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The scene opens on a journey to Styx, the river separating two worlds of life and fate. Souls of three Romans on a swaying wooden boat are sailing to Styx, grey waters splashing against the sides of the boat’s wood, barnacles leeching underneath. The long aged ferryman, Charon, rows the boat further to its destination with a paddle. Caesar, Cassius and Brutus, the three souls accompanying Charon, will soon have each of their fates decided between Tartartus and Elysium. The ride was silent, each passenger distancing themselves from each other, unwilling to even take a glance; due to the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination and the following war, they opted to keep to themselves.
The canoe continued to move its way to the shore with the assistance of Charon’s paddle. The skies were dark, and there was barely any vegetation in the waters (compound sentence). Nothing but large, hill-like stones could be located in the river. While rowing, drops of water sprayed onto Cassius; he shivered as the murky liquid touched his skin.
The three Romans shortly after the boat came to a stop at Styx, the boat hitting the shore with a small splash of water landing on the already wet shore. They all got off the shaky craft and had planted their feet in the dark, cold sand. “We have come to our stop,” said the grim Charon. The three Romans waited, steadily yet anxiously all the same, for what would happen next. The tension finally broke when Caesar questioned, “Tis the end, no?” The other two looked at him. “No, this grim hour will not mark the end. But instead judgement shall await you few. Three potential fates: Tartarus, Asphodel, and Elysium,” the ferryman, who had evidently explained this process many times before (adjective clause), had a tone that invited no disagreements.
The tension began to rise again, as they hesitated to look at each other once more. Cassius gave Caesar a sour look mixed with disapproval and disgust. While Brutus felt a small pang of guilt as he glanced between both of them. “‘Tis up to you, as you three should be logical enough to discuss it.” Charon sits back down on his wooden canoe and turns away, likely preparing to start another long journey. Soon, the uncomfortable silence began to rise again as they would decide their fates; they all hesitated to trust themselves with each other's futures, but knew it had to be done at some point.
Caesar started, “You, and your conspirators who spilled my ichor on the stone flooring of the Capitol,” staring daggers at Cassius and Brutus. “T’was a gruesome day for me, as I would’ve been the plebeians' ideal king. You especially, Brutus,” he pointed an accusatory finger at the senator, “betrayed me, and deserve nothing but shame.” The other former Roman senator, Cassius, was clearly bothered by this sudden verdict, brows furrowing (appositive). Cassius opens his mouth to speak, “I suppose thou were plotting against Rome. Thou dare strike endangerment to our country to go through tyranny, to be foolish enough to satisfy your gluttonous desires as king?”
The brash man continued to speak boldly, “Brutus and I were doing it for the love of Rome.” Cassius’ anger toward Caesar was eventually lessened by Brutus speaking up in an honest attempt to ease the situation, “The people who loved you were merely blinded by your victory, Caesar.” “I sought for the love of Rome by becoming their trusted ruler. I'm steady as the northern star (Allusion), and would never have led them astray,” replied the determined ruler.
“Caesar,” Brutus’ tone being half-hearted. “I loved you, but not as much as I loved our country. It was necessary and honorable to stop you in the way we did. Your resolve, though admirable, was dangerous,” he paused, choosing his words carefully before continuing. “It would have been unwise to try to… reason with you any other way.” His words, though Caesar could not see their truth, still hung idly in the back of his mind.
Cassius stepped back in, “Antony, being your second in command, had blinded thee with an ego that you were unable to see. Your righteousness and potential as king was overridden by a thirst for blood and power. Therefore I declare you shall go to Tartarus.” Caesar’s seemingly-impenetrable ego hurt from sudden realization.
“Cassius had spoken to me about how it was best for you to not become a tyrant; as much as I love you, I love my country more(Allusion), Caesar. I was driven by fear for the potential fall of Rome; I never wanted either of us to be hurt,” added Brutus.
“And you too, Brutus?(Allusion) Again, you side with Cassius, despite your nobility? As for you Cassius, you must've tricked Brutus into joining the assassination, as Brutus was a loyal friend…” Caesar accused, his ego bruised and shoulders tense. “If you weren’t so close with Brutus, he would’ve stayed by my side.” He couldn’t bear to admit it, but he was desperate. Someone like him would never end up in Tartarus, land of the eternally damned. He knew that, but Brutus and Cassius didn’t; of course not, they were both murderers…
“That may be true, but him doing this would be morally the right thing to do. As long as it rids tyranny,” replied Cassius, stance confident and sure. “You conniving…” Caesar had paused hesitatingly. “You were manipulating Brutus into… planning my assassination! Shouldn’t you also be Tartarus for this?” He said as he grit his teeth.
Brutus felt a slight pang of realization, having mixed feelings. He briefly looked between the two. “I do feel guilt for causing you pain, Caesar. However, it was for the future, to let Rome thrive without thy tyranny. Though I had run into my sword(Allusion) because I couldn’t preserve the country as well as you could with the plebs,” he responded lightly.
“Brutus, I forgive you. As you were convinced by many conspirators… To kill me successfully…” Caesar had only said half-heartedly, as he still felt saddened about his once loyal friend planning against him. “You did what benefited Rome most, as Caesar isn’t fit to rule. Therefore you should end up in Elysium,” said Cassius.
In the end, Caesar and Cassius fell into Tartarus, where they would reflect for eternity for their actions. As for Brutus, he lived in Elysium. However his memories had still existed, he would be contemplating his actions as well, expressing doubt his betrayal for Caesar and honor for killing him.