Classic Literature

Julius CaesarAct 3, Scene 3

Act 3

Scene III

A street.

	Enter Cinna* the poet.*
Cinna	I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy: I have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet something leads me forth.
	Enter Citizens.
First Citizen	What is your name?
Second Citizen	Whither are you going?
Third Citizen	Where do you dwell?
Fourth Citizen	Are you a married man or a bachelor?
Second Citizen	Answer every man directly.
First Citizen	Ay, and briefly.
Fourth Citizen	Ay, and wisely.
Third Citizen	Ay, and truly, you were best.
Cinna	What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor.
Second Citizen	That’s as much as to say, they are fools that marry: you’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.
Cinna	Directly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral.
First Citizen	As a friend or an enemy?
Cinna	As a friend.
Second Citizen	That matter is answered directly.
Fourth Citizen	For your dwelling⁠—briefly.
Cinna	Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
Third Citizen	Your name, sir, truly.
Cinna	Truly, my name is Cinna.
First Citizen	Tear him to pieces; he’s a conspirator.
Cinna	I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.
Fourth Citizen	Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.
Cinna	I am not Cinna the conspirator.
Fourth Citizen	It is no matter, his name’s Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.
Third Citizen	Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! fire-brands: to Brutus’, to Cassius’; burn all: some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s; some to Ligarius’: away, go! Exeunt.

Companion

Previously

Act 3, Scene 2: In the Forum, Brutus persuades the citizens that Caesar's death has preserved their freedom, then leaves them to hear Antony. Antony challenges the charge of ambition, shows Caesar's wounds and announces his gifts to the citizens, prompting calls for revenge and plans to burn the conspirators' houses. After the crowd carries away the body, Antony hears that Octavius has arrived and that Brutus and Cassius have fled Rome.

Who's who so far

Flavius Has been put to silence with Marullus for removing decorations from images of Caesar, according to Casca.
Marullus Has been put to silence with Flavius for removing decorations from images of Caesar, according to Casca.
First Commoner A carpenter among the commoners whom Flavius and Marullus confront in the street.
Second Commoner A cobbler who answers the questioning with puns before explaining that the commoners are celebrating Caesar's triumph.
Caesar Refuses to reverse Publius Cimber's banishment and declares himself unshakeable before the conspirators, including Brutus, stab him to death.
Antony Turns the crowd against the conspirators through his funeral speech, Caesar's wounds and the will, then leaves to meet Octavius.
Calpurnia Frightened by strange sights and a dream of Caesar's statue bleeding, she briefly persuades him to stay at home before Decius changes his mind.
Portia Struggles to keep her anxiety about Brutus's enterprise from Lucius while asking him to bring news from the senate-house.
Decius Brutus Helps arrange Metellus Cimber's approach to Caesar and joins the conspirators in killing him.
Cicero Hears Casca's account of strange sights but cautions that people may interpret events to suit themselves.
Brutus Wins the citizens' approval by claiming to have killed Caesar for Rome's freedom, leaves them to hear Antony and is later reported to have fled Rome with Cassius.
Cassius Leaves to explain Caesar's death to part of the crowd and is later reported to have fled Rome with Brutus.
Casca Strikes Caesar first, beginning the attack in which the other conspirators and Brutus join.
Soothsayer Answers Caesar's remark that the ides of March have come by reminding him that they have not yet gone.
Cinna Joins the attack on Caesar and immediately calls for the streets to hear that tyranny is dead.
Lucius Has to ask the anxious Portia what errand she wants him to perform before she sends him to carry a greeting to Brutus and return with his reply.
Metellus Cimber Kneels to seek his brother Publius Cimber's return from banishment as the conspirators gather around Caesar, then joins their attack.
Trebonius Draws Antony away before the attack on Caesar and returns to report that Antony has fled home and the streets are in panic.
Caius Ligarius Ill when he visits Brutus, he declares himself ready to follow him in an honourable enterprise without yet knowing what it is.
Caesar's servant Carries Caesar's instructions to the priests and reports their advice to stay at home after they find no heart in the sacrificial animal.
Publius Is bewildered by Caesar's killing, and Brutus and Cassius urge him to leave safely because he has no part in their deed.
Artemidorus Urgently asks Caesar to read his warning first, but Caesar puts aside the personal request and dismisses his insistence.
Lepidus Is at Caesar's house with Octavius, according to the servant who speaks to Antony.
Popilius Lena Wishes Cassius's enterprise success and approaches Caesar, briefly alarming the conspirators before Brutus reassures Cassius.
Antony's servant Carries Antony's request for safe passage and an explanation of Caesar's death to Brutus, then leaves to fetch his master.
Octavius's servant Reports that Octavius is approaching Rome, weeps at Caesar's body and stays to help Antony carry it to the market-place before taking news back.
First Citizen Initially praises Brutus but turns against him during Antony's speech and urges the crowd to burn the conspirators' houses.
Second Citizen Proposes comparing Brutus's and Cassius's reasons, but later calls the conspirators murderers and pledges to follow Antony.
Third Citizen Wants Brutus to become Caesar after his speech, then praises Antony and urges the crowd to seek the conspirators.
Fourth Citizen Initially warns that Antony should not speak against Brutus, then demands Caesar's will and calls the killers traitors.
Cinna the poetnew Goes out despite an unsettling dream and faces citizens calling for him to be torn to pieces even after he explains that he is a poet rather than the conspirator.

Words to know

fantasy: imagination
brands: burning pieces of wood used to start fires

Spoiler-free: these notes only cover what you have read.

Act 3, Scene 3 in brief

Cinna the poet enters alone, troubled by a dream of feasting with Caesar and unable to explain why he goes out despite his reluctance. Four citizens question him and demand answers that are direct, brief, wise and true. His attempt to follow their instructions becomes dangerous when the Second Citizen twists his statement that he is a bachelor into an insult to married men. Cinna says that he is going to Caesar's funeral as a friend, but his name immediately prompts a demand to tear him to pieces as a conspirator. Even his repeated identification as the poet fails to stop the threats, because the Fourth Citizen substitutes bad verses and then the shared name as reasons for violence. The Third Citizen ends by calling for attacks on the conspirators' houses, linking their threats against an uninvolved man to the crowd's wider pursuit of revenge.

Key quotes

I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

Why it matters The repeated identification is a desperate attempt to make the citizens recognise the difference between two men. Their response shows that accurate information cannot restrain their desire to attack.

The crowd and public opinionAppearance and reality

It is no matter, his name’s Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

Why it matters The Fourth Citizen dismisses the distinction between the poet and the conspirator. His grotesque instruction turns a shared name into a reason to destroy a person's body.

The crowd and public opinionAppearance and reality

Themes in this chapter

The crowd and public opinionAppearance and realityFate, omens and choice

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