Starting Julius Caesar, pt. 2

English 112

Last time…

• We talked about universal themes

• We talked about the painful nature of change

• We went over a brief summary of the play’s events

This time…

• We’ll talk about why Shakespeare might write about this

• We’ll talk about Shakespeare’s historical sources

• Finally, we’ll discuss the historical figures the play’s characters are based on

William Shakespeare

• 1564-1616• Often cited as being the best English writer or one of—• Born in Stratford, lived in London, retired in Stratford• Led The King’s Men, a travelling band of actors• Travelled around England performing plays, and, yes, getting

paid for it • Wrote JC in 1599

Shakespeare’s Roman Tragedies

• Julius Caesar

• Antony and Cleopatra

• Coriolanus

• Titus Andronicus

• Why the Roman obsession?

Classicism

• Today, we use the word classic to denote anything that is– Of great quality, or– Has stood the test of time

• In Shakespeare’s time, the word “classic” meant a work of literature from Ancient Greece and Rome, written in the original Greek and Latin

Shakespeare’s Source: Plutarch

How accurate is JC?

• There are only a few changes from Plutarch’s text, mostly where place names and dates are cleaned up for convenience of performance

• One major difference are Caesar’s last words—Shakespeare has them as “Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!”

• Plutarch says that Caesar said nothing, put pulled his cloak over his head when he saw Brutus among the conspirators

• Other historians say that Caesar’s last words were καί σύ τέκνον (Kai su, teknon?—“Even you too, child?”)

Julius Caesar

Born 13 July, 100 BCDied 15 March, 44 BC

Was dictator from October 49 BCReigned for 5 years

A roman political and military official who played a key role in changing the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire

Was the Magister populi (“Master of the People”) or dictator, whose power was unchecked by other officials

BrutusFull name: Marcus Junius Brutus

Born June 85 BCDied October 42 BC

Senator in Rome who was convinced to lead the plot against Caesar

Mark AnthonyReal name: Marcus Antonius

Born 14 January 83 BCDied Aug 1 30 BC

After Caesar’s assassination, defeated Marcus, and formed a triumvirate with Octavius and Lepidus

Octavius and Mark Antony later disagreed, and in 33 BC, there was another civil war, known as The Final Battle of the Roman Republic. He was defeated, and Octavian became Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor

Is the main character of another Shakespearean Roman tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra

Questions to think about as you read the play

• Does absolute power corrupt absolutely? That is, can you have great political power and not be corrupt?

• Were these characters good people or bad people? In your opinion, how should history remember them?