*Shakespeare *Elizabethan Drama *Julius Caesar

Shakespeare

and

His Times

When William Shakespeare was born, England was in the midst of its Renaissance.

Queen Elizabeth I was the ruling monarch.

It was a time of national strength and wealth, and the prevailing attitude was that life was exciting.

It was an age of exploration, not only of the world but also of human nature and the English language.

Some Ideas that characterized the English Renaissance that are important to this play are:

Humans had potential for development.

The Protestant Reformation that began in Germany, and Elizabeth’s father’s break with the Roman Catholic Church paved the way for rapid advances in art, science, and philosophy.

This was a time for heroes. The ideal Elizabethan man was a

talented courtier, adventurer, fencer, poet, and conversationalist. He was a witty and eloquent gentleman who examined his own nature and causes of his actions.

Despite the fact that the nation was ruled by a queen, women had a lower social status than men.

Elizabethans still maintained their belief that the reigning monarch was God’s agent, and to rebel against a reigning monarch was to rebel against God.

In England, there was a succession crisis- Queen Elizabeth was 66 years old, obviously nearing death and had no children.

The potential horrors of an unclear succession were still very fresh in the minds of the Elizabethans.

Shakespeare was not able to comment directly on his country’s political situation, but through the theater he provided a sharp commentary that politically aware theatergoers would appreciate.

While Shakespeare had no way of predicting the future of English royalty, by sheer coincidence, 1599 was the year Oliver Cromwell was born.

After the execution of Charles I in 1649, Cromwell would rule England as “Lord Protector” (essentially a military dictator), from 1653 until his death in 1658.

1599 was the year of Julius Caesar’s first performance and the completion of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

Caesar was a popular subject in Shakespeare’s time.

Many English writers saw numerous similarities between their own country’s current situation (Elizabeth’s lack of a heir, England’s establishment as a world power, the first attempts at colonization of the New World) and the political uncertainty faced by the first century BCE Romans.

Features of Shakespeare’s Use of Language

Blank Verse Shakespeare’s essential pattern in his plays is

BLANK VERSE (unrhymed iambic pentameter). Iambic pentameter means that each line in the

poetry is built on five iambs. An iamb consists of an unstressed syllable

followed by a stressed syllable, as in the word prepare.

Pentameter means that there five iambs in a line. Therefore, whenever a reader notices a change in

this pattern there is a reason for the change. With the change, Shakespeare is creating a mood,

establishing character, etc. Shakespeare’s characters often speak in similes

and metaphors- to expand ideas and amplify IMAGERY.

The Tragic Hero The tragic hero, according to Aristotle, was a

man who rises to a high position and then falls from that high position-usually to utter desolation and/or death.

Two forces seem equally powerful in classical tragedy: the tragic hero’s tragic flaw (or hamartia) and fate.

Some tragic heroes clearly bring about their own downfall, as in the case of Creon in Antigone, whose downfall is due to his hubris (excessive pride)- he believes his law holds precedence over the gods’ sense of Right.

Other tragic heroes seem to be more pawn of fate, like Oedipus who has done everything in his power to prevent the fatal prophesy from coming to pass that Oedipus would murder his father and marry his mother. It is the very act of trying to avoid destiny that the prophesy fulfilled.

By the Renaissance, however, people generally felt themselves to be less pawns of fate and more in control of their own destinies.

The Elizabethan tragic hero, therefore, is much more often responsible for his own downfall.

Julius Caesar

Notes 503 BC – Rome ends rule of

Tarquins, a series of harsh, cruel rulers.

Rome decides never again to be under the rule of an oppressive government.Refuse all forms of govt. that consists

of kings & emperors (rulers who achieve power based on inheritance).

Rome sets up a Republic – a govt. in which officials are elected

The new govt. was made of 2 parts: 2 Consuls (leaders) – elected

officialsSenate – appointed by Consuls

Governing bodies could be made of people from any walk of life: noble or common

Julius Caesar got into politics during a time in which the Consuls and the Senate were having problems.

In this time of instability, he became an outspoken leader.

In 60 BC the first triumvirate (3-person governing body) was formed.

Consisted of Caesar, Pompey (a famous general), and a wealthy man named Crassus.

Crassus died. Eager for more power and

realizing that he could only achieve it with conquests and money, Caesar departed for what has been called the Gallic Wars.

His armies roamed Europe for 8 years.

Caesar amassed huge sums of money, which he sent back to Rome to gain favor with the people.

o Pompey, jealous of Caesar’s growing power and favor with the people, threw his weight to the Senate, which was also weary of Caesar’s ambitions.

Caesar refused the Senate’s order to give up his command and return to Rome.

Instead, Caesar’s army marched on Rome, took control, and chased Pompey all the way to Egypt. There, Pompey was murdered.

Caesar returned to Rome, was accepted by the people for his military abilities, was loved for all the goods he brought back from his conquests, and was elected Dictator for Life.Caesar would now rule Rome

until his death, and the next leader would have to be elected.

Many believed that Caesar wanted to be Emperor instead of just Dictator for Life.

If emperor, Caesar’s son would inherit the throne, instead of being elected.

Many feared that Caesar would bring back a style of life similar to when the Tarquin’s ruled.

To prevent this, some members of the legislature carried out a deceitful plan…

Key ThemesHonor AmbitionEnvy Power

Look for Rhetoric “The art or study of using

language effectively and persuasively”.

Make sure to look for persuasion and the use of language throughout the play (note the characters techniques to win public and political support).

So why did Shakespeare feel that Renaissance England would respond to Julius Caesar?

Shakespeare saw Caesar and Roman civilization not just as one that precedes the future, but as one that sets the pattern for future civilizations.

Shakespeare's England faced concerns of a country about to change leadership and centuries.

Cast of Major Characters

Julius Caesar Ruler of the Roman Empire. He is presented as a man of strong will and

self-belief. He is used to issuing commands and being obeyed. He is stubborn and will not listen to pleas for mercy if he thinks he is in the right. He considers himself to be resolute and unwavering.

Caesar denies he is afraid of Cassius and claims not to fear anyone or anything.

The conspirators believe Caesar is too ambitious and will soon acquire such power that Rome will be enslaved to one man.

Although Caesar is a commanding figure, he is physically weak, suffering from epilepsy as well as deafness in one ear.

Mark Antony Mark Antony is Julius Caesar’s right-

hand man and personal friend. He enjoys sports and theater. It is Antony’s cunning speech to the

masses after Caesar’s death that turns public opinion against the assassins, who gravely underestimated and misread him.

He shows fairness/nobility in victory.  

Marcus Brutus Marcus Brutus is recruited for the

assassination by Cassius. He becomes part of the plot because he

is concerned about the welfare of Rome. He does not covet power for its own

sake, and nor does he have any personal complaint about Caesar.

  He is presented throughout as a man of courtesy and honor, although perhaps also as a man who is unsuited to wield political power.

After he is dead, Antony salutes him as “the noblest Roman of them all.”

Cassius Cassius is the chief conspirator against

Caesar. It is he who recruits Brutus and the others.

Cassius is consumed with envy of Caesar, and sees no reason why Caesar should hold power over him.

Cassius is a good observer of men and he has uncommon insight into people’s motivations.

Caesar observes that Cassius has a “lean and hungry look.”

He is in every way a contrast to the more sociable Antony.

CascaCasca is one of the

conspirators, and it is he who stabs Caesar first.

Casca is known for his wit and liveliness.

He is a man of action who can get things done.

ArtemidorusArtemidorus is a teacher of

rhetoric who tries but fails to warn Caesar of the plot against him.

Trebonius

A member of the consipiracy against Caesar.

Decius Brutus

Conspirator who uses flattery to get Caesar to the Senate House.

Calpurnia

Caesar’s wife. Calpurnia invests great

authority in omens and portents.

Portia

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

Flavius

A tribune (an official elected by the people to protect their rights).

Murellus

A tribune-condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar (they once cheered for Caesar’s enemy Pompey.

CiceroA Roman senator renowned

for his oratorical skill.