Describe Cassius' and Casca's reaction to the storm.

Casca is terrified by the storm that opens Act 1 Scene 3. He says “never till tonight, never till now, / Did I go through a tempest dropping fire”(9-10).  He imagines there must be “civil strife” in heaven to produce such a storm. He goes on to say he saw other strange sights, all unnatural, such as a slave who held up “his left hand, which did flame and burn…and yet his hand … remained unscorched” (1.3. 16-19).  In short, Casca’s fear causes him to think the storm is an omen that nature is warning them about their intent to kill Caesar and his fear of the storm signifies his fear of killing Caesar  For Cassius, on the other hand, the storm is exhilarating: “I have walked about the streets, / Submitting me unto the perilous night,/ And….bared my bosom to the thunder-stone” (50-53). When he sees lightning, he puts himself right in its path, daring it to strike him, perhaps, or just to absorb its power and energy (54-55). He does not fear the storm, just as he does not fear killing Caesar. He is confident and perhaps arrogant as well.