The Tragedy The Tragedy of of

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

-BACKGROUND -BACKGROUND INFOINFO

-CHARACTERS-CHARACTERS

How to read a play (no need to copy):How to read a play (no need to copy):

-Look at the cast of characters-Look at the cast of characters

-Read the description of the setting-Read the description of the setting

-Try to get a feeling for the mood of the -Try to get a feeling for the mood of the playplay

-Look for the conflict -Look for the conflict

-Watch for any evidence that reveals a -Watch for any evidence that reveals a change in the main characterchange in the main character

-Try to spot the themes-Try to spot the themes

General who would be king, but General who would be king, but because of his pride and ambition, because of his pride and ambition, meets an untimely death.meets an untimely death.

Shakespeare seems to say that good Shakespeare seems to say that good government must be based on government must be based on morality.morality.

Shakespeare compresses actual Shakespeare compresses actual historical time of 3 years into 6 days.historical time of 3 years into 6 days.

STOPSTOP

*Create a TIMELINE for *Create a TIMELINE for Julius Caesar’s life.Julius Caesar’s life.

BackgroundBackground 102/100 BC102/100 BC

Gaius Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar born to patrician born to patrician (aristocrat) family(aristocrat) family

60 BC Joined Pompey & 60 BC Joined Pompey & Crassus in “The First Crassus in “The First Triumvirate”Triumvirate”

59 BC Married only 59 BC Married only daughter, Julia, to daughter, Julia, to Pompey (to consolidate Pompey (to consolidate alliance -Pompey alliance -Pompey becomes son-in-law)becomes son-in-law)

58 BC Caesar 58 BC Caesar left for Gaul left for Gaul (France) and (France) and conquered conquered allall

54 BC Julia 54 BC Julia died in died in childbirth; childbirth; Crassus Crassus killed in killed in battle battle

Crossing Crossing

the the RubiconRubicon

49 BC Caesar 49 BC Caesar crossed the crossed the Rubicon river Rubicon river with his army with his army which was which was automatic civil automatic civil warwar

Declared dictatorDeclared dictator 48 BC Fought 48 BC Fought

Pompey; Pompey Pompey; Pompey defeated & defeated & escaped to Egyptescaped to Egypt

48 BC, Oct. 2 48 BC, Oct. 2 Caesar landed in Caesar landed in Egypt & given the Egypt & given the head of Pompey, head of Pompey, who was betrayed who was betrayed by Egyptiansby Egyptians

Brought back Brought back Cleopatra to throne Cleopatra to throne and became her and became her loverlover

47 BC Won battles in 47 BC Won battles in Asia Minor with Asia Minor with slogan: slogan: veni, vidi, viciveni, vidi, vici : “I : “I came, I saw, I came, I saw, I conquered”conquered”

The Roman EmpireThe Roman Empire

Rome 45 BCRome 45 BC

Roman people celebrated triumph over Roman people celebrated triumph over PompeyPompey

Issued coin with Caesar’s faceIssued coin with Caesar’s face Allowed his statues to be adorned like Allowed his statues to be adorned like

statues of godsstatues of gods Senate gave him right:Senate gave him right:

to wear laurel wreath (made of leaves)to wear laurel wreath (made of leaves)

to wear purple and gold togato wear purple and gold toga

to sit in gold chair at all public functionsto sit in gold chair at all public functions

Rome 44 BC, FebruaryRome 44 BC, February Named Named dictator perpetuusdictator perpetuus Wore purple garb for first timeWore purple garb for first time NOT THIS!NOT THIS! THIS!THIS!

Antony offered him a diadem (crown)Antony offered him a diadem (crown) Caesar refusedCaesar refused

Rome 44 BC Rome 44 BC Ides of March (March 15)Ides of March (March 15)

Caesar attended last Senate meetingCaesar attended last Senate meeting Brutus & conspirators struck Caesar 23 Brutus & conspirators struck Caesar 23

times at the base of Pompey’s statuetimes at the base of Pompey’s statue Legend has it when Caesar saw Brutus, Legend has it when Caesar saw Brutus,

he said, “You too, my child?” (“Et tu, he said, “You too, my child?” (“Et tu, Brute?”)Brute?”)

Conspirators did not kill Mark Antony Conspirators did not kill Mark Antony who had control of the military and who had control of the military and access to the money and to Caesar’s willaccess to the money and to Caesar’s will

Review QuizReview Quiz

1. Who made up the triumvirate?1. Who made up the triumvirate?

2. Who died and how did they die?2. Who died and how did they die?

3. Why did the Roman people love 3. Why did the Roman people love Julius Caesar?Julius Caesar?

The Death of Julius CaesarThe Death of Julius Caesar

Roman LifeRoman Life

PatriciansPatricians

Roman aristocracyRoman aristocracy The privileged classThe privileged class Held all government positions & Held all government positions &

public officespublic offices Elected into Senate by the plebeiansElected into Senate by the plebeians RichRich

Plebeians (plebes)Plebeians (plebes) Had minimal rights of citizenshipHad minimal rights of citizenship Could not hold public office or Could not hold public office or

government positionsgovernment positions Exempt from military serviceExempt from military service Lived in communities separate from Lived in communities separate from

patricianspatricians Poor; did not have right to marry a Poor; did not have right to marry a

patricianpatrician

WomenWomen

Legal marriage age for girls – 12 Legal marriage age for girls – 12 years oldyears old

Men married in their 20’s and 30’sMen married in their 20’s and 30’s Women were treated like propertyWomen were treated like property Often died young in childbirth from Often died young in childbirth from

complications & from diseasescomplications & from diseases Sought to marry into wealthy familiesSought to marry into wealthy families

KNOCK, KNOCK!KNOCK, KNOCK!WHO’S THERE?WHO’S THERE?

DON’T WORRY, YOU ARE HALF DON’T WORRY, YOU ARE HALF WAY THERE! WAY THERE!

KEEP IT UP!KEEP IT UP!

CLASS WILL BE OVER SOON CLASS WILL BE OVER SOON & MS. TRAN WILL STOP & MS. TRAN WILL STOP

TALKING!!TALKING!!

! !

ThemesThemes

STOP! STOP! The tree will give us life to continue!The tree will give us life to continue!

So let’s draw a tree map to So let’s draw a tree map to survive!survive!

1. Fate vs Free Will1. Fate vs Free Will

Play questions force of fate vs the capacity Play questions force of fate vs the capacity of free will.of free will.

Characters believe that belief in fate to be Characters believe that belief in fate to be passive or cowardly where one waits for passive or cowardly where one waits for things to happen, rather than making things to happen, rather than making things happen or asserting self.things happen or asserting self.

Play supports fate and freedom Play supports fate and freedom maintaining a coexistence.maintaining a coexistence.

Certain events lie beyond human control Certain events lie beyond human control but to wait for them in fear is worse than but to wait for them in fear is worse than death.death.

2. Public Self vs Private Self2. Public Self vs Private Self

Play's tragedy comes from Play's tragedy comes from character’s neglect of private character’s neglect of private feelings in favor of what they think is feelings in favor of what they think is to be the public good.to be the public good.

Characters put aside loyalties for the Characters put aside loyalties for the good of the country.good of the country.

3. Misinterpretations and 3. Misinterpretations and MisreadingMisreading

Characters fail to interpret correctly Characters fail to interpret correctly the omens they encounter.the omens they encounter.

Inability to read people and events Inability to read people and events lead to downfall while ability to read lead to downfall while ability to read people and events is key to survival.people and events is key to survival.

4. Inflexibility vs 4. Inflexibility vs CompromiseCompromise

Inflexibility, stubbornness brings Inflexibility, stubbornness brings untimely death.untimely death.

Individuals succeed through Individuals succeed through adaptability.adaptability.

Brutus’ honorable ideals open him up Brutus’ honorable ideals open him up to manipulation; Caesar’s to manipulation; Caesar’s consistency brings his death.consistency brings his death.

5. Rhetoric and Power5. Rhetoric and Power

Rhetoric is the ability to make things Rhetoric is the ability to make things happen by words alone. happen by words alone.

The most powerful type of authority.The most powerful type of authority. Words serve to move hearts and Words serve to move hearts and

minds.minds.

Tragedy Tragedy

– Chaos results when the lawful social order is Chaos results when the lawful social order is broken.broken.

– The best intentions of good, noble people can The best intentions of good, noble people can lead to tragedy.lead to tragedy.

– Language is powerful weapon, and in the Language is powerful weapon, and in the hands of a skilled person, it can be used to hands of a skilled person, it can be used to manipulate others.manipulate others.

– Violence and bloodshed can never have Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good results.morally good results.

– Orderliness and stable rule, even rule by a Orderliness and stable rule, even rule by a dictator, are preferable to chaos.dictator, are preferable to chaos.

CharactersCharacters

The First TriumvirateThe First TriumvirateJulius Caesar Julius Caesar –The greatest and most –The greatest and most powerful Roman. powerful Roman. CrassusCrassusPompey Pompey – defeated by Caesar; killed in – defeated by Caesar; killed in EgyptEgypt

The Second Triumvirate (after Caesar The Second Triumvirate (after Caesar dies)dies)Octavius Caesar Octavius Caesar –Caesar’s great nephew –Caesar’s great nephew and heir to his uncle’s wealth and powerand heir to his uncle’s wealth and powerMark Antony Mark Antony – Caesar’s loyal friend– Caesar’s loyal friendM. LepidusM. Lepidus

--Marcus Brutus Marcus Brutus – Caesar’s great friend, he joins – Caesar’s great friend, he joins the conspiracy against Caesar because he loves the conspiracy against Caesar because he loves Rome more than he loves his friend.Rome more than he loves his friend.

-Portia -Portia – Brutus’ wife– Brutus’ wife-Calpurnia -Calpurnia – Caesar’s wife– Caesar’s wife-Cassius -Cassius – the conspirer and organizer of the – the conspirer and organizer of the

conspiracyconspiracy-Casca -Casca – A member of the conspiracy. Used by – A member of the conspiracy. Used by

Shakespeare because he scoffs at ceremony Shakespeare because he scoffs at ceremony and is superstitious and is superstitious

Brutus, the HeroBrutus, the Hero

Hero of the play is not Caesar but Hero of the play is not Caesar but BrutusBrutus

Tragic hero (A.K.A. Ms. Tran)Tragic hero (A.K.A. Ms. Tran) Noble manNoble man Believes his actions are for the good Believes his actions are for the good

of Romeof Rome Is thought to be Caesar’s illegitimate Is thought to be Caesar’s illegitimate

sonson

YAY! You are done (for YAY! You are done (for now).now).

Plot Synopsis will Plot Synopsis will be given to you be given to you on Monday.on Monday.

We will find out We will find out what happens in what happens in Acts I-V before Acts I-V before we begin reading we begin reading Act I.Act I.

Turn in your Turn in your notes notes

The End (Back to the future)The End (Back to the future) The energy is restored back to you. The energy is restored back to you.

May the force be with you. May the force be with you.