Discuss the importance of the first scene of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
begins with an encounter between some Roman workers and government officials. The time
is February 15, 44 B.C. It is the celebration of the Lupercal. In addition, Caesar has
returned in triumph over the sons of Pompey. 

In Act I,
Scene I, the tribunes Marullus and Flavius are watching the streets for civil disorder. 
The tribunes were responsible for the civil rights of the common people.  The two
tribunes are not supporters of Caesar.

They resent his
victories over another great Roman Pompey, who Caesar chased into Egypt and defeated. 
Later, the Pompey’s sons challenged Caesar; he defeated them in Spain.  Pompey at one
time had been a comrade and participant in government with Caesar.  Because of
disagreements over the government, the two men became enemies.  These tribunes were
admirers of Pompey.

When the tribunes see the workers out
in the streets, they ask the men what their occupations are.  One of the men is a
cobbler.  He appears to have no fear of the officials and challenges Marullus with
several puns. The tribune does not find humor in the play on words concerning the
cobbler’s occupation.

Marullus repeats his question about
why the men are in the streets.  The cobbler tells them that they wish to see Caesar and
be part of his celebratory parade through the streets of
Rome.

This inflames the tribunes.  Marullus reminds the men
that it has not been that long since Pompey was celebrated for his great
victories.

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Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and
oft

Have you climb’d up to walls and
battlements,

To towers and window, yea, to chimney
tops,

To see great Pompey pass the streets of
Rome.

The tribune further
rebukes the commoners for putting on their best clothes, making a holiday, and throwing
flowers for Caesar who comes in victory because of Pompey’s defeat and death. He tells
them all to go home.  They should pray to the gods that a plague does not come down on
Rome for all of this terrible ingratitude for Pompey and celebration of his
murderer.

After the workers leave, the tribunes discuss
what they should do next.  They decide to go through the streets and tell people to go
home and away from the celebration. 

To make Caesar and his
supporters think that little has been done to note his victories, the tribunes will take
down the flowers and other decorations from the statues of Caesar that line the main
roads.

One of the primary purposes of the scene is to
indicate that all is not well in Rome. There are secret factions at work to bring down
Caesar and prevent him from becoming the Emperor for life of Rome. The Elizabethan
audiences would have enjoyed the common man facing off against the government officials
and standing his ground with him.  This was a good way to begin a serious
play.