Julius Caesar Commonplace Book Analysis

Jasdip Kaur
Ms. Papamichael
Pre-AP English II
May 17, 2014
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Commonplace Book
Act II:
Scene i:

1. That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back” (2.1.23-27).
1. Shakespeare utilizes an analogy, regarding the phrases, “ambition’s ladder”. In the soliloquy of Brutus, "ambition's ladder" is an analogy for Caesar's aspiration for supremacy, which can lead to dictatorship as expressed by the phrases "the ladder turns its back." Brutus exhibits his thoughts on how he must stop Caesar from gaining power, before he takes advantage of the controls he will receive. Brutus believes that power would corrupt Caesar, making him forget people below, as in less supreme then him.
2. "And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, Which, hatched, would as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell" (2.1.34-36).
2. Shakespeare uses a simile to compare Caesar and the hatching of a snake’s egg. Through the use of a simile, Brutus says that they need to kill Caesar before his "egg" hatches. Caesar does not have a egg that will hatch literally. However, Caesar is considered to be in a egg where he will hatch and he becomes too arrogant and too powerful eventually. In order to save Rome, Brutus has to kill his friend.
3. “To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise” (2.1.59).
3. Brutus exhibits apostrophe, addressing Rome as if it were a living object standing right in front of him like a human. Brutus talks to Rome about how he believes that Caesar is bad for Rome. He talks about how he thinks that Caesar would not do a good job being a leader in Rome, and makes promises to Rome that he w...

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....“Out of the teeth of emulation” (2.3.14).
14. Shakespeare uses a metaphor comparing teeth to the effort to act like someone else. What Artemidorus is trying to say in his letter is that Caesar should not approach the Capital because there is evil waiting for him. Therefore, he is trying to say that there are many people beyond the bite of resentful competition.
15. “O constancy, be strong upon my side” (2.4.7).
Portia displays the usage of an apostrophe talking to the absence to give her strength to remain silent. Women during the Roman Times were very talkative and were unable to keep secrets. Portia is originally speaking to a great god person, while Lucius is remaing still in his position. She states that she needs to stay quiet and requests for strength in order to obey. Portia wants to have a intellect more like a man’s and not believe with her heart.