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The Roman Plays Shakespeare’s Roman plays span the entire pageant of Roman history. Coriolanus details an epic moment from the Roman Republic; Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra depict the birth pangs of the Roman Empire; while Titus Andronicus is set during the Empire’s decline and shows the accompanying collapse of morals and political structures as the Empire loses its traditions and direction under pressure from the Barbarians. 1 y Coriolanus Quote: ‘His nature is too noble for the world.’ Dramatis Personae 1 CAIUS MARCIUS, afterwards CAIUS MARCIUS CORIOLANUS 2 TULLUS AUFIDIUS, general of the Volscians 3 VOLUMNIA, mother to Coriolanus 4 VIRGILIA, wife to Coriolanus The story is a legend from the early days of the foundation of Rome’s greatness. The general Coriolanus defeats Rome’s chief enemy, the Volsces. He returns victorious to Rome expecting and expected to be made political as well as military leader. His arrogance, however, causes both the leaders and the population to rise against him. In revenge he joins the Volsces as their leader and vows to wreak havoc on Rome. At the last moment Volumnia and Virgilia, mother and wife of Coriolanus, persuade him not to attack Rome. As a result, the Volsces, considering him a traitor, assassinate Coriolanus. 2 y Julius Caesar Quote: ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.’ Dramatis Personae 1 JULIUS CAESAR, later as a GHOST 2 OCTAVIUS CAESAR 3 MARCUS ANTONIUS 4 MARCUS BRUTUS 5 CASSIUS 6 A SOOTHSAYER Julius Caesar describes the early greatness and the assassination of the Roman dictator Caesar and sets the scene for an analysis of the foundation of the Roman Empire. The play recounts how Cassius and other conspirators plot to assassinate Julius Caesar and to make Brutus their leader. They stab Caesar to death on the Ides of March, as had been prophesied. Antony is given permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral and, in a famous speech, rouses the crowds to fury at what has happened. The conspirators Cassius and Brutus raise armies, are defeated in battle and commit suicide. 3 y Antony and Cleopatra Quote: ‘Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.’ Dramatis Personae 1 MARK ANTONY 2 OCTAVIUS CAESAR 3 DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS 4 CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt 5 M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS 6 OCTAVIA, sister to Caesar and wife to Antony Antony and Cleopatra is the sequel to Julius Caesar. It tells how one of Caesar’s chief lieutenants, Mark Antony, travels to Egypt to take over the eastern half of the Roman dominions. There he falls in love with Cleopatra, is obliged to return home, agrees to marry Octavia, Caesar’s sister, but returns to Cleopatra in Egypt. Antony attempts to use Egypt as a base from which to take over the entire ancient Roman Empire. He is challenged by Octavius, Julius Caesar’s nephew, who defeats him and rises to become the first Emperor Augustus. Having been defeated and hearing a false report that Cleopatra is dead, Antony commits suicide. Hearing of his death, Cleopatra similarly commits suicide, and the ‘immortal’ couple are buried together. 4 y Titus Andronicus Quote: ‘She is a woman, therefore may be wooed. She is a woman, therefore may be won.’ Dramatis Personae 1 SATURNINUS, oldest son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared EMPEROR 2 TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman, general against the Goths 3 TAMORA, Queen of the Goths 4 LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus This play is academic, ambitious and masterfully planned, with a multiplicity of fearful events and climaxes. It begins in the late fourth century AD, during the gradual decline of the Roman Empire, when it is besieged by Goths. The great Roman general Titus kills the Gothic king, and continues the battle against the king’s sons, but is gradually supplanted at Court by scheming rival factions. The play shows how he wreaks terrible revenge, including baking the sons of his enemies into a pie! Revenge complete, Titus commits suicide.