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Transcript
Humanities 3 IV. Skepticism and Self-Knowledge Lecture 15 “The Noblest Roman” Outline • Historical Background to Julius Caesar • What’s at Issue in the Play • The Drama Friday movie pick: Elizabeth (1989), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), both starring Cate Blanchett Julius Caesar • The production of Julius Caesar occurs at a moment in English history when people are growing anxious about Elizabeth’s reign. The play dramatizes topical questions: What allegiance is owed to a ruler? How far must a ruler go before that allegiance is broken? How are honor and loyalty to be balanced? • S. is able to address these questions through Julius Caesar because he is not a lawful king; he has usurped power. The question of what is permissible in defense of the republic does not arise in England. History of the Roman Republic • Founded in 509 BC, after defeat of last king • Republic governed by two consuls, elected annually, and the senate • Power divided between the patricians (ancient noble families) and the plebeians (including property owners who lack noble status) • Throughout the history of the republic conflict between the classes is a constant • Crucial is the power of the army and the generals who command it; for this reason, the army is not allowed within the borders of the republic First Triumvirate • 59 BC Three generals, Caesar, Pompey and Crassus make private agreement to share the consulship • 53 BC Crassus killed in battle • 51 BC Caesar conquers Gaul and publishes The Gallic Wars • 49 BC Pompey granted dictatorial powers (supported by “Optimates”= Patricians); Caesar crosses the Rubicon and marches on Rome; Pompey flees with Optimates to Egypt • 48 BC Caesar arrives in Egypt: Pompey killed; affair with Cleopatra Roman provinces in 44 BC Background to Julius Caesar • 44 BC (actually October 45): Julius Caesar returns to Rome after quelling a revolt led by the sons of his former rival Pompey • He is hailed by some, but other resent the celebration because triumphs are reserved for victories over foreign enemies • February 44: C. named “perpetual dictator”; offered crown by M. Antony, but C. refuses • March 15 (the Ides of March): Caesar assassinated by conspirators Issues in Julius Caesar • Caesar has amassed too much personal power and has taken on the trappings of a king; some want to make him king • Other Romans cling to the ideal of the republic, and see only one way to preserve it: kill Caesar • The drama of the play centers on the psychology of Brutus, a noble of unimpeachable character • Brutus’ choice can be seen as a judgment on the legitimacy of the act, yet it is an act that will destroy him. That is the essence of the play as a tragedy What are we meant to see? • The corruptibility of rulers • The different motives of the main characters (esp. Cassius and Brutus) • The fickleness of the people • The fragility of political order Caesar above himself • Flavius: “These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing / Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, / Who else would soar above the view of men / And keep us all in servile fearfulness.” (1.1) • Cassius: “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world / Like a Colossus, and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs and peep about / To find ourselves dishonourable graves…” (1.2) Cassius • Acts from “envy” (see Caesar at I.2.192) • Believes he can manipulate Brutus: “Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see Thy honorable mettle may be wrought From that it is disposed; therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduced?” (I.2.308) Brutus • Agonizes about the deed: “Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream. The genius and the moral instruments Are then in council, and the state of a man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.“ (II.1.62) The Deed and it Aftermath • The responses of Cassius and Brutus (III.1.75) • Speeches of Brutus and Mark Antony (III.2) • Battle of Phillipi and final judgment on Brutus (V.5)