Julius CaesarWilliam Shakespeare

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars/But in ourselves…”

--Cassius

Tragic plays…

• …tell of a reversal of fortune, from good to bad, experienced by a man or woman, usually of noble birth

• For Greek tragedies, Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero contains other specific elements particular to Greek tragic plays. (Oedipus Rex, Medea, Antigone, Electra)

Shakespeare’s Tragedies: Distinctive Features

• Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are sometimes based on historical characters. (Julius Caesar, Henry VIII)

• The hero often displays a tragic flaw, a characteristic that brings about his downfall.

• Shakespeare emphasizes the hero’s internal conflict.

Shakespeare’s Tragedies: Distinctive Features (cont.)

• Tragic hero’s inner turmoil is presented directly—through devices such as soliloquy (a speech in which a character thinks aloud).

• Tragic hero’s choices are emphasized rather than fate.

• Shakespeare’s tragic hero’s problems often concern the difference between the reasons for an action and its outcome.

Shakespeare’s Tragedies: Distinctive Features (cont.)

• Commoners often play key supporting roles and provide comic relief in humorous scenes that serve as a break from the intense emotions of the play.

Plot Diagram—Shakespeare’s Tragedy

History Connection—Roman Society

• Play premise: Brutus & Cassius fear that the common people will support Caesar in his bid to become emperor. Their fear reflects tensions in Roman society at that time.

• Historical background--• Poor plebians (commoners), including

farmers who could no longer compete w/ wealthy landowners, flooded Rome.

History Connection—Roman Society (cont.)

• They created a restless mass of unemployed poor.

• Some leaders took their side and won power w/ their support.

• Other leaders took the side of the patricians (aristocrats) and the wealthy plebians.

• The conflict between rich and poor led to civil unrest, including riots and assassinations.

History Connection—Roman Triumphs

• Triumphs were held to celebrate a general’s victory.

Events included— Temples decorated/sacrifices held

Victorious general/troops marched through city to the Capital/preceded by Roman Senators and trumpeters

History Connection—Roman Triumphs (cont.)

Triumphant general, dressed in royal purple toga and holding a laurel branch, rode in a golden chariot drawn by 4 white horsesOn display---the spoils of war, including carts full of treasure and exotic animalsCaptive enemy leaders (sometimes even their children) marched in front of the generalPeople of Rome gathered to view and cheer

Roman Triumphs

Roman Triumphs

The Roman Senate

• Before Caesar’s rise to power, the Senate…was made up of 500 to 600 members.

met in the Curia in the Roman Forum.

shaped policy through advice it issued to various officials, its powers to appoint officials, and its power to negotiate w/ foreign countries.

The Roman Senate (cont.)

• Senators—appointed for life. Originally, all were from the patrician (aristocratic) class.

• After Caesar won victory, he—eliminated his enemies in the Senatepacked senate w/ supporters, including men

of lower rank and people from outlying provinces.

Background on the PlayJulius Caesar

• Rome—a republic since 509 B.C. • Ruled for decades by— **2 public officials called consuls **Senate--made of up of high-born patricians or aristocrats and assemblies of plebians (lower-class citizens)• By era of Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.), Rome ruled an

empire won by military expansion.

Background on the PlayJulius Caesar (cont.)

• Powerful generals arose/balance of power grew unstable

• Civil wars common• General named Pompey tried to make himself

sole consul/Julius Caesar defeated him

Background on the PlayJulius Caesar (cont.)

• As the play opens, all of Rome wonders whether Caesar will become emperor, ending the republic.

Act I--Characters

• Flavius & Murellus—2 tribunes who criticize plebians for their fickleness

• Carpenter & Cobbler—commoners who are taking holiday to honor Caesar

• Caesar—a great Roman general/just returned to Rome after a military victory

• Calpurnia—wife of Caesar

Act I—Characters (cont.)

• Casca—a tribune (an official elected to represent the common people) conspirator against Caesar

• Antony--(Marcus Antonius)—loyal friend to Caesar

• Soothsayer—prophet/fortuneteller • Cassius—general and longtime acquaintance

of Caesar

Act I—Characters (cont.)

• Brutus—high-ranking, well-regarded nobleman; friend to Caesar

• Cicero—Roman senator renowned for his oratorical skill; speaks at Caesar’s triumphal parade

• Cinna—a poet

Tips for Reading

• **Follow along closely as the CD plays. Pay particular attention to the characters who are speaking. The characters often refer to themselves in the 3rd person, which can be confusing at times.

• **Follow along with the actual original text, if you have the No Fear edition. Clarification notes can be used later for study use.