[Music] Act one Scene one of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar starts in medias res with Flavius and Mireles two Tribune's public officials chasing commoners away it's February 15th the feast of the purple and commoners are in the streets to honor Julius Caesar as he returns triumphant to Rome having just defeated Pompey sons in war Morelos and Flavius are angry chiding the people's hypocrisy and ingratitude when Pompey was in power the commoners cheered him but now they're celebrating the defeat of his sons so more Ellis and Flavius dispersed the commoners and removed the decorations from the public statues so that no images be home with Caesars trophies though the people revere caesar the tribune sphere that he will soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness in the opening scene minor characters unnamed commoners and public officials introduce us to the play's principal theme of authority an issue is the scope of Caesars influence he's being honored for his military successes and he's long had the status of Pontifex Maximus personal divinity and sacred authority but the tribunes fear his political power these differing opinions of Caesar as a hero as a god and as a potential tyrant stay constant throughout the play showing the nuanced balance that Shakespeare achieves with this character Flavius speaks directly to the sphere of tyranny at the end of the scene he voices his concern that if no one checks Caesars power he will rule by fear Flavius and Morelos are willing to defy custom and put themselves at risk in this opening scene their actions foreshadow the larger conspiracy to come you