…And then swiftly erupted into a bloody riot William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

So Civil! So Honorable! Supported by well- informed, respected citizens who dispassionately uphold the nation’s virtues! Senator McConnell frequently inflates his throat pouch to frighten off rival males. “Let me get this straight. Prostitution AND dog fighting are illegal? Is this in the senate handbook?” “Uhhhhhh… look at that president using ‘im big werds. Y’think yer better ‘n me?”

Out of the laboratory of ancient Rome, an imperfect form of Republicanism was born. This Republic was a constant struggle between Polity and Oligarchy Privilege and Poverty Idealism and Pragmatism Violence and Stability The greatest civilization the world has ever known was allegedly founded by children who breast-fed from wolves. You can’t make this stuff up.

“I can’t wait to see what happens on the next episode of Downton Abbey!” “I have the privilege of being totally unaware of my privilege! Woo hoo!” The Rich: Patricians The Poor: Plebeians

They were educated, and they worked hard to pass their advantages to their children. They owned slaves. This exacerbated tensions between the plebeians because it increased unemployment. They ruled the Senate and the Republic. When Cicero says “In Rome, all men are free,” he means all male patricians. They helped define the concept of nobility. They were obsessed with justifying their advantages, and used a variety of arguments to do so, including lineage and temperament. Rulers like Diocletian expected plebeians to consider him a god.

Following the Punic Wars against Carthage (which greatly expanded and enriched the empire), Rome was governed by a triumvirate made up of Magnus Pompey (military genius), Julius Caesar (popular man of the people), and Marcus Crassus (uber rich guy). The rivalry between Pompey and Caesar was fraught, and led to a civil war that eventually crowned Caesar. All this takes place before the play begins. In order to reduce the tension between the two men, Julius Caesar allowed the 53 year old Pompey to marry his 20 year old daughter. Shockingly, this did not go very well.

Caesar tells the story of the conspiracy formed between Roman nobles to assassinate Julius Caesar, who they believed was drifting towards despotism. They violently killed Caesar on the floor of the Senate, leading to a bloody civil war that ironically led to the very imperial leadership they sought to avoid. And you know how Shakespeare loves his irony. “Psst! Do you want to help me murder Roman general Gaius Julius Caesar?” “Totes, dude!”

For a brief time, he was the most interesting man in the world. He was a brilliant orator and military tactician. He married teenagers for political advantage. He daringly told off powerful leaders to protect “true love.” He fought pirates, Gauls, savages, and one donkey. He expanded the Roman empire, wrote history books, outfought and outwitted Egyptian princes. He snogged Cleopatra. He led 20,000 Roman troops against the celebrated general Magnus Pompey. And won. “I don’t always conquer other people’s empires, but when I do, I prefer to conquer ROME.”

Meet Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus

Though both had fought for Pompey against him, Caesar respected and forgave both men. It is said that he loved Brutus like a son. Cassius is an older, pragmatic general. He is jealous of Caesar and not above using deceit and subterfuge to advance his ambitions. Brutus is a younger, philosophical, respected nobleman. His name carries credibility, and he is obsessed with behaving honorably, even in conspiracy.

Shakespeare’s Caesar is himself vain, infirm, patronizing, and susceptible to flattery. But he, like is young general Marc Antony, understand the value of plebeians in any military action. Caesar is aided by the sporty, rugged Antony and his (Caesar’s) calculating nephew, Octavius. Once Caesar is dispatched, the two join the general Lepidus to form the second Roman triumvirate. AntonyOctavius Lepidus

As you read the play, consider these three central questions: 1. How do intelligent men deceive themselves? 2. What does it mean to lead? What does it take to lead? 3. What is the nature of nobility? What makes a man ‘honorable? “Um… see… he, like, fell? On my knife? Like, 23 times? So….. yeah.”

The quality of ‘greatness’ Deceit and trust The power of oratory The potential for violence in man and the masses The nature of power (its acquisition and use) The sin of hubris Idealism vs. pragmatism The nature of conspiracy “Ow! Ow! All right, I get it! No more Tweeting pictures of my cat! Ow! Quit it!”

The End!