JULIUS CAESAR: an introduction Friday, 09 November 2018

HISTORY: Before the play Rome has been ruled by a committee of wealthy men – the Senate- who have risen up the rungs of power. They replaced the Kings in 753BC ROME 44BC. The republic has been wracked by tensions and 3 men – a triumvirate – has taken power. Caesar, Pompey and Crassus ruled but have fallen out with each other: Crassus is dead and Caesar has defeated Pompey in war. The victorious Caesar returns to Rome as the play opens. Much rests on whether he will take the title “KING”…

KINGS… Years before, Rome was ruled by KINGS. The last, Tarquinius Superbus was driven out of Rome by Lucius Brutus. Brutus’ descendant opposes Caesar in this play. Will history repeat itself?

The reach of Rome

The PLAY We follow the events surrounding Caesar’s return and the offer of the crown. We also look beyond this to the events that will unfold once a leader is deposed, particularly one with no heir. Shakespeare is commenting on his own times in all his plays…

The play is a tragedy. You will need to understand what is meant by a TRAGEDY. It is not simply “sad”. It centres on the question of NOBILITY. You will write a controlled assessment-type essay concerned with the nobility of one of the protagonists of the play and also in the poems you read last term…

Characters: The principal characters are all real people and most educated Elizabethans would know about them from school. Julius Caesar: Ruler of the new “Empire” of Rome. Marcus Brutus: A senator of an old family. Respected and a focal point for those who did not want the city to be ruled by one man. Mark Antony: A supporter and friend of Caesar who will be part of a triumvirate with… Octavius Caesar: Caesar’s nephew and“heir” who will become the emperor Augustus.

Others: Cicero: A great Orator and speech writer. Studied by all Elizabethan schoolboys… Cato the younger: politician opposed to Caesar and respected for his moral virtue. A friend of Brutus. Cassius: A military man and politician opposed to Caesar. Tribunes: an office of government that was supposed to maintain the spirit of the republic and support the rights of the people.

PARALLELS Before we read the text, look at these images of politicians or leaders. Find out who they are and do a little research about them. See if you can decide which category they fall into (it might be more than one). The categories are on the last page.

Categories 1: Driven by honour and a sense of “what is right” 2: Seizes power and will not relinquish it 3: Of huge benefit to the country and the wider world 4: Strong and prepared to take criticism to achieve what they believe to be in the interest of the people 5: Corrupted by power and greed 6: Brave and prepared to lose support of their people to achieve a better outcome 7: Ambitious, though not seen as a great leader 8: Thoroughly honourable, throughout their life.