JULIUS CAESAR

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Conflicts in the Play

• Conspirators’ struggle against Caesar and against the institution of king.

• Antony and his supporters’ struggle against the conspirators.

• Portia’s and Calphurnia’s efforts to prevent their husband’s fates.

Conflicts in the Play

• Caesar’s own struggle for power.

• Cassius’ struggle with his desire for revenge.

• Brutus’ struggle with the morality of murder.

Act One

• Scene 1: Conflict is introduced.

–Caesar is returning to Rome in triumph of his wars.

• Scene 2: 1st step of the rising action.–There are mixed feelings about

Caesar in Rome.

• Scene 2:–First foreshadowing: disaster–The soothsayer warns Caesar to, “Beware

of the Ides of March.”–Caesar is envied by Cassius.–Cassius wants Brutus in his plans.–Casca also becomes part of the conspiracy.

• Scene 3:

• The conspiracy is under way.• The planting of letters to insure

Brutus’ spot in the conspiracy.

Timeline

• Act One: one month

–Scene 1: takes place on Feb. 15.

–Scene 2: follows immediately.

–Scene 3: takes place on March 14.

Act Two

• Building act.

• Scene 1:

–Brutus decides he must be an instrument in Caesar’s death.

–Conspirators decide to spare Antony’s life.

• Scene 2:

–Caesar receives warnings of his disaster.

–Calphurnia has a dream of Caesar being murdered.

•Scene 3:

–Caesar is warned to stay clear of the conspirators.

•Scene 4:–Soothsayer reappears and tries to tell Caesar once again about the disaster.

• Climax and suspense is built.

• Brutus has become stronger.

• Casca is a hypocrite.

• Begins on the evening of March 14.

• Supernatural elements:

–Calphurnia’s dream.

–A sacrifice and its outcome.

Act Three• Turning point in the play.

• Scene1:

–Caesar enters the senate.

–He is betrayed by everyone of them.

–Death of Caesar.–Antony’s funeral oration is the

turning point of the play.

• Scene 2:

–Scales it up in favor of Caesar’s supporters.

–Antony turns the crowd against Cassius and Brutus.

• Scene3:

–Ends with the mob action against the conspirators.

Act Four• Scene1:

–Begins with the falling action.–Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus are commenting on their next moves.

• Scene2:

–Falling Action: Cassius and Brutus argue.

–Their military setbacks will affect their relationship.

• Scene 3:

–Brutus and Cassius decide to attack the army of Philippi and Triumvirate.

–Another unwise decision.

–Brutus learns his wife has died.

–Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus.

–Two years have past since Caesar died.

Act Five

• Presents a long denouement of war and death.

• Conspirators die by suicide.

• Power is passed to Octavius.

• Antony honors Brutus.

Characters:

• Flavius and Marullus:

– wish to protect the plebeians from Caesar’s tyranny.

• Julius Caesar:–Military leader who wants the

crown of Rome.

• Casca:

– knows about Caesar’s attempts to ruin Rome.

• Calphurnia:

– Wife of Julius Caesar.

• Mark Antony:

– Caesar’s friend.

• Soothsayer:–Fortuneteller.

• Marcus Brutus:–Caesar’s friend then enemy.

• Cassius”–Caesar’s brother-in-law.

• Cicero:–senator of Rome.

• Cinna:–Conspirator.

• Lucius:–Brutus’ servant.

• Decius Brutus:–Conspirator.

• Portia:–wife of Marcus Brutus.

• Octavius Caesar:

• adopted son of Caesar.

Theme

• MISUSED POWER = CORRUPTED FORCE

– Caesar is suspected of being tyrannous.

– Cassius is power hungry and assassinates Caesar.

– Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus become dictatorial and tyrannical worse than Caesar ever hinted at being.

Minor Themes

• Goodness of loyalty, honor, and friendship.

• The evil of pride, conspiracy, and anarchy; the logic of political order.

• The viability of republicanism as a form of government.

Mood

• Impending doom and catastrophe.– Friends can no longer be trusted, as they

turn to conspiracy.– Violence, blood, and death dominate the

visual texture of the play.– Closing phase of the play is dominated by

image of the sword as Cassius, Titinius, and Brutus all commit suicide by it.