Thursday, February 18, 2010

Julius Caesar: Performance Assessment

On this passage Artemidorus has a not he needs to give to Caesar which might save him from the conspirators, but that would only happen if Caesar gets to read the note, if he doesn’t read the note then Fates might as well be on the conspirator’s side. This passage is significant, because it brings back the fact that there are still people our Caesar’s side. This is also significant because the fact that Artemidorus has written this note telling Caesar to be aware, shows that the Conspirator’s plot has been discovered. This passage is located in Act 2 ‘scene 3 lines 1-13 (l-end). Artemidorus- “Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have and eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wrong’d Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, Artemidorus. Here will I stand till Caesar pass along, and as a suitor will I give him this. My heart lament that virtue cannot live out of the teeth of emulation. If thou read this, O Caesar, thou may’st live; if not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.