itself, showing his inner conflict about whether to act against Caesar or remain passive. He says he would face both honor and death equally without fear, suggesting his stoic nature.
Themes:
The passage highlights key themes such as:
- Power and Tyranny: Cassius wants to persuade Brutus that Caesar’s rise to power threatens the freedom of Rome, using his growing popularity to push Brutus into action.
- Honor vs. Fear: Brutus is portrayed as a man who values honor above all else, even if it leads to death, which is a central conflict throughout the play.
- Self-Perception: Cassius tries to manipulate Brutus by suggesting he does not fully understand himself and his role in Rome.
By the end of this scene, Cassius has planted the seed of doubt in Brutus’ mind about Caesar’s intentions, setting the stage for the conspiracy that will follow.
