Caesar’s murder plays an important role in the play Julius Caesar (1599) written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). He is accompanied by Antony, Lepidus, two senators, and the conspirators. He enters and passes through the crowd-lined street to the Capitol. Artemidorus gives Caesar his petition about the list of conspirators. Caesar does not read the list because Decius gives him another. Artemidorus protests and says this is the more important as it affects Caesar directly, but Caesar says this is the very reason for reading it last.
More Notes: Julius Caesar
The group enters the Capitol, and Popilius joins Caesar. Popilius seems to have found out about the plot. This worries Cassius as he fears the conspirators are about to be caught, but Brutus assures him they are safe.
Trebonius draws Antony away while Metellus approaches Caesar with a petition. He wants his brother’s banishment repealed, but Caesar tells him not to beg. Brutus joins the appeal by kneeling at Caesar’s feet. But Caesar remains firm like “The northern star”.
Then Casca strikes the first dagger blow at the back of Caesar’s neck. He blows his aim through excitement, but the others press in and repeatedly stab Caesar.
At that time, Caesar sees Brutus with them, who stops to resist and takes the blows. As Brutus attacks him, he utters his last words, “Et tu Brute?”. This is a Latin phrase that means “You as well, Brutus?”. Then Caesar dies. He is killed at the foot of Pompey’s statue. This is very ironic as Caesar defeated Pompey in a battle to take power in Rome.
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