Caesar Deception Corruption Power

EQs for JC : What makes an effective leader? How can people use persuasive and literary techniques to influence others? How do one’s choices affect both themselves and others?

Elements of Shakespearean Tragedy CRISIS:  In drama, the crisis is the turning-point in the play when the tragic protagonist becomes more controlled than controlling as a result of the consequences of his hamartias or errors in judgment. Crisis in drama is the equivalent to climax in a short story. RISING ACTION - Exciting Force:  The exciting force is an incident that begins the rising action or the plot of the play by introducing the dilemma of the tragic protagonist. In Julius Caesar, this moment occurs when Antony offers Caesar the crown three times, Brutus fearing that Caesar might become king and abuse the power that is given him. Moment of Final Suspense: The moment of final suspense is an incident after the tragic force that gives the impression that the tragic figure might escape his tragic downfall after all, the purpose of this incident being to sustain the level of interest and excitement as the play moves to its resolution. RESOLUTION - Glimpse of Restored Order: A Shakespearean tragedy never ends with the death of the tragic figure but rather with a glimpse of restored order that implies that a new harmony, new social structure, is about to be realized. This glimpse of restored order ends the play on an optimistic rather than a pessimistic note, for a Shakespearean tragedy is never depressing. A Shakespearean tragedy, in other words, never merely focuses on the tragic figure and the calamitous circumstances that lead him to his death, but rather on the tragic figure in relation to the society or the world in which he lives. EXPOSITION - Loosely defined, the exposition is the beginning or opening scene of the play, and, since Shakespeare’s stage had few stage props and no central curtain, it had a number of very important functions, the most important of these functions being  i) To create the appropriate mood and atmosphere; ii) To arouse the interest and curiosity of the audience and thus win their attention; iii) To establish setting; iv) To create interest in the tragic protagonist

"Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar." Caesar ignores warnings, and meets his bloody end. Hamartia: Hamartia is a Greek word derived from Aristotle’s Poetics that refers to the error or errors in judgment that the tragic figure makes that leads him to his tragic downfall. While it is true that the tragic figure suffers from hubris, which translated, refers to a flaw in character that leads the tragic protagonist to make these errors in judgment, Aristotle places more emphasis on hamartia than he does on hubris, since hamartia places the focus on the actions of the tragic figure—for, “drama,” as the word implies, is the depiction of action on the stage. Hubris: A Greek word meaning a defect or flaw in character, hubris is an emotional excess of some sort—jealousy, rage, excessive pride or carelessness—that leads the tragic figure to make errors in judgment that cause his downfall.

Act III, scene ii is the crisis or turning-point in Julius Caesar Brutus and Antony: An Examination of the Style, Structure and Effectiveness of their Funeral Orations Act III, scene ii is the crisis or turning-point in Julius Caesar funeral orations to the Roman mob Brutus explains why he and his fellow conspirators assassinated Julius Caesar, the “foremost man of all this world.” When Brutus leaves the podium after his address, he has the mob on his side, but he makes the fatal error of leaving the Forum without listening to Antony’s speech, giving Antony the freedom to turn the mob against the conspirators.

Brutus and Antony: An Examination of the Style, Structure and Effectiveness of their Funeral Orations In his famous oration—the most famous speech in the play and one of the most famous speeches in all of literature, second only, perhaps, to Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy—Antony plays on the fickleness of the mob, turning them against the conspirators and fashioning them into an instrument of his revenge. It is not that Brutus delivers a bad oration—indeed, it is, in many ways, a most eloquent speech—but rather that Antony delivers a much more effective one.

Brutus and Antony: An Examination of the Style, Structure and Effectiveness of their Funeral Orations Your TASK – Brutus deserves a second chance. You’ve been hired to be Brutus’s new speech developer. Recreate Brutus’s oration. Include appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos. Also, include at least 5 rhetorical devices. Underline and label each. Be prepared to present your speech.

Brutus and Antony: An Examination of the Style, Structure and Effectiveness of their Funeral Orations How Did It Go? Were you able to identify the different tactics your classmates used to persuade? Were you able to see relationships between those tactics and the ones used by Antony? REFLECTION: Did the comparison give you some understanding of Antony and his challenges in these scenes?

The Real Julius Caesar Julius Caesar was born… a. July 12, 1001 b. July 12, 100BC c. March 15, 44BC b. July 12, 100BC Needing support both politically and financially, Caesar formed the ______________ with Pompey the Great and Crassus a. First Triumvirate b. Counsul of the Roman Empire c. Veni, Vidi, Vici a. First Triumvirate After Caesar was named dictator for life, concern intensified for the future of Rome. _______ and _______ began to conspire against him. a. Cinna; Cassius b. Pompey; Brutus c. Brutus; Cassius c. Brutus; Cassius

Quotes that have lived through the Ages "Beware the ides of March." Soothsayer, Act I, Scene II "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.” Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene II "Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar." Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene I "Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the dogs of war” Mark Anthony, Act III, Scene I "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” Mark Anthony, Act III, Scene II "This was the noblest Roman of them all” Mark Anthony, Act V, Scene V

Overview Caesar has become the most powerful man in the Roman Republic and is eager to become king. Conspirators, such as Brutus and Cassius, plot against the power of Caesar; they do not want him to become the head of the Roman Empire. They plot to overthrow Caesar and assassinate him outside the Capitol. Caesar is given many warnings, but has become prideful with his power and disregards these omens His excessive pride leads to faulty judgment and a lack of clear thinking, which makes him a relatively easy target.

Themes Misuse of Power Corruptive Force of Power Man’s Fallibility The Inherent Jealously and Selfishness of Man Power Corrupts: Caesar is a dictator who is suspected of abusing his power; Cassius is so power hungry that he assassinates Caesar; Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus become even worse than Caesar!

Themes…continued Honor found in loyalty and friendship Corruption found in conspiracy and anarchy Stability through political order Viability of republic form of government Countless books, movies and other theatre adaptations have built on the theme of a “friend’s betrayal”

Literary Focus Mood Setting Overcast of impending doom, darkness and catastrophe There is no trust left, only manipulation and corruption Julius Caesar is largely set in Rome, 44 B.C. Ancient Rome Tiber River the Capitol the house of the Senate The Forum Literary Focus Mood Setting

Symbols & Motifs Omens and Portents Throughout the play omens and portents manifest themselves, each serving to crystallize the larger themes of fate and misinterpretation of signs. Letters The motif of letters represents an interesting counter part to the force of oral rhetoric in this play Brutus allows a forged letter from Cassius affect him In contrast Caesar refuses to read the letter that Artemidorus tries to hand him, as he is headed to the Senate Symbols & Motifs Wives and Women While one could analyze Calpurnia and Portia as full characters in their won right, they function primarily not as sympathetic personalities or sources of insight or poetry but rather as symbols for the private domestic realm.

Soliloquy The soliloquy, derived from the two Latin words “solus” meaning “alone” and “loquere” meaning “to speak,” is a speech delivered by a character while he is alone on the stage, indicating what that character thinks and feels, and explaining the reasons or motives why he acts as he does. In other words, to borrow a phrase from Cassius, the soliloquy allows us to see “quite through the deeds of men.” It is interesting to note that Julius Caesar has very few soliloquies; in fact, there are but three soliloquies in the entire play.,

Julius Caesar Julius Caesar An ambitious & ruthless politician Skilled general Believes that he is worthy of more power than just being the head of Rome; he wants to be crowned the leader of the entire Roman Empire. His ambition led to his downfall Long-time friend Brutus betrayed and stabbed him to stop him from becoming a tyrant

Calpurnia Calpurnia Julius Caesar's sensible and loving wife Warned her husband not to leave the house during the Ides of March after having a prophetic dream Calpurnia’s dream foreshadowed future events

Brutus – TRAGIC HERO? Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Caesar, has a strong relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and its people. Unlike Caesar, Brutus is able to separate completely his public life from his private life. Torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his allegiance to the state Brutus – a supporter of the republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators

CASSIUS Brutus Once a friend of Caesar and considered a talented general Feeling of patriotism, convinces him that Caesar must die rather than become a tyrant. Urges Brutus to assassinate both Caesar and Antony

CASSIUS continued… Cassius Becomes jealous of Caesar’s power and fearful he will abuse that power His strong principles led him to allow his rival Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral

Antony Soldier and Caesar's right-hand man Calculating and persuasive with words Uses his influence to turn the people of Rome against Brutus With Caesar slain, seizes the opportunity to take control of Rome Antony delivers Caesar’s funeral oration