1. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar William Shakespeare 100 B.C.- 44 B.C.
CORNELL NOTES

2. Veni. Vidi. Vici. I came. I saw. I conquered.2

3. Tragedy: in literature, the series of unfortunate events by which one or more of the characters in the story has several misfortunes, and finally there is a disaster of “epic proportions.” 3

4. Julius Caesar: Introduction
The setting of this play is ancient Rome.
Shakespeare creates a world full of political intrigue (interest), magical occurrences, and military conquest.

5. Julius Caesar: HISTORICAL Introduction DO NOT WRITE
Caesar, the most powerful man in Rome, has recently returned to the city after months of fighting abroad.

6. Roman Territory before Caesar6

7. Roman Territory after Caesar7

8. Monarchy: King has complete rule over Rome. Sons rule after them.
Republic: Roman Government ruled by the people.
Dictatorship: One leader has complete political control. New person is elected after death.

9. Rome was ruled by a “Triumvirate” (a group of three men) Pompey -a great politician & Caesar’s son-in-law Caesar -the famous general Crassus -the wealthiest man in Rome
What do we have presently
in the U.S. similar to a triumvirate?

10. “Triumvirate” Established to restore order to Rome
59 B.C. Pompey marries Caesar’s daughter, Julia.
Caesar wanted more power and went after more conquests and money.
54 B.C. Julia dies; Pompey jealous of Caesar’s power and influence.

11. In 54 B. C. Caesar’s daughter, Julia, dies
In 54 B.C. Caesar’s daughter, Julia, dies. Because she was the the only real personal tie between Pompey and Caesar, tension flared between the two men.
Pompey
Caesar

12. In 53 B.C.
Crassus dies…
This ends the First Triumvirate and sets Pompey and Caesar against one another.

13. Caesar began a military career and
his armies conquered multiple countries.
After Crassus was killed, trouble began
to develop between Pompey and Caesar.

14. Caesar was fighting Pompey, another powerful Roman, and his sons.
Pompey, as well as others in the Roman senate, was disturbed by Caesar’s growing ambition.

15. Because he was jealous, Pompey persuaded the
Senate to order Caesar to break up his army and
return to Rome.
Instead, Caesar invaded Rome and took
control and chased Pompey all the way to Egypt.
He was killed there before Caesar could capture him.
Later Caesar defeated and killed Pompey’s
sons in Spain.

16. Their fears seem to be valid when Caesar refuses to enter Rome as an ordinary citizen after the war.
Instead, he marches his army on Rome and takes over the government.

17. But the people don’t mind—in fact, they love him.
Caesar is made “dictator for life.”

18. Caesar was an ambitious leader…
Julius Caesar gained support of the people by:
Spending money for public entertainment
Establishing laws that freed farmers and
tradesmen from heavy taxes
Redistributed public lands and gave them to poor people
and veterans to farm and make a living.
Created a police force
Told the Senate what new laws to pass and when.
Reorganizing the army and conquering new lands,
sending slaves and money to Rome and helping keep it
safe.

19. Okay, sure, but what else? I mean, he’s
still a dictator and dictators are bad…
Canceled all interest due in the year 49 BCE and also allowed tenants a year that was rent free.
Offered the poor a new opportunity in Rome’s new colonies.
Created public building projects which gave those who were out of work a job.
Changed the flow of the Tiber river to help prevent flooding.

20. This is where our play begins…
When it opens, we see some citizens in support of Caesar and some against him.

21. Many senators, resent Caesar for having so much power.

22. Brutus:
Act I: BRUTUS What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Caesar for their king. CASSIUS Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. BRUTUS I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
Act II: BRUTUS It must be by his death: and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd: How that might change his nature, there's the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; And that craves wary walking. Crown him?--that;-- And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,

23. Why does Brutus want to kill Caesar?
Brutus was simply afraid Caesar was gaining far too much power.
Brutus was also under some peer pressure from other Senators.
Additionally, it was Brutus’ ancestor who killed the last king, so he
feels he has to protect Rome just as his ancestor did.
In other words, HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY more than he loves his friend.
Hrm… That almost sounds like a flaw that could lead to some tragedy, doesn’t
it?
Are his reasons good? Do you agree with him that Caesar should not be king?

24. Cassius
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in And bade him follow; so indeed he did. The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!' I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar. And this man Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature and must bend his body, If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.

25. Cassius and the other Senators reasons for murdering Caesar
Cassius and other Senators, while they did fear Caesar gaining power, were also simply jealous of him.
They resented the fact that he put common soldiers who had helped serve the empire in key positions above them.
All of them were the rich folks and Caesar wanted help out the poor folks and rich folks don’t like that.

26. Julius Caesar: PLAY Introduction YOU MAY WRITE NOW
Some senators begin to conspire. . .
Brutus, Caesar’s friend who believes that he must act against Caesar for the good of Rome Casca, who hates the ordinary citizens of Rome yet is jealous because they love Caesar and not him Cassius, a greedy and jealous man who wants to take drastic measures to keep Caesar from winning any more power—and to take away any power that Caesar previously had!

27. The Feast of the Lupercal *februaue actually means “to purify”
February* 15:
The Feast of the Lupercal
What is that?
Lupercus was the fertility god the Romans worshipped. They would sacrifice goats and a dog. The goats’ blood would be smeared on the foreheads of two young men, then wiped off with wool dipped in milk. Then young men wearing only strips of goatskin around their loins, ran around the city striking women with strips of goatskin. It was believed that pregnant women would have an easier labor and infertile women would become fertile.
*februaue actually means “to purify”

28. During this feast some of the conspirators discuss Caesar and what to do about him having too much power.
The plan to kill him
is developed…

29. Would you be worried if someone told you something terrible would happen
to you in a month?

30. Beware the Ides of March...

31. He is, in fact, killed on March 15th.
Julius Caesar is warned to beware the ides of March.
“Ides” means the middle of the month; he was warned that something bad would happen on March 15th, 44 B.C.
He is, in fact, killed on March 15th.

32. The Tragic Figure...
A tragic figure or hero is one who has a character flaw which causes them to act poorly or make poor decisions resulting in their downfall.

33. Every Shakespearian tragedy has one
Every Shakespearian tragedy has one. However, in Julius Caesar, the tragic hero is not the title character.

34. Shakespeare makes BRUTUS a key figure in the play.

35. As we read The Tragedy of Julius Caesar…
• We will discuss the conspiracy…
• We will discuss how Rome fell to mob rule after Caesar’s death…
• We will discuss why history seems to repeat itself over and over again…
• And we will discuss our own flaws in our personalities and how we can prevent a tragedy in our lives by our every day actions…

36. Veni, vidi, vici
Veni, vidi, vici means “I came, I saw, I conquered” – it’s how Caesar summed up his accomplishments
His name means “emperor” in at least 2 languages
The month of July is named after him
During his life, he was a famous lawyer, a high priest, a brilliant general, and a major author before declaring himself dictator of Rome

37. Julius Caesar : Discussion Starters…
Discussion starter topic 1:
1. How important is loyalty?
Does your country or do your friends consider “loyalty” something to value? When can “loyalty” sometimes cause problems?
What should people do when loyalty to their country and loyalty to their friend comes into conflict?
Are there limits to what people should do in defense of the nation?

38. Julius Caesar: Discussion Starters
Discussion starter topic 2: 2. What will a person do for the sake of political ideals?
Assassinations of political figures are common in history.
What political figures do you know of who have been assassinated?
What effect did these assassinations have on the general public, a political party, or a cause at the time of the assassination?

39. Julius Caesar : Background WRITING OPTIONAL
Shakespeare uses Roman customs and superstition to create spooky conditions to mirror the dangerous plot being planned.

40. Julius Caesar : Background
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.

41. Julius Caesar: Background
Animals were seen as indicators of the future.
The Romans often sacrificed animals to the gods, and had their entrails (guts) 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.

42. Julius Caesar: Background
Unusual astronomical and meteorological occurrences were also seen as signs of future events.
Solar eclipses were believed to foreshadow doom, as was lightning.

43. Julius Caesar : Background
Around 509 B.C., the Romans ended a monarchy by rebelling against the last king of Rome, Tarquinius.

44. Julius Caesar: Background
After this revolution, the Romans established their famous republic, in which all citizens were represented in the Senate.
They were very proud of their non-king ruled government, and were determined to preserve it—but when Caesar arrived, they changed their minds!

45. Julius Caesar: SUMMARY
WRITE YOUR SUMMARY IN 3-4 SENTENCES NOW.