Download Julius Caesar

If we wind the clock back about 400 years to the year 1600 in fact - we arrive at the
time when William Shakespeare
completed Julius Caesar.
Can you think of any reasons why this play
(and for that matter Shakespeare
himself) stood the test of time so well?
After all, Shakespeare is a huge commercial
success all over the world, even today.
Books, films, TV, stage presentations,
and souvenirs generate an enormous
profit.
What is a tragedy again?
 The tragedy of Julius Caesar is based on the actual
historical figure.
 He was known as one of the greatest military generals of
all ages.
 In fact, he was more famous than Alexander the Great or
Hannibal.
 Born July 13, 100 B.C.
 Helped transform Rome into an
empire
 Elected military tribune in 72
B.C.
 Elected Proconsul
 He conquered: Gaul, Belgium,
part of Switzerland and
Germany
 Responsible for first invasion of
Britain in 55 B.C.
During his lifetime Romans were a
superstitious people. They
believed that future events could be
seen in dreams, the stars, and
unnatural occurrences. Many
Romans believed that fate controlled
one’s life.
*They also
believed in
many Gods.
 The locus of Senate and Imperial proclamations
 Portents were pronounced by a priest known as an auger
who would interpret the will of the gods.
 The augur was central to any major undertaking in Roman
society—public or private—including matters of war,
commerce, and religion.
 The forum was also a place for people to display grief and
gratitude.
Forum entrance
Forum in Rome
Important events leading up to Caesar’s dictatorship:
In 503 BC Rome ended the rule of the Tarquins, a series of
harsh, cruel rulers. Rome decided to never again be
under the rule of such an oppressive government. They
refused ALL forms of government that consisted of
kings or emperors, basically any ruler who achieves
power based on inheritance instead of an election.
As a result, Rome set up a republic which is a
government in which officials are elected. The new
government was made up of two parts:
Two consuls (leaders) and a senate.
The Consuls were elected officials. They appointed
the Senate members. These people could be from
any walk of life—noble or common.
Julius Caesar got into politics during a time in which
the Consuls and the Senate were having problems.
In this time of instability and arguing, he became
an outspoken leader.
Consuls
Senate
In 60 BC the first triumvirate was formed.
It consisted of Caesar, a famous general named
Pompey, and a wealthy man named Crassus.
Julius Caesar
Crassus
Pompey
Crassus died while battling the Parthians, and
Pompey began to fear that Caesar was growing too
powerful and popular.
Crassus
Caesar
Caesar and his army were far away from Rome,
conquering many lands for the Roman Empire.
Pompey ordered him back so that he would not have
to fear Caesar and his powerful army. Instead,
Caesar attacked Pompey, defeating his forces and
killing him in the midst.
Pompey
 Pompey’s House (restored)
Caesar returned to Rome and was accepted by the
people for his military abilities. He was loved for
all of the goods he brought back from his
conquests, and he was elected Dictator for Life.
This meant that he would rule Rome until his
death, and the next leader would have to be
elected.
Caesar = Dictator for Life
We Love Caesar!!!
 Reorganized distribution





of grain
Founded military
colonies for the poor
Granted citizenship to
doctors & teachers
Stepped up criminal
penalties and laws
against extortion
Created 1st news sheet
Never lost a war
 Named dictator for ten
Statue erected
years
with inscription:
 Given most lavish honors
“To the
ever showered on a Roman
unconquerable
 Victories = national
god.”
holidays
 Coins minted with his
image
Many believed that Caesar wanted to be emperor
instead of just Dictator for Life.
If he was Emperor, Julius Caesar’s son would inherit
the throne after his death.
Many feared that Caesar would bring back a style of
governing similar to Tarquin’s.
To prevent this, some members of the legislature carried
out a deceitful plan . . .
 This Roman emperor was well known in the
Elizabethan public's mind - he was, after all,
the one who led the first Roman ships to
Britain's shores in 55 B.C. and paved the way for
the Roman occupation of Britain.
 When he became dictator, he was arguably the
most powerful ruler the world
had ever known.
 He also died in a
spectacular fashion.
How did the play relate to the
Elizabethan Era?
One of the themes of Julius Caesar is the method
of selection of a leader.
At the time when the play was written, Elizabeth
I, the English Queen, was too old to bear
children and did not have an heir.
Likewise, Caesar had not named an heir.
Shakespeare's selection of themes reflected the
interests and concerns of his times.
 Of course, Shakespeare had to gather historical
details.
 He read one major work: Sir Thomas North's
translation of the ancient Greek historian Plutarch's
Lives of the Roman Greek’s and Romans.
 But Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is not a history book,
nor was it his intention to write a piece of Roman
history.
 It is a play, based on the
 events of Caesar's murder.
 pressures on the characters around him.
 consequences for the conspirators and Rome in
general.
He is not so much interested
in the facts but uses them to:
 Present something from his own imagination
that would entertain his audiences (the first
thing to think about, obviously).
 Make audiences think: challenge them to look
beyond the story and look at the way human
beings act towards each other.
 Pun: a play on words
 Blank Verse: unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter
 Soliloquy : long speech given by a character while
alone on stage to reveal private thoughts
 Aside: character’s quiet remark to the audience
THE END