Synopsis

Julius Caesar

The great Roman general Julius Caesar has defeated his rival Pompey in battle, and the people cheer his return to Rome in triumph. As Caesar enjoys the festivities, a soothsayer interrupts, warning Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.”

Cassius and Brutus, two leading senators, watch the proceedings with trepidation. Cassius tests the principled Brutus’ opposition to Caesar by telling him that Caesar has ambitions to be named king. They hear loud cheers, and the senator Caska informs them that Caesar’s right-hand man Mark Antony offered Caesar a crown three times, and each time Caesar refused it. Unsettled, Brutus tells Cassius to speak with him again the next day.

Later, as a fiery storm rages over Rome, Caska reports strange omens. Cassius claims that they are signs that Caesar will be named king, and declares his intentions to resist. Caska decides to join Cassius in opposing Caesar. To bring Brutus over to their cause, Cassius forges letters hinting at Caesar’s ambition, and arranges for them to be dropped where Brutus will find them.

In the middle of the night, six senators arrive at Brutus’ house to convince him to join their plot against Caesar. They all agree to assassinate Caesar the following day—the Ides of March. Cassius wants to kill Antony as well, but Brutus refuses. After the conspirators depart, Brutus’ wife Portia comes to him, convinced that he is keeping a secret from her. Moved by her devotion, he almost reveals the conspiracy to her.

The next morning, Caesar’s wife Calpurnia tries to convince him to stay at home, terrified by dreams that foretell his death. Although Caesar scoffs at his wife’s superstitious fears, he finally agrees stay home and to send Antony to the Senate in his place. But the conspirators arrive and manage to convince Caesar to go to the Senate. When they arrive at the Senate house, the conspirators assassinate Caesar. Before they can leave to proclaim that they have liberated Rome, Antony returns, asking only to speak at Caesar’s funeral; despite Cassius’ protestations, Brutus agrees.

Brutus defends Caesar’s killing to the people in the Forum. But Antony, arriving with Caesar’s body, extols Caesar’s virtues. Whipped into a frenzy by Antony’s words, the people race off to get revenge on Caesar’s murderers. Antony receives word that Caesar’s grand-nephew and heir Octavius has come to Rome, and that Brutus and Cassius have fled the growing mob.

Antony joins with Octavius and Caesar’s ally Lepidus to eliminate their enemies and rule Rome, but immediately informs Octavius of his intentions to cut off Lepidus after he has served his usefulness. As Brutus and Cassius prepare for war against Antony and Octavius, they fall out bitterly over money. Brutus apologizes for his angry mood, revealing that his wife Portia has killed herself. That night, the ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus and promises that they will meet again in battle.

The two armies meet on the plains of Philippi. When the battle turns against Cassius’ side, he kills himself in despair. Brutus manages to overpower Octavius for a while, but falters when Antony joins the fight against him. Surrounded, he too falls on his sword. Having won, Antony and Octavius pay tribute to the well-intentioned Brutus.