CAESAR

1. CAESAR

2. Julius Caesar Background Notes • For centuries Romans debated and even fought civil wars to decide whether a monarchy, a republic, or a dictatorship was the best form of government • For the first 250 years after its founding, Rome was ruled by kings whose domination became increasingly oppressive. • In 509 B. C. the Romans led by Brutus’ family evicted the reigning Tarquins (kings) from the throne and theRoman monarchy became a republic.

3. Julius Caesar Background Notes • The Roman people discovered they exchanged rule by a king for the rule by a group of patricians (group of wealthy Romans). • This republican form of government was composed of two consuls, The first one being, the Roman Senate that was made up of praetors who administered civil justice. The second consul was the tribune who represented the people. • By 100 B.C. Rome was a moderate democracy-ruled by the Senate.

4. Julius Caesar Facts • Born July 12 or 13 100 or 102 B.C,; premature and epileptic; son of minor nobility; Caesarean birth • Asa great commander- second only to Alexander the Great; skillful gifted politician and orator, popular among the people, defender of the populares, gave power and money to the plebeians, gave citizenship to the people he conquered

5. Julius Caesar Facts • Caesar means: Kaiser (German); Tsar (Slavonic); Quasar (Islamic) • Caesar's family traced its lineage to Venus.

6. Caesar Timeline • 84 B. C. married Cornelia (daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna); had a daughter Julia; ordered by Lucius Sulla to divorce but he refused • 73 named pontiff at Rome • 68 Cornelia died

7. Caesar Timeline • 68-66 Gave great support to Pompey, boyhood/best friend • 66 married Pompeia (granddaughter of Sulla and relative of Pompey the Great) • 62 Became praetor (judge), second in power only to the consul of Rome Pompey

8. Caesar Timeline • 61 named governor of Spain; divorced Pompeia; suspected of affair • 60 formed an alliance with Crassus (wealthy) and Pompey (respected leader and friend); result was the creation of the FIRST TRIUMVIRATE (a rule btw. three) against traditional politicians, i.e. Cato

9. Caesar Timeline • 59 Julius Caesar married Calpurnia {she was barren; childless} and Pompey married Caesar's daughter Julia • 59 Caesar was a patrician and a consul member. Known for siding with the common people and granting them favors; became very popular

10. Caesar Timeline • 57 Caesar's ambition helped him to extend the Roman's power and enabled him to conquer Gaul (Southern region of France and Northern Italy) • 57 He was named governor of various parts of Gaul; as governor, fought next to his soldiers; reputation grew. He was also a historian, sending his reports back to Rome (wrote Commentaries on the Gallic Wars)

11. Caesar Timeline • 57-51 Victory over Gaul in Gallic Wars solidified financial, political strength • 55 first Roman general to raid Britain; Rome was impressed • 54 Julia died followed by Crassus who was killed in battle at Parthia

12. Caesar Timeline • 52 repressed Gaul fought back. Caesar burned their fields. Again he fought side by side his men wearing a scarlet cloak to encourage them. Although surrounded and outnumbered 5 to 1, he sent a detachment to attack the Gallic section from behind. Frightened, they fell back and Rome was victorious. Julius had conquered all of Gaul.

13. Caesar Timeline • 50 Pompey became extremely jealous and alarmed at Caesar's success and fame. Pompey joined the side of the conservatives and made himself sole consul of Rome. He and the senate requested Caesar's immediate return without his army so that they could discuss his political agenda. Caesar refused.

14. Caesar Timeline • 49 Pompey warned Caesar that once he and his army crossed the Rubicon River, which separated Gaul from Italy, that there was no turning back, "the die was cast," and a civil war would occur. Civil war did break out between the conservatives and Caesar's army.

15. Caesar Timeline • 49 Caesar and his troops invaded Rome where he made himself the absolute ruler, dictator. Pompey's troops surrendered and Pompey fled to the Balkans. Caesar and his army followed Pompey as he fled to Greece and then on to Egypt. Since Caesar did not have a living heir declared his nephew, Octavius, his sole heir.

16. Caesar Timeline • 48 Caesar conquered both Greece and Egypt; Pompey was killed by Egyptians (Caesar merely wanted him captured - Pompey was his friend); took Cleopatra as mistress; they had a son; helped her fight her brother Ptolemy XIII; she soon became the ruler of Egypt Cleopatra

17. Caesar Timeline • 47 defeated Pompey's ally Pharnaces "Veni, vidi, vici"- (I came, I saw, I conquered) • 45 Several foreign campaigns followed with Caesar making his power absolute by defeating his enemies, Pompey’s sons, in Spain; he returned to Rome; was granted dictatorship for ten years; he granted clemency to Cassius and Brutus and gave them responsible positions – they became senators • Caesar was loved by the common people; declared dictator for life by senate • While in Rome, his affair with Cleopatra and news of their son humiliated Caesar's wife Calpurnia and her family

18. Caesar Timeline • 44 The Romans had overthrown their last king 450 years before and had set up a republican government. • The idea of another king ruling the "free Romans" was unthinkable. So 60 conspirators plotted and assassinated Caesar (stabbed him to death); this threw nation into chaos

19. PLAYS BEGINS ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ASSISSNATION! • 18 year old Octavius, Caesar's nephew, took over power with Marc Antony by his side • 2ND TRIUMVIRATE was formed between Octavius, Antony, Lepidus • Lepidus eventually retired his position and the Roman Empire was to be split- Octavius ruling the western region and Antony ruling the eastern

20. Antony began having an affair with Cleopatra (their affair produced twin sons) and was consumed with greed thus a struggle for power over the entire Roman Empire grew between him and Octavius • War was declared and during the Actium War, greatest naval battle of that time, Marc Antony was defeated

21. Antony and Cleopatra fled and committed suicide, twins were killed by the Romans, Caesar and Cleopatra's son was never heard of again. • Octavius became sole ruler of the Roman Empire and it's emperor; given the name Octavius Augustus, "anointed one"; his rule was the beginning of 200 years of Roman peace known as the "Golden Age"

22. IMPT!!! -The political conflict of the play is between Brutus, Cassius, and other tribune conspirators versus those who supportCaesar (Antony and Octavius). • Brutus, Cassius, as well as others conspire against Caesar's desire for absolute power in an attempt to preserve Republican Rome and their own freedom. • In order to understand the themes you must understand the religious beliefs at that time as well as the view of the universe. During this time it was believed that the monarch's right to rule came from God as well as the people, and so opposition to the anointed ruler was really opposition to God.

23. THEMES • Chaos results when prescribed social order is broken. • The best intentions of good, noble men can lead to tragedy. (*tragic hero…know the traits!!!) • Language is a powerful weapon, and in the hands of a skilled person, it can be used to manipulate others. • Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good results. • Orderliness and a stable rule, even though dictatorial, are preferable to social chaos.

24. Characteristics of the Roman People • Polytheistic ~ belief in many gods • Superstitious • Respect for physical strength • Patriotic • Sense of honor • Deep regard for reputations • Respect for others

25. Weaknesses of the Roman People • Easily influenced or swayed; “fickle” • Relatively uneducated

26. POLITICAL TERMS 1. Bondsman – slave 2. Commons - the common people 3. Consul- the chief magistrate and the highest official in Roman Republic 4. Dictator- total political control by one person 5. Plebeian- the common people

27. POLITICAL TERMS 6. Praetor- Roman judge or magistrate, next to consul in rank 7. Rabblement / rout - the rabble, mob 8. Senators-mainly patricians (wealthy, high-born citizens); made the laws 9. Tribune - a magistrate who protects the rights of the lower classes 10. Triumvirate -rule by three men

28. MILITARY TERMS • Alarum- a trumpet or drum call to arms 2. Battle- a unit or part of the army 3. Battles - the armed forces drawn up for fighting 4. Charges - the troops 5. Cohort - an army division

29. MILITARY TERMS 6. Ensign - the f lag (standard) or standard bearer 7. The "horse" in general- the cavalry 8. Legion - (3000-6000) soldiers of 10 cohorts 9. Parley - a conference between opposing forces 10. Tributaries - captives who had to pay a tribute or ransom to Rome before they could obtain their freedom

30. Greek Philosophies Epicureanism:The secret of the good life was the intelligent pursuit of pleasure. The Epicureans did not believe that there were gods that man had to please nor did he have a soul whose afterlife should be central concern for his life.

31. Greek Philosophies Epicureanism:They felt the most lasting pleasure was to be found in a simple, quiet life of moderate indulgence and mental activity. This was a completely self-centered philosophy that tolerated no emotion that disturbed one's detachment from day today events Motto: Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. ***Caesar and Antony exemplify this

32. Greek Philosophies Stoicism:The stoics believed that the secret of happiness and pleasure was to be found in doing one's duty, in pursuing virtue (honor), and in mastering man's passion with reason. The highest aim of man was to live in harmony with his belief and in doing so achieve inner strength and peace.

33. Greek Philosophies Stoicism:This his is a very individualistic philosophy,but its rigid morality not give it a broad appeal. It did have a a strong influence on Roman law, the Roman Empire, and on much of Christian thought. Remember Portia's reference to marriage! ***BRUTUS – This is his philosophy. Also Brutus is a Tragic Hero...review characteristics of a tragic hero!

34. Tragedy • A play depicting serious and important events in which the main character or characters suffer great loss or even death.

35. The story is tragic, because we have grown to care about the character who suffers this loss.

36. Tragic Hero The main character in a tragedy who is flawed, but is more noble than evil.

37. REVIEW of TRAGIC HERO CHARACTERISTICS • Noble in stature/royal • Not perfect has tragic flaw (harmartia) ex. Pride (hubris) • Downfall partially own fault/due to free choice • Misfortune not wholly deserved • Accepts his fate and gains wisdom • Catharsis is experienced

38. Harmartia - a fundamental character weakness that is partially responsible for the hero’s demise. Tragic Flaw

39. The Frog and The Scorpion “Why did you sting me, Mr. Scorpion? For now we both shall drown.”

40. The scorpion replies, “I couldn’t help it, it’s in my nature.”

41. Pun A play on the multiple meanings of a word, or on the sound of a word. “I am but as you’d say a cobbler.”

42. Anachronism • An event or detail that is inappropriate for the time period. • i.e. the chiming of the clock in Julius Caesar from Act II, sc i

43. Hyperbole A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or to create comic effect. Also called “overstatement”.

44. An example of hyperbole JC Act I, sc 1 “Weep your tears into the channel, till the lowest stream do kiss the most exalted shores of all.”

45. Personification Nonhuman things or qualities are talked about as if they’re human

46. Soliloquy A long speech in which a character alone on stage expresses private thoughts or feelings

47. Foreshadowing Using clues to hint at what might happen later in the plot. “Beware the ides of March.”

48. C a t h a r s i s • A sense of emotional release experienced from watching a tragedy

49. V e r s e Poetry. Many of the characters in JC speak in blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter

50. P r o s e • Prose is the language of the common people. The commoners speak in prose language.