Introduction to the playIntroduction to the playJulius CaesarJulius Caesar

Ms. MetMs. Met

Honors English Honors English

IMAGINE THIS…IMAGINE THIS…

You are the leader of the free world.You are the leader of the free world.You are the most powerful human You are the most powerful human

being on earth. being on earth. You are the controller of the most You are the controller of the most

powerful country in the world. powerful country in the world. You are untouchable. You are untouchable. You can say or do anything you want.You can say or do anything you want.

But…But…

Your best Your best friends stab friends stab you in the you in the back…back…

You never saw You never saw it coming…it coming…

This is the plot of This is the plot of Julius Julius Caesar. Caesar.

Where did Shakespeare get Where did Shakespeare get this idea?this idea?

Shakespeare’s source for the play.Shakespeare’s source for the play. Plutarch’s Plutarch’s Parallel lives of Greeks & Parallel lives of Greeks &

RomansRomans from a 1579 book by Sir from a 1579 book by Sir Thomas North from a French Thomas North from a French

translation of the 1st century Greek translation of the 1st century Greek text.text.

Questions:Questions:

Why write a play about people from 16 Why write a play about people from 16 centuries earlier?centuries earlier?

Why might Shakespeare and the Elizabethans Why might Shakespeare and the Elizabethans be interested in the story of JC?be interested in the story of JC?

How does the historical aspect of Caesar How does the historical aspect of Caesar allow Shakespeare to investigate the allow Shakespeare to investigate the relationship between power and relationship between power and responsibility?responsibility?

Why might the Elizabethans be interested in Why might the Elizabethans be interested in the question - under what circumstance was it the question - under what circumstance was it permissible to overthrow one’s ruler by permissible to overthrow one’s ruler by violence?violence?

The Play, The Play, The ManThe Man

The play The play Julius CaesarJulius Caesar was written and was written and performed around 1600 performed around 1600 by William Shakespeare.by William Shakespeare.

The story was based on The story was based on the facts of a critical the facts of a critical turning point in Roman turning point in Roman history, when it went history, when it went from being a semi-from being a semi-democratic Republic to a democratic Republic to a tyrannical dictatorship.tyrannical dictatorship.

Historical overview of Roman Historical overview of Roman PoliticsPolitics

509 B.C. The Republic was established.509 B.C. The Republic was established.Republic- government in which the citizens elect Republic- government in which the citizens elect their leaderstheir leaders

2 groups were elected to rule2 groups were elected to ruleSenate – formed of Patricians, the wealthy noblesSenate – formed of Patricians, the wealthy noblesTribunal– formed of Plebeians, the common peopleTribunal– formed of Plebeians, the common peopleNote: Legal code only applied to Roman citizens, Note: Legal code only applied to Roman citizens, which didn’t include women, foreigners, or slaves!which didn’t include women, foreigners, or slaves!

@ 100 B.C. the Republic began to weaken & @ 100 B.C. the Republic began to weaken & eventually collapsed: a victim of class tensions, eventually collapsed: a victim of class tensions, poor leadership, and civil warspoor leadership, and civil wars

Julius Caesar was born at this time.Julius Caesar was born at this time.

Who was Julius Caesar?Who was Julius Caesar?

The Real CaesarThe Real Caesar

Julius Caesar really existed and lived Julius Caesar really existed and lived from 102 B.C. to 44 B.C. from 102 B.C. to 44 B.C.

He was Rome’s military leader.He was Rome’s military leader.Once Rome would take over a country, Once Rome would take over a country,

a Roman governor would rule that a Roman governor would rule that place. The Roman officials were often place. The Roman officials were often times very cruel. Many times the times very cruel. Many times the generals who took over the countries generals who took over the countries were asked to stabilize the place. were asked to stabilize the place. Many generals got power-hungry and Many generals got power-hungry and turned on each other. turned on each other.

The First TriumvirateThe First Triumvirate

Eventually the generals Eventually the generals became so powerful became so powerful that they established that they established the First Triumvirate to the First Triumvirate to rule Rome: Julius rule Rome: Julius Caesar, Pompey, Caesar, Pompey, Crassus.Crassus.

However, Caesar However, Caesar turned on Pompey & turned on Pompey & Crassus. Crassus.

The Roman EmpireThe Roman Empire

Caesar’s ConflictsCaesar’s Conflicts

Pompey tried to sway the Pompey tried to sway the Roman government to Roman government to overturn Caesar. Caesar overturn Caesar. Caesar gained control by bribing gained control by bribing the people with his the people with his money. Caesar took money. Caesar took control of Rome and control of Rome and went after Pompey. went after Pompey.

Pompey was murdered Pompey was murdered before Caesar could get before Caesar could get him in Egypt. him in Egypt.

Caesar’s ConquestsCaesar’s Conquests

While in Egypt, Caesar fell in love While in Egypt, Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra. with Cleopatra.

He made her the ruler of Egypt. He made her the ruler of Egypt. Caesar went back to Rome a hero, Caesar went back to Rome a hero,

and in 49 B.C. Julius Caesar declared and in 49 B.C. Julius Caesar declared himself dictator having killed Crassus himself dictator having killed Crassus & Pompey. & Pompey.

He made his friend, Brutus, a senator.He made his friend, Brutus, a senator.

Caesar thought he was Caesar thought he was invincible. invincible.

Talking about himself,Talking about himself,

He wrote this on the He wrote this on the Temple walls… Temple walls…

““To the Unconquerable To the Unconquerable God” God”

For many Romans, For many Romans, having another king having another king sounded horrible. sounded horrible. They had been run They had been run by a republican by a republican government for 450 government for 450 years. Caesar years. Caesar became more became more pretentious. pretentious.

Senators made Senators made plans to assassinate plans to assassinate him on March 15, 44 him on March 15, 44 B.C. B.C.

Shakespeare’s play Shakespeare’s play opens a month opens a month before this…before this…

The death of the RepublicThe death of the Republic

In 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was killed In 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was killed by members of the Senate.by members of the Senate.

The Second Triumvirate was established The Second Triumvirate was established of Octavius (Julius’ nephew & heir), of Octavius (Julius’ nephew & heir), Marcus Antonius, Lepidus, but civil war Marcus Antonius, Lepidus, but civil war soon threatened again.soon threatened again.

In 29 B.C. Caesar Augustus (Octavius) In 29 B.C. Caesar Augustus (Octavius) was crowned emperor. was crowned emperor.

The Republic never revived again The Republic never revived again despite numerous attempts by the despite numerous attempts by the Senate to restore power to the people.Senate to restore power to the people.

Another Question: Another Question: Why should we study Why should we study

Shakespeare?Shakespeare? Examine eternal themes: Examine eternal themes: Analyze how JC is an inquiry into man’s political Analyze how JC is an inquiry into man’s political

nature.nature. Discuss how Shakespeare wanted to investigate the Discuss how Shakespeare wanted to investigate the

relationship between power and responsibilityrelationship between power and responsibility Discuss under what circumstance was it permissible Discuss under what circumstance was it permissible

to overthrow one’s ruler by violenceto overthrow one’s ruler by violence Examine literary worth of a master writerExamine literary worth of a master writer Interpret (explicate – paraphrase) lines from Interpret (explicate – paraphrase) lines from

Shakespeare’s play by using internal clues in the play.Shakespeare’s play by using internal clues in the play. Associate us with allusions from Julius Caesar that will Associate us with allusions from Julius Caesar that will

be seen in other works.be seen in other works.

D. Other dramatic and literary D. Other dramatic and literary devicesdevices

Pun: play on words involving Pun: play on words involving Word with more than one meaning Word with more than one meaning Words with similar sounds Words with similar sounds

Soliloquy Soliloquy Speech of moderate to long length Speech of moderate to long length Spoken by one actor alone on stage (or not heard by Spoken by one actor alone on stage (or not heard by

other actors) other actors)

Aside Aside Direct address by actor to audience Direct address by actor to audience Not supposed to be overheard by other charactersNot supposed to be overheard by other characters

C. Poetic technique C. Poetic technique

Iambic pentameter Iambic pentameter 5 units of rhythm per line 5 units of rhythm per line primary rhythm is iambic ( U / )primary rhythm is iambic ( U / )

Blank verse: unrhymed iambic Blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameterpentameterUsually the nobility uses blank verse Usually the nobility uses blank verse

when speakingwhen speaking

Elements of Elements of Fiction/Shakespearean TragedyFiction/Shakespearean Tragedy

Exposition:Exposition:

Characters & SettingCharacters & SettingAct IAct I

Rising Action:Rising Action:

Introduction of ConflictsIntroduction of ConflictsAct IIAct II

Climax:Climax:

Turning PointTurning PointAct IIIAct III

In a tragedy, things usually go In a tragedy, things usually go from bad to worse in Act III.from bad to worse in Act III.

Falling Action:Falling Action:

Conflict resolution begins to Conflict resolution begins to fall into place. Result of the fall into place. Result of the

climaxclimax

Act IVAct IV

Denouement:Denouement:

Main conflicts are resolved.Main conflicts are resolved.Act VAct V

This act includes a This act includes a catastrophe, which is another catastrophe, which is another climactic turning point in the climactic turning point in the

story line. story line.

Special thanks to:Special thanks to:

http://bama.ua.edu/~peira003/jcpp_files/frame.htmhttp://bama.ua.edu/~peira003/jcpp_files/frame.htm http://www.wellington.org/robbins/English9/SHAKESPEARE%http://www.wellington.org/robbins/English9/SHAKESPEARE%

20POWERPOINT_files/frame.htm20POWERPOINT_files/frame.htm Google images for photosGoogle images for photos And a variety of others sources throughout the years of And a variety of others sources throughout the years of

Mrs. Ma’s teaching. Mrs. Ma’s teaching.