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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 2Scene 1
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"high-sighted"
Wordplay
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 113-128

An explanation of the two meanings of “high-sighted” in Act 2, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Cassius

And let us swear our resolution.

Brutus

No, not an oath.  If not the face of men,
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse —
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed;
So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these — 
As I am sure they do — bear fire enough
To kindle cowards, and to steel with valor
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
What need we any spur but our own cause,
To prick us to redress?  What other bond
Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
And will not palter? And what other oath
Than honesty to honesty engaged,
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?

This line contains a double meaning:

  • Caesar's tyranny is aimed at even the highest nobles of Rome.
  • Caesar is like a hawk that flies high in order to have a good view of all the creatures it can prey upon.