The play opens with Flavius and Murelles angrily deriding the people of Rome for celebrating the victories of Caesar over
a man who they once cheered equally. Caesar has returned to the city in Triumph over Pompey and as his retinue parades through the city, he receives a warning from a Soothsayer warning him to “beware the Ides of March”. He ignores the man though and proceeds to celebrate.
Cassius and Brutus discuss the nature of things with Cassius telling Brutus how well received he is. The two go on to discuss their fear that Caesar might be given the crown and become King of Rome. Cassius relates his unwillingness to bow to a man he finds inferior, recounting instances in which Caesar showed great weakness. Caesar however
reveals his own distrust for Cassius as a man who thinks too much.
Casca arrives and reveals that Caesar was offered the crown three times and that he refused it each time. He also relates the seizure Caesar had before the crowd, showing weakness and that the crowd cheered him on regardless. Brutus returns home to contemplate where his loyalties might lay while Cassius begins to plot how he will turn Brutus against Caesar.
That night Brutus finds letters from Roman citizens that Cassius has forged declaring Caesar as too powerful. Brutus’s fear of a dictator-led Republic, instilled by Cassius, forces him to change allegiances and when Cassius arrives with the
conspirators against Caesar, Brutus takes charge. They all agree to lure Caesar away and kill him and though Cassius wants Antony dead, Brutus disagrees. When the conspirators leave, Brutus refuses to tell his wife, Portia, any of what has happened.
The next day, Caesar prepares to go to the Capitol. His wife, Calpurnia, begs him not to, describing nightmares and the many omens in recent days. Caesare refuses to listen though and eventually departs for the senate with Decius leading the way. As he approaches the Senate, the Soothsayer approaches him again with a warning but Caesar ignores him. A man named Artemidorus hands him a letter of warning about the conspirators which he also ignores. The conspirators greet him at the Senate, bow before him and stab him one by one until he is dead.
Antony arrives after the murder and feigns support of the conspirators, all the while marking them each for revenge. He asks them their reasons for the murder and Brutus replies that he will reveal the reason during the funeral. Antony requests permission to speak over the body as well and is given it, but as the conspirators all leave, Antony reveals he shall get his revenge.
Brutus and Cassius arrive at the Forum and address the crowd, with Brutus claiming the murder was done because it was best for Rome and that Caesar’s ambitions were a threat. They are placated until Antony takes the stage and begins his own speech. Antony quickly turns the crowd against Brutus and outlines why his claims were false. He reveals the will and shows the body of Caesar to the crowd, revealing that Caesar has left a small portion of his money to every citizen of the city. The crowd is angry that such a great man was murdered and turns against Brutus and Cassius.
Eventually Octavius, Caesar’s adopted son, returns and forms a coalition with Antony and Lepidus to fight Brutus and Cassius. The latter are outside the city in exile raising armies. Brutus and Cassius argue about all different manners of things and Brutus reveals that Portia has committed suicide in his absence. That night as they prepare and Brutus sleeps, he sees the Ghost of Caesar who subsequently warns him that they will meet again on the battlefield.
As Octavius and Antony march their armies toward Brutus and Cassius, Octavius begins to assert the authority his adopted father left him as the next ruler of Rome. The two sides eventually meet on the field and begin fighting.
When Cassius witnesses what he believes is his dear friend Titinius being captured by the opposing forces heo