An Introduction to William

Shakespeare, The Globe, & Julius Caesar

Who is William Shakespeare? • An English playwright

• “The Bard”

• 34,000,000 Google hits

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Born to John Shakespeare and Mary Ardon Shakespeare in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized on April 26, 1564

John was a glove maker who achieved respectability in the town and served as bailiff and chief alderman of the borough council.

Believed to go the King’s New School in Stratford.

A grammar school such as this would have first focus on reading Latin aloud, then introduced grammar, and with more fluency, required students to read more complicated texts: Aesop's fables, the poetry of Vigil, Cicero’s letters, and the comedies of Terence. Lastly, students were required to translate from Latin to English and vise versa.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

At age 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Their daughter, Susanna, was born six months later on May 26, 1583. Two years later, the twins Hamnet and Judith were born. Hamnet died at age 11.

“The Lost Years”: 1585-1592. In 1592, Robert Greene calls Shakespeare

an “upstart crow.”In 1593, Shakespeare becomes a published

poet with the long narrative poem Venus and Adonis.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

In December 1594, records show Shakespeare to be member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men or King’s Men.

The Globe was built in 1599 where Shakespeare performed his plays until 1608.

He returned to Stratford-upon-Avon between 1610-1613 and died on April 23, 1616.

The English Renaissance

(1500-1660) The Protestant Reformation & The English Reformation paved the way for an age of exploration in literature, art, science, and philosophy.

Queen Elizabeth I ruled from November 1558-March 1603. Nonetheless, there was gender inequality.

The ideal Elizabethan man.

Elizabethan belief in the “Natural Order” and the use of signs.

The Divine Rule of Kings

Queen Elizabeth I: Succession Crisis

Shakespeare could not speak directly to the political affairs of the time, but the facts were . . .

Queen Elizabeth was single, without children, and did not name an heir.

Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne was difficult. Edward, Lady Jane Gray, Mary, and Elizabeth

The Wars of the Roses:Lancaster and York (the red and the white

roses)Elizabeth’s great-grandfather, Henry Tudor,

took the throne.

England Emerges as a World Power

England: English army suppressing rebellions in Ireland.England attempts to colonize the New Word by

establishing the colony of Roanoke in 1585 and then again in 1587.

The political uncertainty of the throne’s succession.

The English could see similarities between their country’s situation and the political uncertainty that the first century BCE Romans faced.

Julius Caesar opened at the Globe in 1599.

What is a Roman Dictator?

In the Roman republic, the office of chief executive was divided between two Consuls, but the government allowed for an individual to have absolute power for a brief period of time.

The senate ordered one Consul to dominate a Dictator for 6 months.

The dictator could punish offenders without trial, had immunity, and did not need governmental approval for his actions. However, the Senate must grant funds to the Dictator, and the Dictator cannot leave Rome.

Julius Caesar served 10 one-year terms, and in 44 BCE, Caesar is named dictator perpetuus or perpetual dictator and assassinated.

Caesar Timeline60 BCE: Elected to Consul and works with

Pompey, Crassus, becoming a part of “The First Triumvirate”

58 BCE: Caesar leave Rome for Gaul (Germany and France) and expands Roman Empire.

49 BCE: Caesar’s term in Proconsul in Gaul expires. Pompey and Senate order Caesar to disband his troops and return to Rome to face prosecution. Caesar declares war on his former ally.

48 BCE: Caesar defeats Pompey. The Egyptians kill Pompey.

Caesar Timeline46 BCE: Caesar returns to Rome and is appointed

Dictator. This marks the beginning of Shakespeare’s play.

45 BCE: Caesar holds a public celebration for his victory over Pompey, which angers many because Pompey is not a foreign enemy but a fellow Roman. Caesar appoints people to the government without consulting the Senate, mints coinage, and has his statues decorated much like gods.

44 BCE: Caesar is named dictator perpetuus or perpetual dictator at the feat of Lupercalia on February 15. Caesar is assassinated.

The Plot of Julius CaesarRome is in a state of political upheaval. Caesar has

defeated Pompey. Officials wonder if Caesar will preserve the Republic or dissolve it into a monarchy.

The Soothsayer warns Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.”

Cassius pulls Brutus aside to persuade him to join the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius’s motives are questionable. Brutus loves Caesar but fears for the common good. What if Caesar becomes too powerful?

Cassius plants forged letters in Brutus’s office, persuading him to join the conspiracy.

The Plot of Julius CaesarThe same night, there is a great storm with

supernatural omens.

Cassius and the fellow conspirators arrive at Brutus’s garden, and the group resolves to stab Caesar.

The next morning, Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia, begs Caesar to stay home instead of going to the capitol because she dreams of Caesar’s blood pouring like a fountain. Caesar consents to stay but is then persuaded to leave by Decius, a conspirator.

Caesar is stabbed. Before he dies, he says, “Et tu Brute?”

The Plot of Julius Caesar Antony, Caesar’s friend, appeases the conspirators and is

given permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral.

Brutus speaks to the crowd and explains his reasons for killing Caesar. Then Antony speaks and reminds the citizens of Caesar’s greatness.

Cassius and Brutus fight against Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus. Cassius and Brutus fight among themselves, and Brutus reveals his wife, Portia, is dead.

The night before the battle, Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus.

Cassius and then Antony commit suicide.

Antony mourns over Brutus, the conspirator who killed Caesar for the good of Rome.

The Tragic HeroAccording to Aristotle, the tragic hero was an

extraordinary man who rises to a high position and then falls from the position, which results in his desolation and disillusionment and/or death.

There are two forces working against the tragic hero. The tragic hero’s flaw or hamartia and fate.

By the Renaissance, people felt less like pawns of fate and more control of their fate.

Is it the tragedy of Caesar or Brutus?