Download Exploration of the structure of script in William Shakespeare`s

Exploration of the structure and content
of script in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
IBDP Theatre SL Task 3 – Practical Exploration by Jee Ye Hong 11C
Image Source: Cordell, Carten. "Shakespeare, Synetic and Scandal Oh My!" Northern Virginia
Magazine RSS. Northern Virginia Magazine, 12 Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.
A Brief Synopsis of William
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is controversially considered both a History and Tragedy of William
Shakespeare’s. Most would argue however, that it is classified only as a Tragedy, due to how
Shakespeare’s Histories exclusively deal with matters of British history whereas this kind is
specifically set in Rome.
The Tragedy is set in Rome when Caesar returns from victory over Pompey; a member
of the triumvirate - the 3 leading rulers of Rome. Cassius, a conspirator, becomes fearful of the
power and prestige, which Caesar has gained, and corrupts Brutus – Caesar’s friend and ally – in
order to go-against Caesar. Cassius is quite persuasive and he uses Brutus’ patriotism for Rome
against him by exaggerating fears of what a tyrant Caesar could become if he were to be crowned
King.
Fearing Rome would lose its democracy under the control of Caesar, Brutus agrees to
kill him. “It is not that I love Caesar less, but that I love Rome more.” (Act 3 Scene 2)
After scheming with a cast of conspirators, Brutus eventually kills Caesar on the
supposed day of his crowning. He uses the capitol as a forum to explain his actions. However, he
makes a tragic mistake – he allows Marc Antony, another one of Caesar’s loyal followers, to make
an eulogy, under the deception that Anthony would show support for him and the conspirators as
well. Instead, Anthony utilizes clever tactics in his speech to reveal the truth. This causes the
conspirators to run in fear.
In the final act, Cassius and Brutus are seen fighting with one another. Together with
their armies they find themselves having to defend themselves against the upheaval which they
have caused. They all commit suicide in the end and Rome is restored.
The Five-Act Structure
• The pattern of the Five-Act Structure follows the elements of
the so-called ‘Plot Diagram’ :
– Act 1: Exposition – This is where the audience learns the setting (the
time and place), where the characters are developed, and where a
certain type of conflict is introduced.
– Act 2: Rising Action – This is where the action is – which leads the
reader into the Climax. At this stage, it is common for complications to
occur or for the protagonist to encounter obstacles.
– Act 3: Climax – This is the turning-point of the play; the part of the
play with the highest amount of suspense.
– Act 4: Falling Action – This is the opposite of the Rising Action –
where the story comes to an end and where any unknown or unclear
details/plot-twists are revealed and wrapped up.
– Act 5: Resolution – This is the final outcome of the entire drama. Here,
the author’s tone about his or her subject matter is revealed and most, if
not at all times, a moral or lesson is taught.
The Five-Act Structure Diagram
Image Source: Ray, Rebecca. "Learn the Key Elements of the Five Act Play." Storyboard That. Clever
Prototypes, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Activity 1: Plot the Conspiracy on
the Five-Act Structure
Answers to Activity 1
•
Act 1: Exposition
– Setting - Rome
– Caesar returns from victory over Pompey
•
Act 2: Rising Action
– Former friend of Cassius has betrayed him and is eliciting Brutus, another former friend of
Caesar, to join a conspiracy against Caesar
•
Act 3: Climax
– Conspirators lure Caesar to the Capital and eventually kill him
•
Act 4: Falling Action
– Brutus asks Anthony – one of Caesar’s followers – to back up his deeds and actions by giving
an eulogy for Caesar at his funeral
– However, Anthony reveals the truth
•
Act 5: Resolution
– Fight against Cassius and Brutus and eventually both commit suicide
– Questions to reflect on the lessons of the play:
•
•
•
What decisions I make today, will affect my life in the future?
Is it ever ‘okay’ to betray a friend? Or is there something more important than friendship (or relationships in general)?
What are the qualities which constitute a ‘good’ leader?
Rhetoric: Ethos, Logos and Pathos
• The modes of Persuasion are:
• Ethos – which plays on the credibility of the author (is
he an expert speaking of his subject of specialty?)
• Pathos – which appeals to the emotions of the audience
(such as: using a tear-jerking-story to make people
support your cause)
• Logos – which uses logic in order to convince (such as:
facts, statistics, charts, etc…)
Activity 2: Find Ethos and Pathos in
Anthony’s Speech
Anthony’s Speech – Lines 82-117
(First-half only)
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your
ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest-For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men-Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for
him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
Answers to Activity 2
• Ethos:
– “He was my friend, faithful and just to me”
• Pathos:
– “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;”
– “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:”
– “And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;”
– “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,”
– “And I must pause till it come back to me.”