A tribune who condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar, and is punished for removing Caesar's decorations along with Flavius. Who is he?

• A. Flavius
• B. Murellus
• C. Casca
• D. Cassius

Answer: (B)

The scene tests your knowledge of the opening action and characters in Julius Caesar, where two tribunes confront the crowd and challenge the sudden shift in loyalty toward Caesar. These tribunes publicly rebuke the plebeians for their fickleness and, as a visible sign of their disapproval, remove Caesar’s decorations from the statues. This act of criticizing the crowd and striking at Caesar’s display shows the clash between the ruling class and the popular mood, and it foreshadows how dangerous challenging Caesar’s authority can be.

The tribune who fits this description—one who condemns the plebeians for their fickleness and is punished for removing Caesar’s decorations along with the other tribune—is Murellus. He is paired with Flavius in this opening scene as the two who take down the symbols of Caesar’s triumph, prompting Caesar’s displeasure and their punishment. The other names listed aren’t the two tribunes involved in this moment: Casca and Cassius are part of later actions, not the opening street scene with the decoration removal.