Outline

• Characters

• Plot

• Movies

• Other Interpretations

• Historic Background

• History of the Play

• Sources

Characters

• Julius Caesar• Marcus Antonius• Caius Cassius• Marcus Brutus• Casca• Cinna• Metellus Cimber• Decius Brutus• Trebonius• Ligarius• Calpurnia / Portia• Octavius / Lepidus• Other Servants and Friends

Plot – Act I

• Plebeians go to Caesar‘s triumphal march• „Beware the ides of March“• Cassius and Brutus talk• Stories of Caesar‘s weakness• Cassius tries to convince Brutus• Caesar returns from the games• Casca tells about Caesar• Cassius invites him for dinner• Casca and Cassius meet in night

Plot – Act II

• Brutus‘ monologue in garden• Reads letter• Cassius and other conspirators comes• Brutus tells Portia about assault• Calpurnia has a bad dream• Decius Brutus persuades Caesar• Artemidorus writes warning letter• Portia very nervous – sends Lucis to Senat

Plot – Act III

• Artemidorus doesn‘t get through to Caesar• Senators are looking for a plea – Publius Cimber• Brutus, Cassius, Metellus knee (distraction)• Casca first strike• „Et tu, Brute“• Brutus allows Antonius to speak• Brutus‘ speech• Antonius‘ speech• People kill Cinna the poet

Plot – Act IV

• Deathlist writing• Brutus and Cassius discussion• Portia dead• Caesar‘s ghost

Plot – Act V

• Generals talk few things• Last goodbye• Battle starts• Pindarus kills Cassius• Titinius commits suicide• Strato kills Brutus

END

Historic Background

Brutus and Cassius:

– 17 legions– cavalry 17,000– 100,000 men

Antonius and Octavius: – 19 legions

– cavalry 33,000– 100,000 men

• Assasination of G. Julius Caesar 44 BC

• Battle of Philippi 42 BC

• Both engagements combined

History of the Play - Sources

• Plutarch‘s Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans

• Translated by Sir Thomas North• Caesar‘s triumph is later (six months)• Curia on Capitol, not Curia Pomperiana• Events too close (in fact 5 days space) καί σύ τέκνον (You too,

child?)

History of the Play – Performances

• 1599

• First published in The Folio 1623

• Globe Theatre (ev. Opening play) 1599

• In Germany debut performance 1785 Mannheim

• 1803 directed by Goethe in Weimar

Movies

• Over 20 TV- and Cinema-productions• First 1908: J. S. Blackton; W. V. Ranous• 1911 ; 1913• 1950: David Bradley (Charlton Heston as Antonius)

• 1953: Joseph Mankiewizc (Marlon Brando as Antonius)

• 1970: Stuart Burge (Charlton Heston as Antonius)

• 1979: Michael Langham (Morgan Freeman as Casca)

• 2007 HK-Action-Version by Gordon Chan

1950

1970

Other AdaptionsBook-A-Minute Classics

Caius CassiusCaius Cassius Brutus, we're plotting to kill your best friend Caesar. Wanna Brutus, we're plotting to kill your best friend Caesar. Wanna

help? help? Marcus BrutusMarcus Brutus

Because I love Rome more, I will. Because I love Rome more, I will. (They all stab Caesar.)(They all stab Caesar.) Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

Et tu, Brute? In that case, I'd better die. Et tu, Brute? In that case, I'd better die.

(dies)(dies) (The nation mourns, and everybody commits (The nation mourns, and everybody commits suicide.)suicide.)

THE END

Other Adaptions

• 1926: Benefit event Actor‘s Fund of America

• 1937: Orson Welles production at Mercury Theatre in New York

• 1958: Parody by canadian comedians Wayne and Shuster – Ed Sullivan Show

4 8 15 16 23 42

My sources