Summary

Act I

In Act I, Scene I,” two Roman leaders named Marullus and Flavius enter with several commoners. Flavius asks why the people are gathering and accuses them of slacking off their work. He asks what their jobs are. One man answers that he is a carpenter. Flavius responds, asking why the man is wearing his best clothes instead of his work clothes. A second says that he is a cobbler. Flavius asks why he isn’t in his shop, working on shoes. The cobbler responds that he is urging people to walk around so they will wear out their shoes, thereby providing more work for him in his shop. He then says that his true reason for being out of his shop is to “rejoice” with Caesar.

Marullus is furious with the celebration and insists that all the workers return to their...