THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR

by William Shakespeare

Ms. Robinson Intensified English 10

Your Old Friend Billy Shakes

1564-1616 By the time he was 28, Shakespeare had

established himself in London as an actor and had written at least three plays.

His plays are STILL RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT….Why?

The Globe

The Stage…

There were no spotlights or modern special effect equipment, and the stage usually did not have much scenery.

Actors had to be flexible and inventive. The audience was very close to the stage,

which enabled Shakespeare to use asides and soliloquies to make for a more intimate relationship with the audience.

The audience wasn’t watching, they were participating.

Two things to look for….

Asides: a part of an actor's lines supposedly not heard by others on the stage and intended only for the audience.

Soliloquies: a speech by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present. Often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts

The Experience…

Attending a dramatic performance in Elizabethan times was an exciting event.

Large numbers of people gathered in an open area where they ate, shouted to their friends, and generally socialized.

The lower classes stood in large open areas near the stage. They were referred to as groundlings, different from the wealthier playgoers who sat in raised boxes around the perimeter of the groundlings area.

There was no curtain and no darkening of lights to signal the start of the action.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar 2730 lines Written around 1599—midpoint of

Shakespeare’s career Of the 20 plays written before Caesar,

two are tragedies…of the 17 plays written after Caesar, all but 3 are tragedies or tragic comedies

So Caesar is considered to be the real start of Shakespeare’s tragedies

The Play’s History

Primary defining feature: POLITICS Based in classical history rather than

English history Historical source for Caesar: Plutarch The language of the play is sparse,

direct, and straightforward

Caesar

Born Gauis Julius Caesar 100BC - 44BC Caesar was a politician and general of

the late Roman republic, who greatly extended the Roman empire before seizing power and making himself dictator of Rome, paving the way for the imperial system.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caesar_julius.shtml

What does it mean to be a good and honorable friend?

What is more important, loyalty to your state or loyalty to your friends?

vs.

How do you persuade people? Is it good or bad?

Themes

Supernatural elements Courage and Cowardice Good character/Bad character? Which comes first: friends or country? Ambition Mob mentality

Characters

Julius Caesar A great Roman general who has recently

returned to Rome after a military victory in Spain.

NOT the main character of the play that bears his name

All characters are preoccupied with Caesar—specifically with the idea that he may soon become king If Caesar were to become king, it would be the

end of the republican system in Rome Noblemen would consider themselves slaves if

this were to happen

Brutus

A high-ranking, well-regardedRoman nobleman who participates in a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.

Motivated by his sense of honor, which requires him to place the good of Rome

above his own personal interests or feelings.

His sense of honor is also his weakness. He’s easy to manipulate because he thinks all Romans are as high-minded as he is.

Antony

Caesar’s loyal friend. Notoriously impulsive and pleasure-

seeking Passionate rather than principled

Cassius

A talented general and longtime acquaintance of Caesar.

Resents the fact that the Roman populace has come to revere Caesar almost as a god.

Slyly leads Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die.

Casca

Octavius

• Caesar’s adopted son and appointed successor.

• One of the conspirators•Resents Caesar’s ambition

Calphurnia

Caesar’s wife Invests great authority in omens

and portents Warns Caesar of impending

doom because she has terrible nightmares

Brutus’s wife and the daughter of a noble Roman who took sides against Caesar.

Portia

Flavius and Murellus

Two tribunes who condemn the plebians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar when once they cheered for Caesar’s enemy Pompey

A Roman senator renowned for his oratorical skill.

Cicero

Lepidus

The third member of Antony and Octavius’s coalition.

A member of the conspiracy. Decius convinces Caesar that Calphurnia misinterpreted her nightmares.

Decius