⇒ In Act II of Julius Caesar, Brutus opens with a renowned soliloquy. In the early hours of the morning, he finds himself alone on stage, engaged in an internal debate regarding Julius Caesar. On one hand, he likens Caesar to a yet-to-hatch snake, asserting that although Caesar currently poses no threat, he could potentially become dangerous.

⇒ Brutus is also concerned that as Caesar ascends the power ladder, he will disregard the people beneath him, transforming into a corrupted leader. However, Brutus consistently returns to the notion that Caesar's actions thus far have been unobjectionable.

⇒ Ultimately, he resolves to proceed with the assassination of Caesar due to his apprehension that Caesar's immense potential might lead to malevolent deeds.

⇒ After concluding his soliloquy, Brutus's servant arrives, delivering a letter he discovered. This letter is one of the planted messages by Cassius. It urges Brutus to take action, advocating for him to "speak, strike, redress," essentially encouraging him to address a perceived wrongdoing, namely Caesar's rise to power. Reading this letter deepens Brutus's determination to take decisive steps.

⇒ Subsequently, Cassius arrives at Brutus's residence, accompanied by fellow conspirators who have joined the plot to assassinate Caesar. Brutus warmly welcomes each of them individually, and their discussions revolve around the details of their plan to eliminate Caesar.

⇒ Cassius proposes that they all make a solemn vow to follow through with their intentions, regardless of the challenges. However, Brutus counters this suggestion by emphasizing that their motivation should stem not from a mere ceremonial pledge but from a genuine understanding that their actions are driven by the best interests of Rome.

⇒ As the conversation unfolds, it becomes evident that the leadership of the conspiracy is swiftly transferring to Brutus. When the idea of involving Cicero in the plot arises, Brutus voices his dissent. Instantly, all the conspirators concur with his viewpoint.

⇒ Cassius then proposes that they should also eliminate Mark Antony, citing his loyalty to Caesar and the potential for him to seek retribution after Caesar's assassination. However, Brutus counters this notion by emphasizing that they must avoid turning their actions into a trail of bloodshed, and thus, their focus should remain solely on killing Caesar.

⇒ He assures them that Antony, devoid of Caesar's influence, would be as ineffective as Caesar's hand without its head. Once again, the conspirators swiftly align with Brutus's stance.

⇒ The conspirators formulate a plan to execute Caesar the next day, just before he is crowned. Recognizing Caesar's recent susceptibility to superstitions, they decide to gather at his residence to ensure that he heads to the Capitol.

⇒ After finalizing their plot to assassinate Caesar, the conspirators depart from the scene. Subsequently, Portia, Brutus's wife, enters. She has observed the presence of these unfamiliar men in her house during the late hours and is curious about their intentions. Sensing a change in Brutus's behaviour recently, she suspects that he might be burdened by a "mental sickness" or some internal turmoil.

⇒ Initially, Brutus resists sharing any information with her. However, Portia takes a drastic step by stabbing herself in the thigh, attempting to convey that if she can endure physical pain, she can also bear the weight of his secrets. This dramatic gesture persuades Brutus, and he agrees to disclose his knowledge to her at a later time.

⇒ In Scene II, the attention shifts to Caesar's residence. The previous night, Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, had distressing dreams about Caesar's demise, and she pleads with him not to attend the Capitol that day. Caesar is hesitant, but eventually gives in.

⇒ He decides that he will inform the senators that he is unwell and, as a result, cannot go to the Capitol. However, before long, one of the conspirators named Decius arrives. Caesar confides in him about his concerns, revealing Calpurnia's dream in which a fountain running with Caesar's blood is used by the Roman people to cleanse their hands.

⇒ Decius advises Caesar not to be troubled and offers an alternative interpretation of the dream, suggesting it's symbolic rather than literal. He explains that the dream signifies Caesar rejuvenating Rome. Decius also warns Caesar that if he doesn't appear, the senators might reconsider crowning him at all.

⇒ Upon hearing Decius' explanation, Caesar dismisses Calpurnia's fears as baseless. He agrees to proceed to the Capitol and departs alongside the conspirators.

⇒ Scene III is concise and portrays Artemidorus, a man, composing a cautionary letter addressed to Caesar. In the letter, Artemidorus lists the names of all the conspirators and determines to deliver this message to Caesar if possible.

⇒ The final scene, Scene IV, shifts the focus back to Portia. Due to her gender, as women held limited influence in ancient Rome, Portia is unable to go to the Capitol and witness the events unfolding there.

⇒ It remains somewhat unclear whether Brutus had disclosed his plans to her. Alternatively, she might have deduced the situation independently, as she does express her well wishes for Brutus in his "undertaking."