1. An Introduction to the Playwright and his Play, Julius Caesar
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
An Introduction to the Playwright and his Play, Julius Caesar

2. Biographical Information
Born: Stratford-Upon Avon, England April 23,
Parents, John and Mary (Arden)
Married Anne Hathaway, November, 1582
Three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith
Shakespeare’s Birthplace

3. Playwright, Poet, Actor
Sometime in the 1580's William Shakespeare left his family to pursue a career as a playwright, poet, and actor in London.
His success was immense. Shakespeare is known to have written 154 sonnets and 37 plays.
In fact, so prolific was Shakespeare as a writer of sonnets, that a sonnet form has been named for him. The Shakespearean sonnet.

4. Authorship?
There are enough conspiracy theories out there regarding the works of Shakespeare (or attributed to Shakespeare, if you prefer) that entire careers have been built upon positing alternate candidates for the true authorship of the works. Whether or not the claim of Shakespeare is legitimate, the burden of proof would seem to lie on those who wish to discredit him. On the other hand, it's only fair to give attention to this debate as it has been ongoing since the 1700s.

5. Authorship continued…
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford: This contemporary of Shakespeare has been strongly advanced since the 1930s as the true author of Shakespeare's plays. A well-educated and well-traveled nobleman of Queen Elizabeth I's court, de Vere has been championed by the author Charlton Ogburn using parallels of the Earl's life with material from the plays—for instance, noting similarities between Polonius of Hamlet and the Earl's guardian, William Cecil. The Earl of Oxford apparently stopped his literary pursuits at an early age—unless, as Ogburn postulates, the Earl continued writing under the pen name of William Shakespeare. PBS aired a 1996 "Frontline" special on the subject.

6. Or this guy?
Francis Bacon, Philosopher and Writer: Bacon has been a traditional favorite of the anti-Stratford camp, and retains a high place on the list of potential candidates. Bacon proponents point toward Bacon's learning, his correspondences and memoirs (most notably, his notebook, Promus), as well as ciphers and other coincidences. Although Bacon was an undisputed man of letters, his style and expression vary greatly from that of Shakespeare's works. Bacon also produced such a voluminous output of his own, it's hard to conceive of him finding spare time enough to produce the quality output of work attributed to W. Shakespeare.

7. Last one…
Christopher Marlowe, Playwright: Marlowe would be the ultimate ghost writer, as he was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl in However, there are those that say Marlowe really didn't die; according to some, he was actually an occasional spy in the employ of the Crown. This eventually necessitated a fake death, after which Marlowe went on for an undetermined number of years penning poetry and plays under the nom de plume of Shakespeare. PBS also aired a January 2003 "Frontline" episode about Marlowe.
Other notable candidates have included William Stanley, Earl of Derby; Ben Jonson; Thomas Middleton; Sir Walter Raleigh (with or without collaboration by Francis Bacon); Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke; and even Queen Elizabeth I herself. There have been dozens of other such nominations since the Bard's death, and none have yet presented proof enough to discredit the man from Stratford.

8. Shakespeare’s Theatre
“The Globe Theatre, also known as the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, was not only one of most famous playhouses of all time, but the play house where Shakespeare performed many of his greatest plays. Built from oak, deal, and stolen playhouse frames, the 3 story, 3000 capacity Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare has become almost as famous as the playwright himself.” (Absolute Shakespeare)

9. The Stage In Shakespeare’s Time
A show lasted about 2 ½ hours, usually in open air theatres during the afternoon.
There were no acts, but frequent intermissions.
There was no scenery, but elaborate props and costumes to give reality.
Devices such as trap doors and scaffolds were used to make gods, witches, etc. disappear.

10. The Stage In Shakespeare’s Time (continued)
There were no actresses. All parts were played by men or boys.
There were no programs.
The closeness of stage to the audience led to use of "asides" and "soliloquies“.
In front of stage was a big open area where the "penny-public" stood to watch as they could not afford seats.

11. Points of Shakespeare's Style:
Use of metaphors– comparing something in terms of something else, i.e. "That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder".
Use of soliloquies– usually longer speeches given by characters when alone on stage– e.g. a person talking to himself out loud.
Use of asides– when a character says something to the audience, but the other characters on stage cannot hear it, e.g. like muttering to himself.

12. Points of Shakespeare’s Style: (continued)
Use of sonnets– a very rigid poetic style of writing. Fourteen lines consisting of three sets of four line quatrains and a two line rhyming couplet at the end. Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, e.g.
Use of puns– humourous plays on words indicating different meanings.
i.e. the Cobbler says, "A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed a mender of bad soles.” A cobbler is a mender of shoes or a bungler.

13. Points of Shakespeare’s Style: (continued)
Unfamiliar vocabulary—”It was mere foolery, I did not mark it.” (foolery for foolishness; mark for notice)
Grammatical structure—”I denied you not.” (instead of “did not deny you”)
Unusual word order—”Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (instead of “seem ambitious in Caesar?”
Allusions—”Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world/ Like a Colossus.” (an allusion to the giant statue the Colossus of Rhodes)

14. Early Rome Rome was established in 753 B.C.
For 200 years ruled by Tarquin kings who were tyrants
The Tarquins were overthrown by Lucius Junius Brutus in 510 B.C. – an ancestor of Brutus in the play.
A democratic republic was then established which lasted until the death of Julius Caesar.
The Romans were very proud of their democratic system and were repulsed by the thought of being ruled by a king.

15. EARLY ROME continued
The following political terms were used in Caesar's time:
Triumvirs: Rulers who share power as a threesome
Senators: Members of the Roman Senate, a ruling body that had some power but would have been subordinate to Caesar as dictator
Tribunes of the people: Whereas the Senate represented nobility and landowners, tribunes had limited power and represented the common people.

16. THE ROMAN FORUM
The Forum, the name of which is a Latin word referring to any open public space, was the center of business and public life in ancient Rome. Originally, the Forum served as a market and space in which to conduct public business. Later it was used more exclusively for civic business and religious ceremonies. The Forum underwent many changes and additions over the course of about 1,000 years: it was, at different times, a royal palace, several monuments to gods, the Senate house, commercial shops, a public altar, the public treasury, and the building where the assembly met to consider legislation. The Sacred Way, or Via Sacra, passed through the Forum and served as a path for victorious generals to parade through the city. Julius Caesar built a new forum (around 46 b.c.) to accommodate the city's population growth, and its chief building was a temple to the god from whom Caesar claimed descent. A temple to Divus Julius, a deified Julius Caesar, was built in 29 b.c.

17. And now the play!
Julius Caesar

18. Julius Caesar (the man)
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in 100 B.C.
He gained power and wealth due to a series of successful campaigns in which he conquered what is now Britain, France, much of central and eastern Europe, and parts of North Africa.
The quote, “veni, vidi, vici” is aptly credited to Julius Caesar. “I came, I saw, I conquered!”

19. What Did Caesar Do for Rome?
He built roads.
He developed irrigation systems.
He financed public parks and buildings.
He even made changes to the calendar.
Indeed, he was well liked and very powerful.

20. What Got Caesar into Trouble?
It appears he was much more interested in things other than military conquest.
After a series of civil wars that lasted until 48 B.C., Caesar declared himself Rome’s dictator for life.
Many people believed that Caesar wanted more than just power; he wanted a powerful title.

21. What Got Caesar into Trouble? (Continued)
Many Romans assumed that Caesar was ready to declare himself King of Rome and eliminate the five hundred year old republic of which the Romans were so proud.
Remember the Tarquins, the tyrant kings who ruled over Rome for 243 years? There was no way Romans were going to return to that style of government. Someone had to put a stop to this pursuit of absolute power, and so enter the conspirators.
...Beware the Ides of March! (March 15th)

22. Play Versus The History
Therefore, there is much historically accurate information, but a story to entertain the audience must also unfold.
Yes! There is much to learn from the works of William Shakespeare.
As we study this play, remember Shakespeare wished not only to inform his audience about the history of Julius Caesar, but also to entertain them.