Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar
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Elements of Fiction/Shakespearean Tragedy
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Julius Caesar
but not Perfect Physically weak A
tyrant Superstitious Indecisive Inflexible Believe
s he is infallible Power-hungry wants to be
crowned the leader of the entire Roman Empire
Powerful Accomplished soldier Ambitious
politician Victor over the sons of Pompey
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Brutus

• Of Noble Heritage Roman nobleman
• Sincere Truly believes in his role
• Honest Refuses to take bribes
• Naive Believes in the essential goodness of
  others
• Philosophical Philosophies (beliefs about
  life) guide his actions and decisions.

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Cassius

• Envious Contempt for Caesar envies his position
• Fearful Caesars ambitions to be king.
• What might become of Rome in such an instance?
• Politically Astute Advises Brutus to assassinate
  Antony along with Caesar. Understanding
  what can happen, he advises Brutus not to
  allow Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral.
• Corrupt Prior to the battle at Philippi, is
  accused by Brutus of taking bribes
• Military Strategist Battle plan for Philippi is
  well thought out and based on sound
  military principles

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Marc Antony

• Loyal to Caesar
• Clever Befriends the conspirators
• Asks to speak at Caesar's funeral
• A skilled orator Antony's speech at Caesar's
  funeral sways the crowd
• Severe, Stern, Merciless Antony's role in
  condemning men to death shows he can be as cold
  hearted as he is passionate
• A skilled military leader Equal voice in
  planning the war against the legions of Brutus
  and Cassius

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THEMES

• Major Theme
• MISUSED POWER IS A CORRUPTIVE FORCE.
• Caesar is a dictator suspected of being tyrannous
• Cassius is so power hungry that he assassinates
  Caesar, hoping to become more powerful himself
• Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus become a
  dictatorial and tyrannical Triumvirate, worse
  than Caesar ever hinted at being.

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Minor Themes

• Goodness of loyalty,
• honor, and friendship
• Evil of pride, conspiracy,
• and anarchy
• Logic of political order
• Viability of republicanism as a form of
  government.

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MOOD
Impending doom and catastrophe Beginning -
Danger lurks in every corner - Friends can no
longer be trusted - Manipulation and conspiracy
plot next moves Middle - Images of violence,
blood, and death - Weighty political intrigue
End Eerie mood with the appearance of Caesar's
ghost, returning to seek revenge. Dominated by
the sinister image of the sword.
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Antagonists

• Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators
• do not want him to become the
• head of the Roman Empire.
• Plot to overthrow and assassinate Caesar
• he is an easy target because of his fatal flaw
• extreme "hubris" or pride.
• Caesar is nearly saved by omens and warnings
• he disregards them
• thinks himself infallible.
• He is so proud that he is easily flattered
• Thinks less strategically and places himself in
  grave danger.

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SETTING

• Largely set in Rome
• February, 44 B.C.
• Action moves to Sardis, battlefield at Philippi.
• Frequent reference to physical landmarks of
  ancient Rome
• Tiber River, the Capitol, and house of the Senate
• The Forum is the setting for an important scene.
• Roman political institutions and officials are
  always present
• Tribunes, Senators, Patricians, and priests.

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Shakespeares Globe Theater

• The most famous and interesting theater in
  the Elizabethan era.
• Built just outside of London after the
  
  triumphant reign of Queen Elizabeth I
• Many of William Shakespeare's plays were
  written and preformed there.
• Strange new concept for the Europeans of the
  Elizabethan Era (aka the sixteenth century)
• Plays mostly performed by traveling troupes

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Todays Globe Theater

• Faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse
  designed in 1599
• Theatre season runs May to September productions
  of Shakespeare, contemporaries and modern
  authors.
• Today, audiences of this wooden O sit in a
  gallery or stand informally as a groundling in
  the yard, just as they would have done 400 years
  ago.

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The End
Julius Caesar is the COOLEST!