Scene 1: Line-by-Line Explanation with Meanings
FLAVIUS:
“Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home!”
- Flavius commands the crowd to go home, accusing them of being lazy and unproductive.
“Is this a holiday?”
- He asks sarcastically if it’s a public holiday, implying there’s no reason for them to be out.
“What, know you not, being mechanical, you ought not walk
Upon a laboring day without the sign of your profession?”
- Flavius reminds them that as tradesmen (referred to as “mechanical”), they should only be outside working and visibly identifiable by their tools or work attire.
“Speak, what trade art thou?”
- He demands the first Commoner (the Carpenter) to reveal his job.
CARPENTER:
“Why, sir, a carpenter.”
- The Carpenter replies simply, identifying his trade.
MARULLUS:
“Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?”
- Marullus questions why the Carpenter isn’t wearing his work attire (a leather apron) or carrying his tools (a rule or measuring stick).
“What dost thou with thy best apparel on?”
- He asks why the Carpenter is dressed in his finest clothes instead of work clothes.
“You, sir, what trade are you?”
- Marullus turns to the Cobbler and asks for his profession.
COBBLER:
“Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.”
- The Cobbler humbly replies, saying he’s just a simple shoemaker (cobbler).
MARULLUS:
“But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.”
- Marullus becomes impatient and insists on a straightforward answer.
COBBLER:
“A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.”
- The Cobbler uses a pun, saying he mends “bad soles.” This literally refers to repairing shoes, but also humorously implies he fixes “souls” (moral character).
FLAVIUS:
“What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?”
- Flavius angrily calls the Cobbler a “knave” (a mischievous or dishonest person) and demands an immediate answer about his trade.
COBBLER:
“Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet if you be out, sir, I can mend you.”
- The Cobbler politely asks Marullus not to be angry (“out with me”). He then uses wordplay, suggesting that if Marullus is “out” (either upset or metaphorically worn out), he can “mend” him, referring to his skill as a shoemaker.
MARULLUS:
“What mean’st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow?”
- Marullus is confused and insulted, taking the Cobbler’s joke as disrespectful. He demands an explanation.
COBBLER:
“Why, sir, cobble you.”
- The Cobbler continues with his pun, saying he could “cobble” (repair) Marullus, sticking to the double meaning of repairing shoes and fixing issues.
FLAVIUS:
“Thou art a cobbler, art thou?”
- Flavius asks for confirmation of the Cobbler’s trade.
COBBLER:
“Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl.”
- The Cobbler cleverly states that his livelihood comes from an “awl” (a small pointed tool used for making holes in leather).
“I meddle with no tradesman’s matters nor women’s matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes.”
- He humorously claims he doesn’t interfere in other people’s business, only repairing shoes, which he describes as being a “surgeon” for worn-out footwear.
“When they are in great danger, I recover them.”
- He jokes that he “saves” shoes when they are in poor condition.
“As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.”
- He brags that many respectable men have worn shoes repaired by him, made of fine cowhide (“neat’s leather”).
FLAVIUS:
“But wherefore art not in thy shop today? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?”
- Flavius asks why the Cobbler isn’t at work and why he’s gathering others in the streets.
COBBLER:
“Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work.”
- The Cobbler jokes that he wants people to wear out their shoes so he can have more business.
“But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.”
- He explains that they’ve taken the day off to celebrate Caesar’s victory.
MARULLUS:
“Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?”
- Marullus angrily questions why they are celebrating, asking what meaningful victory Caesar has achieved.
“What tributaries follow him to Rome to grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?”
- He demands to know if Caesar has brought any captured foreign leaders or riches to parade through the streets.
“You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!”
- Marullus insults the crowd, calling them unthinking and unfeeling, worse than lifeless objects.
“O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey?”
- He accuses them of being disloyal and heartless, reminding them of their previous devotion to Pompey, Caesar’s former ally and rival.
“Many a time and oft have you climbed up to walls and battlements, to towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, your infants in your arms, and there have sat the livelong day, with patient expectation, to see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome.”
- Marullus recalls how the people used to eagerly gather to watch Pompey’s parades, even waiting all day with their children just to catch a glimpse of him.
“And when you saw his chariot but appear, have you not made an universal shout, that Tiber trembled underneath her banks?”
- He describes how their cheers for Pompey used to be so loud that it seemed like the Tiber River itself shook from the sound.
MARULLUS:
“To hear the replication of your sounds made in her concave shores?”
- Marullus sarcastically suggests that the people’s cheers echoing off Rome’s concave riverbanks (Tiber’s shores) glorify Caesar unnecessarily.
“And do you now put on your best attire?”
- He questions why they’ve dressed in their finest clothes for this occasion.
“And do you now cull out a holiday?”
- He accuses them of declaring a holiday on their own to celebrate Caesar’s triumph.
“And do you now strew flowers in his way that comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?”
- Marullus condemns them for throwing flowers to honor Caesar, who achieved his victory through the bloodshed of Pompey and his allies.
“Be gone! Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, pray to the gods to intermit the plague that needs must light on this ingratitude.”
- He angrily orders them to go home, repent for their disloyalty to Pompey, and beg the gods to spare them from divine punishment.
FLAVIUS:
“Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault assemble all the poor men of your sort.”
- Flavius urges the commoners to gather others like themselves to reflect on their betrayal.
“Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears into the channel, till the lowest stream do kiss the most exalted shores of all.”
- He instructs them to weep at the Tiber River until their tears raise the water level enough to reach the highest riverbanks—a poetic expression of grief and repentance.
(All the Commoners exit.)
“See whe’er their basest mettle be not moved. They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.”
- Flavius observes that their guilty consciences (“basest mettle”) have silenced them, and they leave without protest.
FLAVIUS:
“Go you down that way towards the Capitol. This way will I.”
- Flavius instructs Marullus to go one way while he goes another to disrupt Caesar’s celebrations.
“Disrobe the images if you do find them decked with ceremonies.”
- He orders Marullus to remove any decorations, such as wreaths or ribbons, placed on statues of Caesar.
MARULLUS:
“May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal.”
- Marullus hesitates, pointing out that it’s the Feast of Lupercal, a sacred Roman festival, and wonders if tampering with the decorations is appropriate.
FLAVIUS:
“It is no matter. Let no images be hung with Caesar’s trophies.”
- Flavius dismisses the concern, insisting that no statues should honor Caesar with celebratory decorations.
“I’ll about and drive away the vulgar from the streets; so do you too, where you perceive them thick.”
- Flavius resolves to clear the streets of commoners celebrating Caesar, instructing Marullus to do the same in crowded areas.
“These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness.”
- Flavius uses a metaphor, comparing Caesar’s supporters to feathers in his wing. Removing those supporters (“plucking feathers”) will bring Caesar down to a more humble and ordinary level, preventing him from gaining unchecked power and oppressing others.
(They exit in different directions.)
- The two officials leave to carry out their plan, setting the stage for tension between the supporters of Caesar and those wary of his growing influence.
Overall Summary Act 1 Scene 1
The play begins on a street in Rome, where two Roman officials, Flavius and Marullus, meet a group of commoners celebrating Julius Caesar’s recent victory over Pompey. Flavius and Marullus are angry that the people, who once admired Pompey, are now cheering for Caesar, the man who defeated him. They accuse the crowd of being ungrateful and disloyal, forgetting their past love for Pompey.
Flavius and Marullus stop two tradesmen, a carpenter and a cobbler, and question why they are not at work. The cobbler responds with clever jokes and puns, frustrating the officials. The tradesmen explain that they are taking a day off to celebrate Caesar’s triumph. This explanation further angers the officials, especially Marullus, who reminds the crowd of how they used to climb rooftops and cheer for Pompey during his parades. He calls the people “blocks” and “stones,” accusing them of being heartless and fickle.
Marullus scolds the crowd for celebrating someone who gained power through the death of Pompey. He orders them to return home, kneel, and pray to the gods to forgive their ungratefulness. Flavius also tells the commoners to weep by the Tiber River, suggesting their tears should flow as an apology for their betrayal. Feeling guilty, the crowd disperses.
Once the commoners leave, Flavius and Marullus decide to take action against Caesar’s growing popularity. They plan to take down any decorations, such as flowers or ribbons, placed on Caesar’s statues. Marullus hesitates because it is the Feast of Lupercal, a sacred Roman festival, but Flavius insists it does not matter. He argues that they must stop Caesar from gaining too much power.
Flavius compares Caesar’s supporters to feathers in a bird’s wing. By “plucking” those feathers (removing his supporters), they can prevent Caesar from rising too high and keeping everyone else in fear. Determined to curb Caesar’s influence, Flavius and Marullus split up to carry out their plan.
This scene introduces the political conflict of the play, showing the growing tension between Caesar’s supporters and those who fear his ambition. It also highlights how easily the public’s loyalty shifts.
Language Devices in Act I, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar
1. Metaphor
- “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!”
- Marullus compares the commoners to rocks and stones to say they are foolish and unfeeling, showing his frustration with their behavior.
- “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch.”
- Flavius compares Caesar’s supporters to feathers in a bird’s wing. By removing those feathers, they can stop Caesar from becoming too powerful.
2. Pun (Wordplay)
- “A mender of bad soles.”
- The Cobbler jokes with the word “soles,” meaning both the soles of shoes and people’s souls.
- “If you be out, sir, I can mend you.”
- The Cobbler plays with the word “out,” meaning both “angry” and “broken,” adding humor to the conversation.
3. Rhetorical Questions
- “And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday?”
- Marullus asks these questions not to get answers but to criticize the crowd for celebrating Caesar and forgetting Pompey.
4. Imagery
- “Have you climbed up to walls and battlements, to towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, your infants in your arms?”
- Marullus paints a picture of how the people used to cheer for Pompey, showing their past loyalty.
- “Till the lowest stream do kiss the most exalted shores of all.”
- Flavius uses a poetic image of water rising to describe how the people should cry until their tears fill the river.
5. Alliteration
- “Pray to the gods to intermit the plague that needs must light on this ingratitude.”
- The repeated “p” sound in “pray” and “plague” makes Marullus’s words more powerful as he warns the people about the consequences of their actions.
6. Tone and Contrast
- The tone shifts between the Cobbler’s funny jokes and the serious scolding from Marullus and Flavius. This contrast shows the tension between the officials and the commoners.
7. Symbolism
- Flowers and decorations on Caesar’s statues symbolize how the people celebrate Caesar’s success. Flavius and Marullus want to remove them to stop Caesar from becoming too powerful.
8. Personification
- “That Tiber trembled underneath her banks.”
- The river Tiber is described as trembling from the people’s loud cheering, showing how excited they once were for Pompey.
Themes in Act I, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar
1. Loyalty and Betrayal
- The commoners once adored Pompey but now celebrate Caesar, showing how easily their loyalties change.
- Line: “And do you now strew flowers in his way that comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?”
- Marullus accuses the crowd of betraying Pompey by celebrating Caesar’s victory over him.
2. Power and Ambition
- Flavius and Marullus worry about Caesar’s growing power and want to stop him before he becomes too ambitious.
- Line: “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch.”
- Flavius compares Caesar’s supporters to feathers, suggesting that limiting his support will stop him from gaining too much power.
3. Public vs. Private Interests
- The commoners prioritize their personal joy and admiration for Caesar, while the tribunes focus on their duty to Rome.
- Line: “Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?”
- Flavius criticizes the Cobbler for leading people to celebrate Caesar instead of focusing on their responsibilities.
4. Manipulation and Persuasion
- Marullus uses harsh words to shame the crowd into feeling guilty for celebrating Caesar.
- Line: “You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!”
- By insulting the crowd, Marullus persuades them to question their actions and loyalty.
5. Class Conflict
- The tribunes look down on the commoners and criticize their lack of understanding and responsibility.
- Line: “Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home!”
- Flavius dismisses the commoners as lazy and unworthy of celebrating on a working day.
6. Political Unrest
- The scene introduces growing tension in Rome between those who support Caesar and those who fear his rise to power.
- Line: “Let no images be hung with Caesar’s trophies.”
- Flavius orders the removal of Caesar’s decorations to resist his growing influence.
7. Fickleness of the Crowd
- The crowd quickly shifts its loyalty from Pompey to Caesar, showing their inconsistency.
- Line: “Knew you not Pompey?”
- Marullus reminds the crowd of their past devotion to Pompey, contrasting it with their current celebration of Caesar.
8. Fear of Tyranny
- Flavius and Marullus fear that Caesar’s growing popularity will lead to him becoming a tyrant.
- Line: “Who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness.”
- Flavius expresses concern that Caesar will dominate and enslave the people if left unchecked.
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