Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

LUCIUS

in Julius Caesar — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

PlayJulius Caesar
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1623
First performance1599
Decade1620s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Luc.
Words301
Characters1496
Typicality0.39 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11954.30
BritDrama no.1198
ClusterCluster 13 — Attendant courtiers & citizens

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Called you, my Lord? I will, my Lord. The Taper burns in your Closet, Sir: Searching the Window for a Flint, I found This Paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to Bed. I know not, Sir. I will, Sir. Sir, March is wasted fifteen days. Sir, it's your Brother Cassius at the Door, Who does desire to see you. No, Sir, there are more with him. No, Sir, their Hats are plucked about their Ears, And half their Faces buried in their Cloaks, That by no means I may discover them, By any mark of favour. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. To know my errand Madam. Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? I hear none Madam. Sooth Madam, I hear nothing. Here in the Tent. Varrus, and Claudio. I was sure your Lordship did not give it me. I my Lord, an't please you. It is my duty Sir. I have slept my Lord already. The strings my Lord, are false. My Lord. My Lord, I do not know that I did cry. Nothing my Lord. My Lord. Oh young and Noble Cato, art thou down? Why now thou diest, as bravely as Titinius, And mayest be honoured, being Cato is Son. Only I yield to die: There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight: Kill Brutus, and be honoured in his death. Safe Antony, Brutus is safe enough: I dare assure thee, that no Enemy Shall ever take alive the Noble Brutus : The Gods defend him from so great a shame, When you do find him, or alive, or dead, He will be found Like Brutus, Like himself.

Plot summary

Plot — Julius Caesar
Caesar returns to Rome triumphant over Pompey. He is warned to beware the Ides of March, and later offered the crown, which he refuses. Meanwhile Cassius sounds out Brutus’ attitude to Caesar’s ambition, and determines to screw him up to conspiracy. Supernatural portents disturb the night before the Ides of March. Brutus convinces himself that Caesar must be assassinated to prevent him establishing himself as a monarch. The conspirators meet at his house, and Brutus insists on limiting the scope of the plot. Cicero is not to be taken into their confidence, Mark Antony is to be spared, and only Caesar murdered. After the conspirators have left, Portia forces Brutus to take her into his confidence. The portents and Calpurnia’s anxiety persuade Caesar to stay at home, but Decius convinces him to go to the Senate as arranged. Artemidorus tries to give him a letter warning against the conspirators, but he refuses to read it. He is stabbed to death, and confusion ensues. Against Cassius’ wishes, Brutus agrees that Antony may speak at Caesar’s funeral. Brutus’ speech justifying the assassination temporarily convinces the mob, but Antony’s rhetoric, and a bequest in Caesar’s will, turns them against the conspirators. Brutus and Cassius flee Rome. In the riots that follow, the conspirators’ houses are burned and Cinna the poet killed, mistaken for the conspirator of the same name. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus seize power, draw up a death list, and make preparations for war with Brutus and Cassius. Portia commits suicide. Brutus and Cassius quarrel, but reconcile themselves as friends. They determine to give battle at Philippi rather than waiting for Antony and Octavius to come to them at Sardis. Brutus is visited by Caesar’s ghost, which tells him that they will meet again at Philippi. The two armies face off at Philippi, and Cassius, mistakenly thinking that his side is beaten, commits suicide. Once the day really is lost, Brutus has difficulty in finding a friend willing to help him do the same; finally Strato holds his sword while he runs on it and dies. Antony and Octavius, victorious, pay him tribute and promise him an honourable burial.