Question

Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 1, of Julius Caesar. ANTONY. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever livèd in the tide of times. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophesy— Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue— A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile when they behold< Their infants quartered with the hands of war, All pity choked with custom of fell deeds; And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice Cry "Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war, That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial. What are the central ideas of this soliloquy? Select three options. Antony wants Caesar to forgive him for being nice to his conspirators. Antony is so upset about Caesar’s death that he can barely speak. Antony predicts that the land will be bloodied by men fighting men. Antony foresees mothers begging that their children be slain to spare them. Antony expects Caesar's ghost to seek retribution for the wrongs done.

Answer 1

Answer:

Antony wants Caesar to forgive him for being nice to his conspirators.

Antony predicts that the land will be bloodied by men fighting men.

Antony expects Caesar's ghost to seek retribution for the wrongs done.

Explanation:

In the excerpt from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," Antony stands next to Caesar's body and asks him for forgiveness for talking politely to his murderers: "O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!"

Then he foresees that a curse will fall, that there will be a terribly violent civil war, and that people will become evil and cruel:

"A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile when they behold Their infants quartered with the hands of war, All pity choked with custom of fell deeds (...)"

Finally, he refers to Caesar's ghost, who will come back for revenge:

"And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice Cry "Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war (...)"