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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 5Scene 1
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"bad strokes" and "good words"
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 27-32a

An explanation of the puns on “bad strokes” and “good words” in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Brutus

Words before blows; is it so, countrymen?

Octavius

Not that we love words better, as you do.

Brutus

Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.

Antony

In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.
Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart,
Crying 'Long live! Hail, Caesar!'

Cassius

Antony

Brutus

Antony

Cassius

Octavius

Brutus

Octavius

Brutus

Cassius

Antony

Octavius

[Exit Octavius, Antony, and their army.]

Cassius

Brutus

Lucilius

[Brutus and Lucilius converse apart.]

Cassius

Messala

Cassius

Messala

Cassius

Brutus

[Brutus rejoins Cassius.]

Cassius

Brutus

Cassius

Brutus

Cassius

Brutus

[Exit.]

Here, Antony puns off of Brutus' admonition that "good words are better than bad strokes." His response has two meanings:

  • Up to the moment you stabbed Caesar in the heart ("bad strokes"), you were singing Caesar's praises ("good words").
  • Ironically, your stab wound in Caesar is like a mouth praising Caesar.