The Tragedy of Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare

An Introduction The play was first performed in 1599 during the period of Queen Elizabeth I The play is about Roman history, but uses the setting as a safe way to also criticize Elizabethan society, or make a social commentary. For this reason the play will not be completely historically accurate The major historical resource used by Shakespeare to craft the play is Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans which was translated into English in 1579

Shakespearean Tragedy Tragedies have a tragic hero (who tends to be the protagonist). Tragic heroes: Are admirable but flawed; capable of both good and evil. (A tragic hero is a round character.) Have free will. A tragic hero is capable of changing his fate but makes choices that prevent it.

Shakespearean Tragedy Continued Tragic heroes have what is called a tragic flaw, a characteristic that leads him to his downfall. This tragic flaw is often hubris: the character is out of touch with reality because he is overconfident and/or overestimates his competence/capability to avoid disaster. Many tragic heroes believe themselves to be invincible and above reproach. NOTE: Throughout this unit one of the overarching questions will be to determine who is the tragic hero of the play, is it Brutus or Caesar? Revisit this definition as we read and consider who you believe fits the description best.

Unit Essential Questions (Answers to These questions can be made into theme statements. They will also be the prompts for our final essay assignment.) What qualities make a person a good leader? What are society’s expectations and how do these expectations shape our perceptions and experiences? Which is more important, friendship or being a good citizen?

More Essential Questions How can we take personal responsibility for our actions, or not take responsibility for our actions? How do these actions influence both the way we view others and the way others view us? What is the effect of language (rhetorical style vs. emotional propaganda) on our perceptions of truth/justice/morality? What should the role of fate and superstition be in our decision-making?