Download High School Literature 2.10

High School Literature 2.10
Julius Caesar
&
The Nature of Tragedy
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
William Shakespeare’s is a study of the downfall of the lives of
Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, and Antony. Shakespeare brings the
excitement of conspiracy, suspicion, and ambition to a
culmination in Act 5 while with the ghost of Caesar looks
on.
Marcus Brutus was Caesar’s close friend and Roman praetor,
or protector. Yet, he murdered Caesar. Brutus allowed
himself to be enticed into joining a group of conspiring
senators with Cassius at the lead. They feared Caesar
intended to turn republican Rome into a Roman empire
with Caesar as the sole ruler.
In so doing, the citizens of Rome would have no voice or
representation for their law. Instead Caesar would reign as
supreme emperor deciding the fate of the citizens of Rome.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Caesar’s assassination is one
of the most famous
scenes in the play
occurring in Act 3 but Act
5 further reveals the
nature and character of
those who survived after
Caesar’s murder.
The early scenes in the play
deal with arguments
among Brutus and Cassius
and their struggle with
their conscience along
with fear and a mistrust of
the actions of others.
Warnings & Agency
Caesar repeatedly received and ignored warnings regarding his life.
Powerful orations by Brutus and Antony followed the death of
Caesar at his funeral further and exposed conspiracies and motives
for greed and power.
The conspirators are represented by Brutus who made it clear they
committed this act of murder for Rome and not for their own
purposes.
However, Antony is clever and subtle in his funeral speech and
manipulates the emotions of the crowd by showing them Caesar’s
body and suggesting there is a will that will benefit the people.
The mob drives the conspirators from Rome while Brutus and Cassius
prepare for war with Marc Antony and Octavius.
You will remember from another lesson that Octavius is the adopted
son of Caesar, and will change his name to Augustus when he
becomes the first emperor of Rome.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Act 5
Caesar's ghost appeared to
Brutus with a warning of
defeat "thou shalt see me at
Philippi."
Act 5 begins at the Battle of
Philippi where the final fate of
Cassius and Brutus await but
not before mistrust and
revenge precede murder and
suicide.
Today, we are going to identify
some of the tragic flaws of
several of the main characters
in William Shakespeare’s The
Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
Battle of Philippi
The Battle of Philippi was
the final battle in the
Wars of the Second
Triumvirate between the
forces of Mark Antony
and Octavian and the
forces of the Marcus
Junius Brutus and Gaius
Cassius Longinus in 42 BC,
at Philippi in Macedonia.
The Second Triumvirate
declared this civil war to
avenge Julius Caesar's
assassination.
The ancient city of Philippi
The battle consisted of two engagements in the plain west of the ancient city
of Philippi.
The first occurred in the first week of October; Brutus faced Octavian, while
Antony's forces were up against those of Cassius. At first, Brutus pushed
back Octavian and entered his legions' camp.
But to the south, Cassius was defeated by Antony, and committed suicide
after hearing a false report that Brutus had also failed.
Brutus rallied Cassius' remaining troops and both sides ordered their army to
retreat to their camps with their spoils, and the battle was essentially a
draw, but for Cassius' suicide.
A second encounter, on 23 October, finished off Brutus's forces, and he
committed suicide in turn, leaving the triumvirate in control of the Roman
Republic.
What tragic choices did the men make?
Do we have the opportunity to make these same types of choices?
Act V, scene i
Octavius and Antony enter the battlefield at Philippi
with their armies. A messenger arrives to report
that the enemy is ready for battle. Antony, the
more experienced soldier, tells Octavius to attack
from the left.
Octavius refuses and replies that he will attack from
the right and Antony can come from the left.
Antony asks Octavius why he questions his
authority, but Octavius stands firm.
What tragic choices did they make here?
Apply them to your lives.
Octavius and Antony celebrate their good
fortune that Brutus and Cassius have foolishly
come down from the hills.
Octavius demands to lead the more important
army division, despite his inexperience. Brutus
and Cassius arrive with their men, and the
opposing leaders hold a brief conference. The
exchange, short and bitter, ends with Octavius
and Antony storming away.
What tragic choices do you see here?
Apply them to your life.
Act 5, Scene 3
On a hill in another part of the battlefield Titinius, a
soldier and friend to Cassius, warns his commander
that Brutus gave the word to attack prematurely, and
Antony's men have them surrounded.
Pindarus, Cassius's servant, rushes in with news that
enemy troops are in the very tents of Cassius's
headquarters.
He begs Cassius to flee for his life. Cassius refuses and
sends Titinius to make certain that they are not Brutus'
men that have entered his camp.
What is the tragedy here?
Can it be repaired?
Pindarus ascends the hill to report on Titinius' movement.
What he sees is grim indeed.
Cassius knows that he too will soon be captured by
Antony and Octavius, and will certainly be dragged
through the streets of Rome in chains.
He orders Pindarus to help him commit suicide.
Pindarus holds the sword steady. Cassius impales his
chest on the blade. Pindarus flees as Titinius returns
with Messala.
Titinius was not captured by Antony -- Pindarus has made
a terrible mistake.
They come to tell Cassius that Brutus has defeated
Octavius' troops, but, instead, they find Cassius's body.
What is the price of revenge?
Brutus arrives and sees the bodies of Cassius and
Titinius. He cries, "Are yet two Romans living such
as these?/The last of all the Romans, fare thee
well!"
For Cassius he has special words:
Friends, I owe more tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time. (102-3)
Brutus then announces that he plans another siege,
this time against Antony.
Why is Brutus choosing physical death?
Does this show moral agency?
Act 5, Scene 4 & 5:
Antony proves too strong and Brutus is forced to
retreat. He orders his men to remain fighting on
the field.
Brutus and his few remaining servants gather at a
rock. He asks Clitus and then Dardanius to kill him
to avoid capture, but they refuse.
He then implores Volumnius as a friend to help him
commit suicide. But Volumnius too refuses:
"That's not an office for a friend, my lord."
What do you think Brutus’ final words mean?
As the enemy troops draw near, Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius flee and
Brutus remains behind with another servant, Strato.
He convinces Strato to hold the sword for him as he runs upon it.
With his final words Brutus addresses Caesar:
Caesar, now be still:
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
Antony and Octavius arrive and find Brutus' body. Antony, knowing that
Brutus was a valiant defender of Rome, delivers a tribute befitting so
honest a man:
Octavius sends Brutus' body to his own tent until they can arrange a proper
burial and the play comes to close:
"So call the field to rest; and let's away/To part the glories of this happy day"
Discuss D&C 101:78
“that every man may act in doctrine and
principle … according to the moral agency
which I have given unto him, that every man
may be accountable for his own sins”
(D&C 101:78)
How do you describe moral agency?
How does the wise use of agency keeps our
choices open and improve our ability to
choose correctly?