The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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by William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Julius Caesarby William

Shakespeare

Everything you need to know before reading the

play!

The Tragedy of Julius Caesarby William

Shakespeare

Everything you need to know before reading the

play!

Who was Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar was a Roman dictator and general who died a violent

death over two thousand years

ago

So, where does The Tragedy of Julius Caesar begin?

In order to understand the story of Julius Caesar, you must first understand his

role in Roman government

• Julius Caesar began his career as a general -- a position that brought him both power and affluence • He became involved in politics when he was involved in politics when he was appointed appointed as a Roman as a Roman consulconsul (our version of a Senator or (our version of a Senator or Representative) by his friend, Representative) by his friend, Pompey the Pompey the GreatGreat

How did Caesar become so powerful? • Even though Rome was a

republic at the time, Caesar gained a great deal of power when he formed a strategic alliance with two fellow consuls In 66 B.C., he, along with In 66 B.C., he, along with Pompey and Pompey and CrassusCrassus, , developed the developed the First First TriumvirateTriumvirate – a three-person – a three-person government that ruled Rome government that ruled Rome through the militarythrough the military This Triumvirate was quite This Triumvirate was quite successful because it restored successful because it restored order to a government order to a government weakened by weakened by

in-fighting amongst Roman in-fighting amongst Roman leadersleaders

Well, then what went wrong?• As a part of the Triumvirate, Caesar

continued to make successful military conquests around world – thereby increasing his power and popularity

Pompey the Great

Pompey soon became jealous Pompey soon became jealous and convinced the Roman and convinced the Roman Senate to Senate to remove remove Caesar Caesar from officefrom office This started a battle between This started a battle between the two men, in which Caesar the two men, in which Caesar came outcame out triumphant triumphant – – defeating both Pompey and defeating both Pompey and his sonshis sons

What was Caesar like?• As a general, Caesar was

extraordinarily successful – executing brilliant military

campaigns He was charismatic, extravagant, He was charismatic, extravagant, and and

beloved beloved by the people of Rome by the people of Rome

(particularly, the lower class – or(particularly, the lower class – or

plebeiansplebeians)) The main reason the Romans The main reason the Romans loved Caesar was because he loved Caesar was because he wooed them with wooed them with gifts gifts andand moneymoney from his conquests from his conquests

However, he was also However, he was also arrogantarrogant – a tragic quality that many feel – a tragic quality that many feel

directly led to his deathdirectly led to his death

What happened next…?

• Once Pompey was gone, Caesar named himself “Dictator for Life”

While the people While the people continued to love him, continued to love him, the the Roman SenateRoman Senate

hated the fact that he hated the fact that he had gained so much had gained so much

powerpower He was eventually He was eventually assassinated assassinated

by his closest confidants on by his closest confidants on March 15, 44 B.C.March 15, 44 B.C.

How does William Shakespeare fit in?

• It is believed that Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Julius Caesar in 1599

He wrote it based He wrote it based on the events on the events leading up to and leading up to and following Caesar’s following Caesar’s assassinationassassination

•It was the first play to be performed at Shakespeare’s

theater, the Globe

The Globe Theater – an interior shot

Where did Shakespeare get the information to write this

play? • Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar based on a biography from Plutarch, a Greek writer who lived during Caesar’s time

Plutarch

While Shakespeare While Shakespeare embellished history for the embellished history for the sake of theatrics, this play, sake of theatrics, this play, for the most part, is for the most part, is historically soundhistorically sound

Get Ready…… to read about one of history’s most

influential leaders, and decide for yourself who the true tragic hero is in this play

Tragic Hero: a person with mostly good qualities whose tragic character

flaw leads to his/her demise

Caesar or Brutus??

You also need to know some literary terms

• Imagery• Is used to describe characters, create

mood, or suggest an idea. • Imagery is essential in Shakespearean

plays because there was little visual representation.

Blank Verse

• Unrhymed iambic pentameter• Used to represent conversation• Breaks in iambic pentameter can suggest

important action

Dramatic Speeches

• Each type serves a different dramatic purpose

• We’ll examine each of these individually.

• What the characters reveal in speeches made either to themselves or directly to the audience can be dramatically different from what they say to other characters.

Soliloquy

• soliloquy is a speech in which a character, alone on stage, speaks directly to the audience

and reveals or

examines his thoughts and feelings.

Monologue

• A monologue is a lengthy, uninterrupted speech addressed to other characters, rather than to the audience. It may or may not reveal what the speaker really thinks or feels.

Aside

• An aside is a brief remark to the audience, uttered while other characters are nearby but unable to hear. Often the character is speaking to him or herself. In Act III, however, two characters speak asides not overheard by the others, and they reveal their true feelings.

Dramatic/ Verbal Irony

• Dramatic Irony is a device whereby an audience’s understanding of a character’s words or actions is different from the character’s understanding. The audience’s special knowledge enables it to view the characters with superior understanding.

• Verbal Irony is when one character intentionally says something with a meaning that another character is not aware of.

Metaphorical Language

Metaphorical Language involves a comparison of unlike things

For example, Cassius says that the shadow of the birds of prey is a canopy, suggesting how dark and dense the shadow is. Such metaphorical language deepens meaning and expresses feelings and emotions in a way that ordinary, plain language often cannot.

Finally, the MLA

• To cite a play correctly:

(Act One, Scene Two, lines 57-58)

• Or in MLA:

I. ii, 57-58