13 Matching Annotations
  1. Jul 2019
    1.   CASSIUS. Forever and forever farewell, Brutus!    If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed;    If not, ’tis true this parting was well made.  BRUTUS. Why then, lead on. O, that a man might know    The end of this day’s business ere it come!    But it sufficeth that the day will end,    And then the end is known. Come, ho! Away! Exeunt.

      Dramatic Text: This section i the production is moved back allowing for Cassius' soliloquy to be more open with the audience. With the absence of Brutus, she no longer feels the need to disguise herself as a different person to become the type of woman that Brutus needs by his side. As seen through Brutus' lack of concern for his wife (before she shows him the scars) he feels as if he is superior towards others and needs someone who is able to keep up with his brilliance. This final exchange between the two shows how Cassius attempts to warm up to him with her 'true' self and advance for an embrace only to be disheartened when Brutus dismissively gestures towards her not to.

    2. ANTONY. Not stingless too.  BRUTUS. O, yes, and soundless too,    For you have stol’n their buzzing, Antony,    And very wisely threat before you sting.  ANTONY. Villains! You did not so when your vile daggers    Hack’d one another in the sides of Caesar.

      Written Text: Antony first attempts to use euphemism to describe the death of Caesar, attempting to gain the upper hand by making Brutus and Cassius feel guilty, "not stingless too." Brutus, with his wisdom of words, identifies this attempt and address it immediately by continuing the symbolism of a bee and downplaying the murder further."o, yes, and soundless too."Revealing his impatient and violent nature (thirst for blood), Antony is immediately sent into uproar, contrasting with the more refined character he was not too long ago, trying to settle the dispute through words. Despite the knowledge that Brutus would always win a battle of words, revealing perhaps and inner nature of the desire to fight and fulfil his promise of vengeance .

    3. OCTAVIUS. So I hope,    I was not born to die on Brutus’ sword.  BRUTUS. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,    Young man, thou couldst not die more honorable.

      Written Text: Octavius here speaks about how dying to Brutus and his cause would be the most dishonourable thing that would ever happen to him after the death of Caesar. To which Brutus argues,"thou couldst no die more honorable". In the end Brutus kills himself which Anthony refers back to this quote by stating that Brutus died the most honourable roman. Ironic since Brutus said anyone who would die by his hand should consider themselves as honoured.

    1. Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.

      Dramatic text; During the exchange with Messala, Brutus seats her down and immediately begins pouring a drink out for himself showing his more self centred personality showing how even the most 'noblest of romans' can fall victim to their less desirable personalities. The drink can also symbolise the lack of faith Brutus has in his friends and their abilities, knowing that they are all outmanned. Therefore throwing away his wellbeing without a care in the world. Also, while Brutus pours himself the drink, it starts slowly but quickly dumps the rest of it in, conveying his impatience of her slow recounting of the situations.

    2. Brutus

      Dramatic Text; Whether simply being more tired out from the performance or intentional. Brutus' hair is noticeable much less sleek and more wild showing his state of mind. From the cool and calculating gentleman to someone who begins to lash out more, a hinted in the exchange between him and his wife. His movements while arguing with Cassius are more exaggerated to express his suppressed emotions, contrasting with his earlier speech at Caesar's funeral. Again hinting at the fact that the Brutus we saw earlier was a mask, and wearing something to blend in with society's reforms.

    3. Enter the Ghost of Caesar.     How ill this taper burns! Ha, who comes here?    I think it is the weakness of mine eyes    That shapes this monstrous apparition.    It comes upon me. Art thou anything?    Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil    That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare?    Speak to me what thou art.  GHOST. Thy evil spirit, Brutus.  BRUTUS. Why comest thou?  GHOST. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.  BRUTUS. Well, then I shall see thee again?  GHOST. Ay, at Philippi.  BRUTUS. Why, I will see thee at Philippi then. Exit Ghost.

      Written Text: The Ghost of Caesar can be taken literally as a foreshadowing message from the grave which in my opinion would be very boring. The ghost of Caesar has to symbolise the state of mind Brutus is now in, seeing him from a very logistical man to someone speaking to his own guilty subconscious. The ghost could have been any random ghost, so why does Shakespeare choose Caesar? By making Brutus very tired and almost asleep from reading a book, the audience questions whether the ghost is really there. I also love the very succinct conversation between Brutus and the ghost, reminds my of the interaction between the narrator and raven in "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe

    1.  ANTONY

      Dramatic text: Contrasting with Brutus' very refined and calmed speech, Antony manages to express his wide inner emotions and turmoil widely, straying away from the microphone and relying on his passion and voice to carry out his message across to the audience. With each actor having a microphone clipped onto their costumes, why do they need a physical clunky microphone? Simple, it symbolises the artificialness of Brutus' eulogy, relying on a voice manipulator to sway the people. Antony's more natural methods reach the audiences' hearts and understand the sincere pain he feels.

    2.  Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. Exit.

      Dramatic Text: In this scene we can see Brutus shaking hands with Antony before depart. Brutus can be seen turning around allowing everyone in the surrounding area to see this hand shake as support from Caesar's greatest ally. This shows' Brutus' dramatic performance and experience in swaying the crowd to his side of the argument. The facial expression on Antony during this moment however is shocked at hearing the people of Rome cheer for Brutus at the funeral of Caesar.

    3. There    is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor,    and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a    bondman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so    rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have I    offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If    any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

      Written Text: Brutus at the beginning uses asyndeton to list the characteristics which he and the commoners loved about Caesar as well as a mention of Caesar's flaw. By sneaking in a comment "death for his ambition", the dangers of having a man wielding a great amount of power is amplified by his ambition become more evident to the commoners swaying them using Brutus' only weapon, words. Brutus' golden tongue is re-enforced when he gives the chance for the people to speak out against his actions "If any, speak, for him have I offended." Doing this makes Brutus seem to be righteous and his actions justified.

    1. Are yet two Romans living such as these?    The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!    It is impossible that ever Rome

      Written text: Brutus considers his last friends to be the "last romans" due to his belief that all those who continued to follow Caesar and Antony were traitors to the republic of Rome and according to Antony, in one of his last lines claims that Brutus was the 'noblest of romans' stating that perhaps Antony himself does not see himself as a worthy roman anymore, but simply a man filled with a vengeance.

    2.  CASSIUS. Titinius, if thou lovest me,    Mount thou my horse and hide thy spurs in him,    Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops    And here again, that I may rest assured    Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

      Written text: With barely any interactions between the two characters, we haven't seen any relationship between the two, which begs the question of why Cassius feels the need for Titinius to check on his tents. This shows how Cassius is a manipulative person to the bitter end since she uses Titinius as a decoy in hopes of drawing out Antony and Octavius to move them into a better position to fight. Although in the end he does have a change of heart and feels guilt, ending his life and generously allowing his slave to be freed.

    3. Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I    Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,    And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.    By your leave, gods, this is a Roman’s part.    Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.

      Dramatic Text: With the casting choice of Cassius as a woman, scenes where Cassius consults with Brutus (which would have been considered as humorous fun between two brothers) has the undertone of an affair between the two. Hence, when Titinius kills himself after seeing the dead body of Cassius it brings up the idea of Brutus being able to woo Cassius with the power of words, while contrasting with Titinius, who barely has any lines instead using actions (his suicide) to prove his love for Cassius.

  2. May 2019
    1. Brutus, I do observe you now of late;    I have not from your eyes that gentleness    And show of love as I was wont to have;    You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand    Over your friend that loves you.

      Showering him with compliments, something that Cassius plans to do later by throwing "anonymous" letters through the window. Planting the seeds of importance into his mind.