Download Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar
by William
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
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A brief bio
The…Reel Background
William Shakespeare
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April 23, 1564 (in Stratford-upon-Avon) – April 23,
1616
Church records from Holy Trinity Church indicate that
he was baptized there on April 26, 1564 ➔ no actual
record of birth
Married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582.
William was 18 at the time, and Anne was 26—and
pregnant.
- first daughter, Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583.
- twins, Hamnet and Judith, born February 2, 1585.
Hamnet died in childhood at the age of 11.
For the seven years following the birth of his twins,
William Shakespeare disappears from all records,
finally turning up again in London some time in 1592
Acting troupe: under Queen Elizabeth, Lord
Chamberlain’s Men; under James I, the King’s Men
Shakespeare’s English
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Insults 1: History of English
Pre-Shakespearean Actors
Before Shakespeare’s time, troupes of actors traveled
the countryside, to perform
in parks
halls
courts
courtyards
and in other open
spaces they could
find.
Theaters:
In 1576, the first playhouse, called The Theater, was built
outside London’s city walls. Soon other famous London
theaters followed. i.e.
•the Rose
•the Fortune
•the Red Bull
•the Swan
Greek Theater
The Globe
• The Globe Theater: where Shakespeare’s acting troupe
performed; circular design modeled after the outdoor Greek
theaters, which were designed in a semicircle around the
stage
The Globe Theater
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Rebuilt 1598 on London’s
Bankside district
Actors all men
Plebeians stood on floor;
upper classes had seats
along sides
Burned down in 1613,
cannon shot during
performance of Henry VIII
THE GLOBE
covered seats
main stage
Actors:
All men
cheap standing
room
Renaissance History (1485-1660)
Renaissance Man – inspired by man of Classical Greece: man
who cultivated his innate talents to the fullest
● Rulers:
1) House of Tudor – began w/ end of war of the Roses
- Henry VII
- Henry VIII (infamous for 6 wives)
- Edward VI (sickly – brief reign; from age 9 - 16)
- Lady Jane Grey (The 9 Day Queen)
- Mary Tudor (“Bloody” Mary”)
- Elizabeth I______________________________________
2) House of Stuart
- James I
- Charles I
- Oliver Cromwell ➔ The Commonwealth
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Jo6sAtqXA&ebc=ANyPxKrT82m-k3ZzRZFrV9UwPLq5JJt40DYYaCzVyHeWePme5sE3QyL0GlCpybsY7DZ4jfgPk1ALHYVm92DUOdkCK_GqTOyQA
Julius Caesar History
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The first triumvirate: 60-53 BC
➔ Pompey, Crassus and Caesar all have grievances
against the senate.
Strife: To cement their bond, Pompey marries Caesar's
only child, Julia (though he is older than her father). Also,
Pompey’s veterans use riots to persuade the senators to
support them.
➔ Breakdown of triumvirate: Julia dies after giving birth to
a daughter. Later, Crassus is killed campaigning in Asia, at
Carrhae. There is little now to mask the inevitable rivalry
between Pompey and Caesar.
Caesar overthrows Pompey and Pompey’s sons
Caesar declared dictator for life ➔ title angers many
senators. Moreover, it is rumored Caesar wishes to be
declared king.
Many senators create a coupe to overthrow Caesar.
Julius Caesar Short
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh_jTg9PXU
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Julius
Caesar
(1599)
based on the assassination of
the Roman military commander and
dictator, Julius Caesar, who lived
from 102 to 44 BC
● Caesar drives Pompey to Egypt,
where Pompey is murdered.
●Caesar declared dictator for 10
years, and was eventually declared
dictator for life
● Romans did not like the idea of
having a king again after 450 years
● Caesar was was assassinated on
March 15, 44 B. C.
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Sources
Major source: Sir Thomas North’s translation of Plutrarch’s Lives
of the Noble Greeks and Romans
Changes
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Caesar’s ghost in Plutarch is merely Brutus’ “Evil spirit”
Shakespeare adds Lucius and entirely remodels Casca
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and adds to the sketch of Octavius (all else are in
Plutarch)
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Compression of three years into five days
Some Major Themes
1. Chaos results when the prescribed social order is broken.
2. The best intentions of good, noble men can lead to
tragedy.
3. Language is a powerful weapon, and in the hands of a
skilled person, it can be used to manipulate others.
4. Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good
results.
5. Orderliness and a stable rule, even though dictatorial, are
preferable to social chaos.
Shakespeare’s Adaptation of the Play
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar has been called one of the most
difficult of Shakespeare’s plays to assess and interpret.
● The plays was first printed in the Folio of 1623 and its shortness of
length led scholars to seek evidence that the play had been
abridged, though with small success. There is evidence, however,
that points to revision.
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Edward Poynter- “The Ides of March”
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will condemn it will come. (Shakespeare, Julius
Caesar, 2.2.8-14)
Tragedy
Tragedy: a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified
character who is involved in historically or socially significant
events.
● According to Aristotle in his Poetics, tragedy is good for the
state (political) because people go to the theater and are purged
of their emotions; they, as a result, leave more docile (calm).
● A good tragedy can recreate. This has to do with the belief in a
cosmic order, of nobility and dignity. Sometimes the sacrifice of
one person regains the cosmic order, and society is better off
(also, the idea of the scapegoat—one must fall/suffer for the rest
to remain whole).
Six Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
1. Morality – He is neither extremely virtuous nor extremely
viscous. He is not outstanding, but is most like us. He wouldn’t
have a flaw if her were too good.
2. He has a tragic flaw (hamartia)– This can be a misstep, a
misjudgment, an error that brings about his own destruction.
There is something within his character that contributes to or
brings about his destruction. It is a virtue carried to excess,
usually a minor thing, like HUBRIS (excessive pride). Macbeth’s
tragic flaw was his ambition.
3. Social position – A tragic figure must be famous or prosperous.
Possible reasons: 1. He has more to lose.
2. He is supposed to be a leader of society.
3. More than just himself is affected.
Tragic Hero Continued
4. Suffering and misfortune – He undergoes a change of
fortune that brings about suffering or death. It is not always
physical; it can be mental torture (psychological). Often it is
unwarranted suffering; it may not be deserved.
5. Tragic Recognition (Anagnorisis) – When a hero recognizes
what he has done, the reader can sympathize with him. This
recognition comes at a reversal called Reversal of situation
(peripeteia)
6. Catharsis the process of releasing, and thereby providing
relief from, strong or repressed emotions. In a tragedy,
he is a good tragic hero, a purging of the emotions of pity and
fear (catharsis), a sympathy, a release of the emotions, will
occur.
The of Colorful Nature of
Shakespeare’s English
Insults 1: Do you bite your thumb at me
sir? – insults
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Insults 2: Modern Insults v. Shakespeare’s
Insults
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