1. Is Brutus an honorable man?

2. Consider Antony's funeral oration.

• How would you characterize him?
• To what or to whom is he dedicated at heart?
• Is he loyal to Caesar or does he have other motives?

3. How do you handle Cassius? Caesar clearly thinks he cannot be trusted, as a "lean and hungry" man--a man who looks greedy and ambitious.

• Does he manipulate Brutus?
• Or does he truly love Brutus, as he claims?

4. Notice that the common mob has a fairly large role in this play. How does Shakespeare use the crowd?

5. Notice the enormous number of symbols and signs to be interpreted--

• Calphurnia's dream
• the portents on the night the conspiracy is made
• How do people read these signs?
• Does anybody ever understand them?
• Do we?

6. Consider the role of the women within the play. After reading several comedies with strong women as central characters, these women seem odd.

• Why are they so powerless?

Thanks to JM Massi, Ph.D. for writing these study questions.