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JULIUS CAESAR: an introduction

JULIUS CAESAR: an introduction. Thursday, 12 December 2013. HISTORY:. Before the play Rome has been ruled by a committee of wealthy men – the Senate- who have risen up the rungs of power. They replaced the Kings in 753BC

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JULIUS CAESAR: an introduction

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  1. JULIUS CAESAR: an introduction Thursday, 12 December 2013

  2. HISTORY: • Before the play Rome has been ruled by a committee of wealthy men – the Senate- who have risen up the rungs of power. They replaced the Kings in 753BC • ROME 44BC. The republic has been wracked by tensions and 3 men – a triumvirate – has taken power. • Caesar, Pompey and Crassus ruled but have fallen out with each other: Crassus is dead and Caesar has defeated Pompey in war. • The victorious Caesar returns to Rome as the play opens. Much rests on whether he will take the title “KING”…

  3. KINGS… • Years before, Rome was ruled by KINGS. The last, TarquiniusSuperbus was driven out of Rome by Lucius Brutus. • Brutus’ descendant opposes Caesar in this play. Will history repeat itself?

  4. The reach of Rome

  5. The PLAY • We follow the events surrounding Caesar’s return and the offer of the crown. • We also look beyond this to the events that will unfold once a leader is deposed, particularly one with no heir. Shakespeare is commenting on his own times in all his plays…

  6. The play is a tragedy. • You will need to understand what is meant by a TRAGEDY. It is not simply “sad”. • It centres on the question of NOBILITY. • You will write a controlled assessment-type essay concerned with the nobility of one of the protagonists of the play and also in the poems you read last term…

  7. Characters: • The principal characters are all real people and most educated Elizabethans would know about them from school. • Julius Caesar: Ruler of the new “Empire” of Rome. • Marcus Brutus: A senator of an old family. Respected and a focal point for those who did not want the city to be ruled by one man. • Mark Antony: A supporter and friend of Caesar who will be part of a triumvirate with… • Octavius Caesar: Caesar’s nephew and“heir” who will become the emperor Augustus.

  8. Others: • Cicero: A great Orator and speech writer. Studied by all Elizabethan schoolboys… • Cato the younger: politician opposed to Caesar and respected for his moral virtue. A friend of Brutus. • Cassius: A military man and politician opposed to Caesar. • Tribunes: an office of government that was supposed to maintain the spirit of the republic and support the rights of the people.

  9. PARALLELS • Before we read the text, look at these images of politicians or leaders. Find out who they are and do a little research about them. • See if you can decide which category they fall into (it might be more than one). The categories are on the last page.

  10. Categories • 1: Driven by honour and a sense of “what is right” • 2: Seizes power and will not relinquish it • 3: Of huge benefit to the country and the wider world • 4: Strong and prepared to take criticism to achieve what they believe to be in the interest of the people • 5: Corrupted by power and greed • 6: Brave and prepared to lose support of their people to achieve a better outcome • 7: Ambitious, though not seen as a great leader • 8: Thoroughly honourable, throughout their life.

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