Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

CAESAR - Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'-nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

1. Whom does Caesar address these words to? How does this person try to assure Caesar not to fear? (Recalling & Understanding)
2. Why is Caesar not convinced? (Analysis)
3. What reasons does Caesar give for fearing the person in question? (Recalling)
4. Which weakness of Caesar is shown after the extract? (Analysis)
5. How is Caesar shown to be far-sighted and wise in hisjudgement ofcharacter? (Application)

Answer 1

1. Caesar addresses these words to Mark Antony. Antony tries to reassure him by saying that Cassius is a noble Roman and that Caesar need not fear him.
2. Caesar is not convinced because he believes Cassius is thoughtful, observant and ambitious. His ‘lean and hungry look’ makes Caesar feel that Cassius is dissatisfied and therefore dangerous.
3. Caesar says that Cassius reads a lot, observes people closely and thinks too much. He also says that Cassius does not enjoy plays, music or ordinary pleasures and rarely smiles sincerely. These qualities make Caesar suspicious of him.
4. Caesar’s weakness of deafness is shown after the extract when he asks Antony to come to his right side because his left ear is deaf.
5. Caesar is shown to be far-sighted because his judgement of Cassius proves correct. He senses that Cassius is dangerous, and later Cassius becomes one of the chief conspirators against him.