Julius Caesar Short Summary

The actions in the book by William Shakespeare begins in 44BC.  The reader encounters Caesar in a celebratory mood after his triumph in Spain. Flavius and Marullus, Caesar’s foes, interrupt the celebration. Though the soothsayer warns Caesar of continuing with the March, he continues. Many supporters are moving around with Caesar.

When Caesar leaves, two people remain: Marcus Brutus, Caesar’s friend, and Cassius, Caesar’s long-time foe. Cassius is envious of the power Caesar yields and want to find out why Brutus likes him. The reader notices that there are those times when Brutus opposes Caesar on issues that touch on principles. Brutus even seems unopposed to the idea of planning a coup against Caesar. The two promise to meet later.

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In the next scenes, the reader learns that that Cassius has gathered people who believe Caesar should be assassinated. Brutus is the man to head the group that is to assassinate Caesar. The murder is to take place in the Senate chambers. Portia, Brutus’s wife, suspects that there is something amiss and makes inquiries from her husband. Brutus promises to reveal it later.

The next scene is during the day of the assassination. It is in Caesar’s house. Given the violent events of the previous night, Calphurnia, Caesar’s wife, feels her husband is unsafe and warns him of going to the Capitol. Caesar feels that he is in control despite the danger lurking around him. Although Caesar receives several warnings, he ignores them, and the conspirators finally kill him in full view of spectators in the Senate.

Mark Antony insists he wants to speak during Caesar’ funeral. Though Cassius opposes the move, Brutus consents. Anthony’ speech convinces the crowd that those who murdered Caesar should be sort and killed. The conspirators are forced to flee.

After Cassius and Brutus escape for a long time and are involved in an argument, they agree to meet those pursuing them. They decide to attack Antony and his forces in the plains of Philippi. Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus. However, Brutus’s bravery is unshaken.

At first, it appeared as if the conspirators would win. However, Cassius gets confused and kills himself. Because his forces no longer have a strong leader, they are defeated. Brutus also commits suicide for fear of humiliation by Antony. At last, Antony describes Brutus as a nobleman while telling people that the Roman Empire is now in the right hands, having avenged Caesar’s death.