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Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar. Background Information. The Play: The Results of Violence. Shakespeare drew his material from an ancient biographical text called “The Parallel Lives” (aka: “The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans”) written by Plutarch.

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Julius Caesar

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  1. Julius Caesar Background Information

  2. The Play: The Results of Violence • Shakespeare drew his material from an ancient biographical text called “The Parallel Lives” (aka: “The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans”) written by Plutarch. • Plutarch was a Greek writer and biographer who lived close to the time of Julius Caesar.

  3. The Play (cont.) • Shakespeare use Plutarch’s basic historical information but changed the timing and sequence of some events; he invented others for dramatic purposes. • Greek and Roman history and culture had a great appeal for the English in the Elizabethan Age because they tended to see their own age mirrored in those great ancient societies.

  4. Rome in Caesar’s Day • Impression they were continuously at war • Generals had enormous individual power • Sometimes the generals turned on each other because they were strong men battling for power and wealth. • Generals Caesar and Pompey clashed in the civil war that began in 49 B.C.

  5. Caesar and Pompey: Jealousy and Murder • Caesar and Pompey were friends. • Pompey married Caesar’s daughter. • The two generals helped to bring order to a weakened government, when they, along with Crassus, formed the First Triumvirate (three-man government) • Caesar departed for what has been called the Gallic Wars.

  6. Caesar and Pompey (cont.) • Caesar amassed huge sums of money, which he sent back to Rome to gain favor with the people. • A jealous Pompey threw his weight to the Senate, which was also wary of Caesar’s ambitions.

  7. Caesar and Pompey (cont.) • Caesar refused the Senate’s order to give up his command and return to Rome as a private citizen. • He marched his army on Rome, took control, and chased Pompey all the way to Egypt.

  8. The Unconquerable God • When Caesar returned to Rome, he was declared dictator for ten years and saw to it that his supporters, including Brutus, became senators. • He had a statue of himself set up bearing the inscription : “To the Unconquerable God” • Common people loved him; later, Caesar was declared dictator for life.

  9. The Unconquerable God (cont.) • The last Roman king had been overthrown 450 years before, when the Romans set up a republican government. • As Caesar’s arrogance and power became unbearable to certain senators, they made plans to assassinate him on March 15, 44 B.C. • Shakespeare’s play opens a month before the murder.

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