Who asks Caesar to lift his brother's exile?

• A. Metallus Cimber
• B. Decius
• C. Cassius
• D. Calpurnia

Answer: (A)

The moment hinges on a personal plea that sets the stage for the betrayal. Metellus Cimber asks Caesar to lift his brother’s exile, appealing to Caesar’s sense of mercy and power. This request creates a pretext for the other conspirators to approach Caesar under the cover of a legitimate petition, while Caesar’s initial reluctance to grant clemency signals to the audience and the conspirators that something is afoot. The feint works because Caesar’s authority and his willingness to grant mercy are precisely the kind of action a leader is expected to consider, and his response—refusing the recall—feeds the ensuing trap. The other figures have different roles: Decius Brutus uses a manipulated interpretation of Calpurnia’s dream to persuade Caesar to go to the Senate; Cassius is the mastermind behind the plot; Calpurnia is Caesar’s wife who warns him to stay home. But the specific request to lift the exile is made by Metellus Cimber.