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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