Julius Caesar: Act 2, Scene 2

A complete, point-wise summary of the events taking place at Caesar's house on the morning of his assassination.

• 1. A Restless and Stormy Night The scene opens early in the morning inside Julius Caesar's house in Rome. There is a terrible storm with thunder and lightning. Caesar is awake because his wife, Calpurnia, has been having severe nightmares, repeatedly crying out in her sleep, "Help, ho! they murder Caesar!"
• 2. Seeking Omens from the Gods Troubled by the unnatural storm and his wife's cries, Caesar orders a servant to go to the priests (augurers). He asks them to immediately offer an animal sacrifice and bring back their predictions about whether he will be successful and safe today.
• 3. Calpurnia's Dreadful Warnings Calpurnia enters and begs Caesar not to leave the house. She is terrified because of horrific, supernatural sights reported by the night watchmen. These include a lioness giving birth in the streets, graves opening up to release the dead, and fiery ghost warriors fighting in the clouds until blood drizzled down upon the Capitol building.
• 4. Caesar's Courage and Belief in Fate Caesar tries to dismiss her fears, stating that whatever the gods have planned cannot be avoided. He delivers his famous dialogue on bravery: "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once." He believes it is strange for men to fear death, since it is an inevitable end that will come when it is meant to come.
• 5. The Priests Deliver a Bad Omen The servant returns with a dreadful message from the priests. They strongly advise Caesar to stay home because, when they cut open the sacrificed animal, they could not find a heart inside its body. Although Caesar initially interprets this as a challenge to his courage, he eventually gives in to Calpurnia when she drops to her knees and begs him to let Mark Antony say he is sick.
• 6. Decius Brutus Arrives Decius Brutus (one of the secret conspirators plotting to kill Caesar) arrives to escort Caesar to the Senate House. Caesar tells Decius to inform the Senators that he will simply not come today. He refuses to lie and say he is sick, stating proudly that his own willpower is reason enough.
• 7. The Dream of the Bloody Statue To satisfy Decius's curiosity, Caesar explains the real reason he is staying home. He describes Calpurnia's terrifying dream: She saw a statue of Caesar acting like a fountain, pouring out pure blood from a hundred spouts. In the dream, smiling Romans came and washed their hands in his blood, which Calpurnia took as a clear warning of imminent evil.
• 8. Decius's Clever Manipulation Decius, needing to get Caesar to the Capitol so the murder can take place, quickly twists the meaning of the dream. He flatters Caesar by telling him the dream is actually a very positive and lucky vision. He claims the blood represents the reviving strength and life that Caesar will provide to the great city of Rome, and that Romans are bathing in it to gain honor and blessings from him.
• 9. The Bait of the Crown To ensure Caesar leaves the house, Decius drops a massive piece of news: the Senate has decided to officially crown Caesar as King today. Decius warns Caesar that if he stays home because of his wife's bad dreams, the Senators might change their minds, mock him, and whisper that he is a coward.
• 10. Caesar Changes His Mind and Leaves Trapped by his own pride, ambition for the crown, and fear of looking weak, Caesar completely changes his mind. He tells Calpurnia that her fears are foolish, feels ashamed for yielding to them, and demands his robe. The rest of the conspirators, along with Mark Antony, arrive at his house to escort him. Unaware that these men are about to assassinate him, Caesar warmly welcomes them, thanks them for their courtesy, and invites them inside to drink wine together as friends before they depart.