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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 1Scene 2
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Caesar and Brutus' Mother
Context and Language Videos
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 250-272

An explanation of Casca's reference to Caesar's affair with Brutus' mother in Act 1, Scene 2 of myShakespeare's Julius Caesar. 

myShakespeare | Julius Caesar 1.2 Historical Reference: Caesar and Brutus’ Mother

Casca

He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at
mouth, and was speechless.

Brutus

'Tis very like; he hath the falling sickness.

Cassius

No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.

Casca

I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure
Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him
and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased
them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am
no true man.

Brutus

What said he when he came unto himself?

Casca

Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the
common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked,
me, ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut. An
I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have
taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the
rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again, he
said, if he had done or said anything amiss, he desired
their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four
wenches, where I stood, cried 'Alas, good soul!' and for-
gave him with all their hearts.  But there's no heed to be
taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they
would have done no less.
Video Transcript: 

RALPH: Casca describes the plebeians as being so foolishly fond of Caesar that they would forgive him for anything, even if he had stabbed their mothers. This sounds like an odd choice of imagery, but Casca is making a snide sexual joke at Brutus’ expense.

 

SERVILIA: Stab was slang for having sex. So Casca is suggesting that these plebeians would have adored Caesar even if he were having sex with their mothers.

 

RALPH: Julius Caesar was a notorious womanizer, and it was widely known that he had had a long affair with Brutus’ mother.

 

SERVILIA: This is just the kind of sarcastic joke that Casca would make in front of Brutus.