Theme Of The Play

1. Theme Of The Play By Emma&Aneka

2. Rundown Of The play • As Caesar parades through the streets of Rome like a rock star, the higher-ups in Rome are nervous about his growing power and his popularity with the commoners, who have abandoned their work to celebrate Caesar's triumphant return. Caesar seems headed toward absolute power, which is a big no-no in the Roman Republic. • Meanwhile, the festival of the Lupercal (a big party where people run around in goatskin g-strings in the middle of February) is in full swing. Caesar is chilling at the festival with his entourage when a soothsayer runs up and says "beware the Ides of March" (meaning, "hey, watch your back on March 15"). Caesar looks at the soothsayer and is all "whatever man."

3. Rundown • Cassius (who has been plotting against Caesar with a group of conspirators) suggests that maybe Brutus should lead Rome. Brutus says he gets what Cassius is saying, but he is also good friends with Caesar, so he needs a little time to think about things before he makes any decisions. • A month passes, which means we're approaching the "Ides of March." Cassious sends someone to plant fake letters from Roman commoners urging Brutus to eliminate Caesar, and attends a meeting that night to plot Caesar's death.

4. The Story • Meanwhile, Brutus has decided to go ahead and kill his friend Caesar. Brutus reasons that, even though he and Caesar are BFFs, killing Caesar is the only way to save the Roman Republic. They make a plan, they'll arrange to bring Caesar to the Capitol so they can hack him into a million little pieces. • Decius promises that Caesar's going to be crowned king that day. Caesar goes skipping off to the Senate. On the way to the Capitol, an old man tries to give Caesar a letter warning him about the assassination plot, but Caesar blows him off. • At the Capitol, Caesar stands around bragging about how awesome he is. Just as he's making a big speech about how he's the brightest star in the sky, Cassius, Brutus, and the other plotters surround him and stab him to death – 33 times, just to be sure. Before falling, Caesar looks up and says "Even you, Brutus? What happened to us being best buds forever?"

5. Rundown • Surprisingly, instead of hailing Brutus and Cassius as saviors, the people of Rome run around declaring that it's Doomsday. The situation is not going according to plan. • Antony was upset and promised he would not blame the murderers if he was allowed to speak at Julius’s funeral but actually convinces the people of rome to start a riot against the men who killed Ceasar. • Brutus and Cassius have fled the chaos that has been happening around the streets at this point while Antony meets up with his wife and adopted kid to start a battle in rome against Julius’s murderers. • In case anything were to go wrong, the murderers agreed to pull a Romeo and Juliet and kill themselves.

6. Key points to understand the Theme • Simplified key points that will help you understand the theme of the play while you read the script: • A power struggle • Julius being cocky and senates getting jealous • Betrayal • Obviously, Murdering and a ton of guts and blood • Selfishness

7. The play • It would be an awful thing to do to give away the end of the story. The battle is obviously the best part and I’m sure everyone in the room is super exited to read it.

8. Theme • A way of looking at the theme is through power and ambition. Brutus decides to murder his dear friend just in case he is to become corrupt. The power Caesar is capable of having incredible. This worries the senators, particularly Brutus, who states he would sacrifice his own life for the good of Rome. Ironically, though, Caesar really hasn't shown any hints that he will be corrupted by his power. How "est qui tubrutus" ties into this theme is how Caesar feels betrayed that even his bestest friend Brutus would conspire to kill him when it is really unnecessary . They are just killing him in case he becomes corrupt. So much for free will. • Another interesting side to this is, Cassius, who manipulates Brutus into taking part in the scheme to kill Caesar. While Brutus is actually one of the good guys, he alone is acting for the good of Rome, Cassius is greedy and tricks Brutus into helping bring Caesar down when Cassius wants the same ambition and power that resulted in Caesar's murder.

9. Q&A’s • 1.What was the day the soothsayer told Julius he better watch his back on? • 6th b) 22nd c)15th d) 18th • 2. Who was good friends with Caesar? • Jesus b) Brutus c) Cassius d) Emma • 3. How many times was Julius stabbed? • Two times b) thirty three times c) fifty times d) none, he was stoned. • 4. Why were Brutus and Cassious talking about killing themselves? • a) Brutus faked his death but Cassious thought he was dead so he stabbed himself. b) proclaiming their love to satan and sacrificing themselves c) in case something went wrong in war d) They were going to be killed anyways • 5. Who planned to riot against Julius’s murderers? • a) Julius’s ghost b) Antony c) Zeus d) Cassius

10. Q&A • Why doesn’t Brutus want to lead Rome? Why does he need time to think about it? • What are 3 of the 5 key points of the theme we named in an earlier slide? • If you had to describe Julius Caesars personality in a few words, what would those words be ?

11. Bibliography • I borrowed a modern version of Julius Caesar from the library and I cant remember the name, ill get back to you about it.