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Shakespeare is Hip-Hop JULIUS CAESAR Backdrop Julius Caesar is an example of a Shakespearean play whose characters and story come from historical accounts. Shakespeare uses the well-known story of Julius Caesar, the first Roman emperor, to delve into some heavy themes. Julius Caesar touches on greed, corruption, power, love, and an individual’s ability to change the course of history. The backdrop is this: The Roman republic was a lot like the United States today. It was a republic (law-making representatives were democratically elected) whose power rested on the strength of its army and economy. Caesar, essentially a general, was leading a successful campaign through Gaul (modernday France), expanding Roman territory and sending home plundered treasures and gold. He returned to Rome a hero, and, shortly thereafter, took advantage of this status by installing himself as Rome’s first emperor. Many were worried that once on the throne, Caesar would be corrupted by power and destroy everything democratic about the government. In an act of rebellious prevention in the name of the republic, a group of conspirators murdered Caesar. But with Caesar gone, the country fell into civil unrest and the elite into political bickering. It seems that Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar in part to comment upon the political situation of his own time period. Julius Caesar was first performed in 1599, when England was beginning to gossip about what would happen to the throne when the 66-year-old Queen Elizabeth died. Like Caesar, Elizabeth had no heir. It seems that Shakespeare’s choice to adapt the story of Caesar was something of a cautionary tale to the political movers and shakers in London. More than that, however, the play is a warning to all the Caesars and the Brutuses out there: Idealism and power can be very costly. Synopsis The setting is Rome. Two tribunes, Flavius and Murellus, find many Romans leaving their jobs and celebrating 58 the return of their beloved leader Caesar, who enters Rome with his friends Cassius, Brutus, and Marc Antony. A soothsayer speaks to Caesar the famous line, “Beware the Ides of March,” but Caesar ignores him. Would you have listened to a raggedy-looking person on the street trying to give you advice? Well, Caesar should have. After their triumphant return, Cassius and Brutus discuss their distaste of Caesar and his popularity. Brutus is worried that Caesar will make himself king and destroy the essence of the republic. Cassius agrees. They feel that Caesar has changed: He’s become too power-hungry. Cassius wants to make sure he has some power himself. The pensive Brutus thinks things over while Cassius hatches his conspiracy. Meanwhile, Caesar confides to Antony (his most loyal friend) that he distrusts Cassius. During a night of crazy storms, Brutus finds letters, written by Romans, which voice their worries about Caesar. The letters were planted by Cassius, who knew that if Brutus felt the conspiracy was in the best interest of the people, he would agree to go ahead with the plan. The letters successfully convince Brutus, and when the conspirators show up at his door, Brutus takes charge. They agree to lure Caesar away from his home and murder him. It is decided that Antony will be spared, despite concerns that his close allegiance with Caesar might cause trouble down the line. As Caesar prepares to leave for Senate meetings, his wife Calpurnia convinces him to stay home because of dreams she had predicting Caesar’s death. But in the end, Decius (a conspirator) convinces him that everything is okay, and Caesar decides to go. As they near the Senate, Antony is led away while the conspirators gather around Caesar, bow, and then stab him to death, one by one. Antony ask Brutus and Cassius if he can give a funeral oration. Brutus agrees, though Cassius remains suspicious of what he might try to say. At the funeral, Brutus successfully wins the crowd, but in a riveting speech, Antony reveals what a great man Caesar truly was and how wrong the conspirators were. The crowd is convinced. They grow angry and run off to find Brutus and Cassius and drive them out of the city. Antony vows vengeance for Caesar’s murder. After their exile, Caesar’s adopted son and heir to Rome, Octavius, forms a coalition to fight armies raised by Brutus and Cassius. The fighting begins. Cassius sees his own men fleeing, hears Brutus’ men are losing, and after learning his close friend Titinius was captured (which turned out to be false), Cassius has one of his own men kill him. Brutus’s army continues to lose, and when defeat seems imminent, Brutus likewise takes his own life by falling on his sword. When Antony finds Brutus, he proclaims his nobility, stating that he had always acted for Rome. Octavius orders Brutus an honorable burial, and Antony and Octavius return to Rome to celebrate their joint victory. his father. Character List The plebeians: The general public of Rome Calpurnia: Caesar’s concerned wife who has foreboding dreams of men washing their hands in her husband’s blood. Caesar: The proud, idolized leader of Rome, who continuously ignores signs that his life is in danger, and is consequently murdered by conspirators. Flavius and Murellus: Tribunes who scoff at the Romans who leave work to cheer for Caesar, and are punished for tampering with decorations of him. Brutus: Deeply nationalistic and pro-republic, this one-time friend of Caesar eventually helps kill the emperor and kills himself in the aftermath. Cicero: A Senator and great speaker, he is later condemned by Antony, Octavius and Lepidus. Cassius: Shrewd, dishonorable, and jealous, he’s a general and one-time friend of Caesar who turns to conspiracy and convinces Brutus to take action with him. Marc Antony: A true friend of Caesar who masterfully sways the crowd at Caesar’s funeral, persuading them to turn against the conspirators and see them as traitors. He later shares leadership with Octavius in the fight against the armies of Brutus and Cassius. Octavius: Caesar’s adopted son and the heir to Rome after Caesar’s death, he immediately takes charge and demands authority, much in the vein of Casca: A politician who believes Caesar is fooling the public into thinking he fights for them, he tells Brutus and Cassius how Caesar refused the crown three times from Antony and then fell to the ground in a sort of seizure, thus displaying weakness. Decius: A conspirator who convinces Caesar that his wife misinterpreted her dreams foreshadowing his death; he leads Caesar to his murderers. Lepidus: The third leader in a military partnership with Antony and Octavius; they fight against Brutus and Cassius. Portia: Brutus’s ill-fated wife; she kills herself after his exile. Artemidorus: Roman citizen who tries to give Caesar a letter warning him of the plot against him, but is ignored. The Soothsayer: A wiseman who speaks the famous line, “Beware the Ides of March.” Pindarus: A scout to Cassius who falsely reports to him the capture of Titinius, which prompts the suicide of Cassius. Titinius: A friend of Cassius who leads soldiers against the Roman army after Cassius’s and Brutus’s exile. He kills himself after he learns that Cassius has killed himself. 59 Shakespeare is Hip-Hop Julius Caesar, Character Matching Handout 1. Julius Caesar 2. Casca 3. Pindarus 4. Octavius 5. Cassius 6. Portia 7. Antony 8. Plebeians 9. Brutus 10. Calpurnia 11. Decius 12. Cicero 13. Lepidus 14. Soothsayer 15. Artemidorus 16. Flavius and Murellus 17. Titinius A. Renowned senator known for his speaking ability B. Tries to give Caesar a letter warning him of the plot against him C. Close friend of Caesar who gives a persuasive speech at his funeral D. Convinces Caesar that his wife has misinterpreted her bad dreams E. A wise man F. Dreams of men washing their hands in the blood of Caesar G. A shrewd and jealous man who convinces Brutus to help mount the conspiracy H. The general public of Rome I. Commits suicide after learning that Cassius has killed himself J. After her husband’s exile, she kills herself. K. Great leader of Rome, who is killed on March 15th L. They are punished for tampering with decorations of Caesar. M. Adopted son and arrogant heir to Rome N. Conspirator who tells a story of Caesar collapsing in public, displaying weakness O. With Antony and Octavius, he makes up the rest of the military effort against Cassius and Brutus. P. Scout that falsely reports the capture of Titinius Q. Deeply nationalistic friend of Caesar who turns on him when he fears he might jeopardize the republic Insert the matching letter 60 1.__________ 2.__________ 3.__________ 4.__________ 5.__________ 6.__________ 7.__________ 8.__________ 9.__________ 10.__________ 11.__________ 12.__________ 13.__________ 14.__________ 15.__________ 16.__________ 17.__________