1. by: William Shakespeare
Caesar
by: William Shakespeare

2. Some History
Today, generals in armies have to report to the president.
Two thousand years ago, the generals in the Roman army had much individual power.
Sometimes, generals turned on each other.

3. Power Hungry
Caesar and Pompey, two generals, clashed in a civil war in Rome.
The two men were friends. They, along with Crassus, formed the First Triumvirate (or 3 man government).
Caesar was eager for more power and land, so he set out in the Gallic Wars, which lasted for about 8 years.

4. Pompey and Egypt
Pompey, jealous of Caesar and his growing power, made the senate order Caesar to return.
Caesar marched on Rome, took control and chased Pompey to Egypt, where he was murdered.
Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra and
lingered in Egypt, returning after nine
months.

5. Return to Rome
When he returned to Rome, he defeated an army led by Pompey’s sons.
Became dictator – all of his supporters were made senators.
The common people loved him.
Caesar’s ambition was hated by the senators, who despised the idea of another king of Rome.

6. Assassination
Cassius, a senator, and Brutus, one of Caesar’s best friends and supporters, plan his murder “for the good of Rome.”
They convince other senators to participate.
Caesar was stabbed on March 15, 44 B.C., a date also known as the Ides of March.

7. Superstitions
Shakespeare uses Roman customs and superstition to create spooky conditions to mirror the dangerous plot being planned.

8. Omens The Romans believed that omens could reveal the future.
These omens could take the form of unusual weather, flights of birds, or other natural phenomena.

9. Animals as Omens
The Romans often sacrificed animals to the gods, and had their entrails examined by an official called a haruspex. Any abnormalities or imperfections indicated the anger of a god or a particularly bad event about to happen.

10. More Omens
Unusual astronomical and meteorological occurrences were also seen as indicators of future events.
Solar eclipses were believed to portend doom, as was lightning.

11. The Main Characters Dictator of Rome Julius Caesar Marcus Brutus
Cassius
Casca
Trebonius
Ligarius
Decius Brutus
Metellus Cimber
Cinna
Dictator of Rome
The Conspirators

12. More Characters Calphurnia – Caesar’s wife Portia – Brutus’s wife
Soothsayer – a fortune teller
Octavius Caesar (adopted son)
Marc Antony Triumvirs after
Lepidus Caesar’s
Death

13. Setting Play takes place in Rome in 44 B.C.
Begins a few months before Caesar’s death
Action takes place in the streets of Rome, the houses of its leaders, and in the Senate House
Action then moves to the battlefields of Sardis and Philippi

14. Public Self vs. Private Self Misinterpretations and Mis-readings
Themes
Fate vs. Free Will
Public Self vs. Private Self
Misinterpretations and Mis-readings