“The opening scene of “Julius Caesar” strikes the keynote of the whole action.” – Elucidate. 

Answer

“The opening scene of “Julius Caesar” strikes the keynote of the whole action.” – Elucidate. 

“Julius Caesar,” first performed in 1599, is a historical play and tragedy by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). In the play, Brutus joins a conspiracy led by Cassius to assassinate Julius Caesar to prevent Caesar from being a tyrant and save the people of Rome. Set in 44 BC Rome, the play delves into the political tension surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar and its aftermath.

In the play’s opening scene, two public officials, Flavius and Murellus, enter a Roman street. They derisively/angrily (expressing contempt or ridicule) order the commoners to return home and get back to work who have gathered to celebrate the victory parade of Julius Caesar. Murellus suggests that Caesar’s victory against his rival Pompey, another Roman, does not merit a triumph since it involves no conquering of a foreign foe. Murellus scolds in Scene 1,

“What conquest brings he home?

What tributaries follow him [Caesar] to Rome

To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?”

Flavius and Murellus suggest they thin the crowd to regulate Caesar’s popular support because such overwhelming popularity can turn Caesar into a dictator.

The play’s opening scene sets the stage for the entire play and foreshadows the upcoming events. Cassius conspires against Julius Caesar to murder him for personal ambition. Cassius manipulates Brutus to join the conspiracy as Brutus wants to save the people of Rome from tyranny, fearing Caesar would become a dictator. The play delves into the political tension surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar and its aftermath.

Here, we take note of the significance of the opening scene.

Political Turmoil and Loyalty: The scene opens with Flavius and Murellus scolding the commoners for celebrating Caesar’s triumph. This immediately introduces the political tension in Rome, where Caesar’s rise to power threatens the traditional order and loyalty to the Republic. This spark of political tension ignites as Cassius, Brutus, and other public officials murder Caesar, perhaps for varying motives.

Fickle Nature of Public Opinion: The commoners’ shift in allegiance from Pompey to Caesar reflects the fickle nature of public opinion. Murellus reminds the commoners of the days when they gathered to watch and cheer for Pompey’s triumphant returns from battle. However, due to a mere twist of fate, they rush out to celebrate his downfall. Murellus scolds them further for their disloyalty, ordering them to –

“pray to the gods to intermit the plague

That needs must light on this ingratitude”

The shifting nature of public opinion foreshadows people’s attitude after Caesar’s murder. At first, they support the conspirators. However, Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral soon turns the public against the conspirators, leading to a civil war and the demise of Brutus and Cassius.

Caesar’s Growing Power: Through the conversation between Murellus and the cobbler in the opening scene, the audience gains insight into Caesar’s ambitions and the consequences of his rise to power. Murellus questions the significance of Caesar’s triumph. Murellus suggests that Caesar’s triumph lacks the glory of previous victories because it is not against a foreign foe. In the opening scene, Flavius suggests they should thin the crowd to regulate Caesar’s popular support because such overwhelming popularity can turn Caesar into a dictator. Flavius says,

“These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing

Will make him fly an ordinary pitch”

Later In the play, Brutus joins the conspiracy to save the people of Rome, fearing that Caesar would become a dictator. After Caesar’s murder, Brutus addresses the Roman people in Act 3, Scene 2 –

“not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

The opening scene of “Julius Caesar” gives us an exact picture of the political tension surrounding Caesar’s growing popularity. This political tension foreshadows the critical events in the play – the conspiracy and killing of Caesar, the civil war, and the demise of several other key characters.