Download High School Literature 2.6

High School Literature 2.6
The Nature of Conflict:
The Betrayal of Julius Caesar
Historical Context
William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius
Caesar portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against
Caesar, his assassination and the defeat of the
conspirators at the Battle of Philippi or the
Liberators' civil war that was started to avenge
Caesar’s murder.
It is one of several plays written by Shakespeare
based on true events from Roman history.
Julius Caesar
Caesar was a Roman
general, a statesman and
a Consul who formed a
political alliance that was
to dominate Roman
politics for several years.
His attempts to amass
power were opposed by
the conservative ruling
class within the Roman
Senate.
The extent of the Roman Republic in 40 BC after Caesar's conquests.
As a result of his ambitious
efforts, Caesar achieved
victory in the Gallic Wars
by 51 BC and extended
Rome's territory to the
English Channel and the
Rhine.
Caesar became the first
Roman general to cross
both when he built a
bridge across the Rhine
and conducted the first
invasion of Britain.
Themes regarding the nature of conflict:
Conflicts within a work of literature further the
plot by helping us to understand the character
better while revealing some major themes
within the work. Shakespeare incorporated
several themes regarding the nature of
conflict.
They are the following:
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature;
man vs. man; and man vs. society.
The Betrayal of Julius Caesar
After Julius Caesar defeated his rival general Pompey in
battle, the people of Rome rejoiced and praised
Caesar's accomplishment.
In Shakespeare's play, Caesar was warned by a fortune
teller known as a soothsayer to 'Beware the Ides of
March,' but Caesar ignored him and continued
celebrating his victory.
Caesar's longtime friends were Brutus and Cassius.
Shortly after Caesar's defeat of Pompey, Brutus started
to believe Caesar would be crowned King and destroy
the Roman republic.
Brutus feared that citizens would lose their power if
Caesar became King.
Plot development
Caesar was offered the crown to be king three
times during his victory celebration but
refused the crown each time.
Both Cassius and Brutus seemed jealous of
Caesar and discussed all of Caesar's
weaknesses and reasons he should not have
become King.
Caesar distrusted Cassius but believed Brutus to
be a loyal and trustworthy friend.
Conspiracy and Murder
Cassius developed a plan against Caesar with a
group of conspirators.
Brutus decided to participate in the conspiracy
when he was convinced, unknowingly by Cassius,
that the people of Rome wanted to take away
Caesar's power.
The group of conspirators, known as a faction, met
at Brutus' house and developed a plan to get
Caesar away from his home and kill him.
During a senate meeting, each of the conspirators
talked to Caesar and bowed at his feet before
they each stabbed him to death.
Discussion of themes of conflict
The following slides provide excerpts from
Act 2 Scenes 2-4.
Discuss which of the following themes apply:
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature;
man vs. man; or man vs. society.
Act 2, Scene 2 - Which theme applies?
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature; man vs. man; or man vs. society.
CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR What man is that?
BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Act 2, Scene 2-4 Which theme applies?
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature; man vs. man; or man vs. society.
BRUTUS
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of
Caesar, I have not known when his affections
sway'd More than his reason.
But 'tis a common proof, That lowliness is young
ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward
turns his face; But when he once attains the
upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,Looks in the
clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he
did ascend. So Caesar may.
Act 2, Scene 2-4 Which theme applies?
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature; man vs. man; or man vs. society.
Brutus:
They are the faction. O conspiracy, Shamest thou to
show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils
are most free?
O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark
enough
To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none,
conspiracy;
Hide it in smiles and affability:
For if thou path, thy native semblance on,
Not Erebus itself were dim enough
To hide thee from prevention.
Act 2, Scene 2 -4 Which theme applies?
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature; man vs.
man; or man vs. society.
BRUTUS
Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
Let not our looks put on our purposes,
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With untired spirits and formal constancy:
And so good morrow to you every one.
Act 2, Scene 2 -4 Which theme applies?
Man vs. himself; man vs. nature; man vs. man; or man vs. society.
CAESAR
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 come when it will come.
Discussion
In what ways can we identify with the four types of
conflict in our lives?
Give examples from everyday life of:
Man vs. himself;
man vs. nature;
man vs. man;
man vs. society.
What Gospel principles do we have to help us?