In Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", which conspirator is the first to stab Caesar?

Caesar's assassination is one of the most famous scenes of the play (Act 3, scene 1). After ignoring the soothsayer, as well as his wife's own premonitions, Caesar comes to the Senate. The conspirators create a superficial motive for coming close enough to assassinate Caesar by means of a petition brought by Metellus Cimber, pleading on behalf of his banished brother. After Caesar rejects the petition, Casca cries "Speak, hands for me!" and stabs Caesar; the others follow suit; Brutus is last. At this point, Shakespeare makes Caesar utter the famous lines "Et tu, Brute? (You too, Brutus?) Then fall, Caesar," suggesting that such treachery destroyed Caesar's will to live.

More Info: www.opensourceshakespeare.org

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32 Comments

June

I remembered the phrase "Et tu Brute", so knew Brutus wasn't the first to stab him, thought the name started with a C and guessed Cassius... wrong!

Chris Brown

Casca's full name was Publius Servilius Casca Longus.

Richard G Schwartz

Casca was the one.

Mary Evens

Richard S. Levine, I divide these questions into three categories: "I know it", the educated guess, and something learned. I think it keeps my mind active.

Chris Braid

Knew Casca thanks to some trasy pulp fiction books I read as a kid

Paul Backus

Brutus is considered as a traitor, but was only following in a family tradition. A founding member of his family was the one who removed the last king from Rome. He was trying to prevent another. Unfortunately it was to late for the Republic. Missed it.