Download The tragedy of julius caesar

THE TRAGEDY
OF JULIUS
CAESAR
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
WARNING:
THIS PLAY IS BASED ON TRUE EVENTS
ONCE AGAIN…
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is
categorized as a tragedy, but it is
based on real-life events.
Julius Caesar was actually a real
person.
HISTORY
 In 60 B.C., Gaius Julius Caesar joined forces with
Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompey to
rule Rome as the First Triumvirate.
 Caesar and Pompey were friends; Pompey even
married Caesar’s daughter.
 Caesar was trained as a politician, but he
demonstrated his skill as a warrior with military
victories in Gaul and Britain.
 Pompey and Caesar were both strong men that
craved more power.
 Caesar’s daughter died in 54 B.C.
 In 49 B.C., Pompey, jealous of Caesar’s growing power
and favor with the people, allied himself with Caesar’s
rivals and ordered Caesar to give up his army.
 Caesar considered himself a defender of the people, but
critics believe he gained the people’s support with bribes
and handouts.
 Caesar refused the Senate’s orders to
give up his command. Instead, he
marched his army on Rome, took
control, and chased Pompey to Egypt.
 There, Pompey was murdered before
Caesar could capture him.
 Caesar then went to Spain where he defeated an army led
by Pompey’s sons.
AFTER THE MURDER
OF POMPEY
 When he returned to Rome, Caesar was invincible.
 He was declared dictator for 10 years.
 Marcus Brutus and Caesar were good friends before the
rivalry between Caesar and Pompey– Brutus fought against
Caesar in support of Pompey.
 After Pompey was defeated, Caesar had forgiven Brutus and
their friendship resumed.
 He chose his friends—including Marcus Brutus—to be his
senators.
 As his hunger for power grew obsessive, Caesar had a statue
made of himself engraved with the description “To the
Unconquerable God.”
 Many people of the upper classes were extremely
unhappy with Caesar as the new ruler.
 For example, Brutus’s father-in-law committed suicide.
 These details from history helped set the stage for the
hidden resentments and suspicions that fill The Tragedy
of Julius Caesar.
 Shakespeare did not make up this tragic tale of power and
betrayal.
 He based his play on real people and real events.
 Shakespeare read about Caesar (and his friends and
enemies) in the chronicles of Plutarch, a Greek biographer
who delved into the psychological and factual details of
his subjects’ lives.
 Literature reflects the time in which it was written.
 When Shakespeare wrote this play, Queen Elizabeth was
old and her health was failing.
 She had no children.
 What would happen when she died? What would become
of the country she had ruled so peacefully for nearly forty
years? Would history repeat itself?
 The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
had immediate connections
for the Elizabethans who
saw the play at the Globe.
RULED BY THE RICH
 Roman politics often resembled a
theatrical production, complete with
performers and an audience.
 The Forum was the stage, the politicians were the actors,
and citizens from all social classes came to watch the
show.
 Assemblies, elections, and trials were held outdoors.
 Noisy crowds often booed and harassed the politicians.
 Rome was a republic—a government where power is given
to the citizens; they have the right to vote and elect
representatives.
 Roman citizens were able to vote on laws; however, poor
citizens did not have the means to travel to Rome to vote.
 Therefore, Rome was primarily ruled by the wealthier
citizens while pretending to give a voice to the lower
class.
SUPERSTITIONS AND
OMENS
 In Shakespeare’s time, people strongly
believed that the universe was
essentially good and in order.
 People were very religious and believed
all order stemmed from God.
 When the chain of authority was snapped
and the earth was out of proper order,
the Heavens would be offended, and a
whole society could be plunged
into disorder.
SUPERSTITION
 a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge of
the significance of a particular thing, circumstance,
occurrence, proceeding or the like;
 a system or collection of such beliefs;
 a custom or act based on such a belief;
 irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious,
especially in connection with religion.
OMEN
 anything perceived or happening that is believed to bring
a good or evil event or circumstance in the future.
 The Romans—from the ruling classes to the common
people—examined everyday occurrences for forewarnings
of good and evil.
 For example, they believed the sound of a distant storm or
a rooster crowing in the night could affect the outcome of
a personal matter or a political event.
 Many people thought animals were the spirits of their dead
ancestors.
 The commanders of Roman military fleets counted on
“sacred” chickens to predict success in battle.
 If the chickens ate furiously the morning before a battle,
they would win. If the chickens did not eat, they would
lose.
 One commander whose sacred chickens refused to eat
threw them overboard. “If they won’t eat, let them drink!” he
said. The commander lost the battle.
 The owl was a bad omen.
 Once, an owl flew into Rome’s
Capitol, the Romans were so
upset that they carefully
scrubbed the building with water
and sulfur to drive out the
owl’s supposed evil influences.
ACTIVITIES
1. Complete the journal activity about superstitions/omens.
RECAP
 The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is based on TRUE EVENTS.
 Caesar, Pompey and Crassus ruled Rome as The First
Triumvirate.
 Caesar grew hungry for power, and he pursued war
victories alongside his political victories.
 Pompey did not favor Caesar’s growing power; Pompey
and the Senate asked Caesar to give up his army: Caesar
refused.
 Caesar chased Pompey to Egypt.
 Pompey was murdered before Caesar could capture him.
 Caesar ruled Rome as a dictator; the wealthy were not
happy. The common people favored Caesar because of his
bribes.
 Literature reflects the time in which it was written.
 The Tragedy of Julius Caesar takes place when Caesar
returns to Rome after his many war victories and right
after Pompey’s death.
 Rome was ruled by the rich.
 People of Elizabethan England (just like the characters
Shakespeare’s plays) were extremely superstitious.
 Superstitions and omens play a huge role in many of
Shakespeare’s plays, including Julius Caesar.