key facts about the play juliuscaesar
Genre : TRAGIC Historic Drama
Setting (Time) : 44 B.C.
Type of Work : Play
Setting (Place) : Ancient Rome towards the end of the Roman Republic
Tone : Serious, Proud, Virtuous, Enraged, Vengeful, Idealistic, Anguished
Author : WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Setting (Time) : 44 B.C.
Type of Work : Play
Setting (Place) : Ancient Rome towards the end of the Roman Republic
Tone : Serious, Proud, Virtuous, Enraged, Vengeful, Idealistic, Anguished
Author : WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
CHARACTER LIST
- JULIUS CAESAR
Roman of them all" Assassinated by MARCUS BRUTUS, CAIUS CASSIUS, and a band of CONSPIRATORS who felt that Caesar was too ambitious and wishes to be crowned.
- CALPURNIA
- MARCUS BRUTUS
- CAIUS CASSIUS
- DECIUS BRUTUS
- MARK ANTONY
- METELLUS CIMBER
- CASCA
- CINNA
- TREBONIUS
- LIGARIUS
The CITIZEN (mob)
The MOB(the common people) was easy-to-move, fickle-minded and emotional .
INTRODUCTION
An artistic rendition of Caesar's Triumph processions
JULIUS CAESAR is the story of man's personal dilemma over moral action, set against a backdrop of political drama. Julius Caesar, an able general and a conqueror, returns to Rome amidst immense popularity after defeating the sons of Pompey. The people celebrate his victorious return and Mark Antony offers him the crown which he refuses. Jealous of Caesar's growing power and afraid that he may one day become a dictator,Cassius instigates a conspiracy to murder Caesar. He realises to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Romans, he must win over the noble Brutus to his side of Brutus for Brutus is the most trusted and respected in Rome. Brutus, the idealist, joins the conspiracy feeling that everyone is driven by motives as honourable as his own. Ironically, Caesar is murdered at the foot of POMPEY'S statue.
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (1979 TV) - Caesar assasinated
GIST OF THE EXTRACT FROM CLASS X BOOK
Et tu, Brute !
(You too, Brutus)
Caesar, still in his nightgown, is terrified by a dream of his wife Calpurnia has had in which she cried out, “Help ho! They murder Caesar!” He orders to servant to go to the priests and have them sacrifice an animal in order to read the entrails for predictions of the future.
Calpurnia arrives and tells him that he dare not leave the house that day. Caesar acts brave and tells her that he fears nothing, and that he will die when it is necessary for him to die. The servant returns and tells him that the sacrificed animal showed a very bad omen, namely the beast did not have a heart.
Caesar insists on misinterpreting the omens, but Calpurnia begs him to blame her for his absence from Senate, to which he finally agrees. However, Decius arrives at that moment in order to fetch Caesar to the Senate House. Caesar tells him to inform Senate that he will not come this day. Decius claims that he will be mocked if he cannot provide a better reason than that. Caesar then tells him about Calpurnia’s dream, which Decius reinterprets in a positive light. Decius then overwhelms Caesar’s resistance by asking him if the Senate should dissolve until a better time when Calpurnia has more favourable dreams. Decius also tempts Caesar by saying that the Senate plans to give the crown to him and they may change their minds if he does not go. Caesar tells Calpurnia that he was acting foolishly, and agrees to go to the Senate.
Cassius and the other conspirators arrive at that moment to accompany him to the Senate. Antony also appears and joins the group of men who then escort Caesar out of his house. Caesar takes his seat in the Senate and proceeds to allow Metellus Cimber to petition him. The man throws himself down at Caesar’s feet in order to beg for his brother’s release from banishment, but is ordered to get up. Caesar tells him that fawning will not win him any favours. At this Brutus comes forward and pleads for the man’s brother. Cassius soon joins him. Caesar tells them this decision is, “constant as the Northern Star” and that he will not remove the banishment. Casca kneels and says “Speak hands for me”. Casca first, and then the other conspirators and Brutus all stab Cesar who fall saying, ‘Et tu, Brute? – Then falls Caesar.
Antony arrives and laments the death of Caesar. He begs the murderers, specially Brutus, to tell him why Caesar had to be killed. Brutus tells him that Caesar was destroying the republic and had to be removed from power. Antony pretends to be convinced by this and asks conspirators to, “Let each men render me his bloody hand” He then shakes hands with each of them, naming them as he shakes the hand.
Antony quickly recants his agreement with the murderers, and tells Cassius that he almost joined them after shaking their hands; He asks them if he may have permission to take the body to the marketplace and show it to the crowds. Brutus gives him permission to do this, but immediately, Cassius pulls Brutus aside and says, “You know not what you do”. Brutus decides to give his speech first, and to allow Antony to speak afterwards, provided that Antony only says positive things about the conspirators. Antony agrees to this.
Left alone with the Body of Caesar, Antony says, “O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth /That I am meek and gentle with these butchers” He continues, with his speech becoming ever more violent, “Domestic fury and fierce civil strife/Shall cumber all the parts of Italy”
Brutus tells the masses that he loved Caesar and more than any of them, but that he killed Caesar because he loved Rome more. Brutus then asks them, if they want him to kill himself for his actions, to which crowd replies, “Live, Brutus, live, live!” He lastly begs them listen to Mark Antony speak and to let him depart alone. He leaves Mark Antony alone to give his oration.
Antony’s speech beginnings with the famous lines, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” His speech continually praises Brutus as “an honourable man” who has killed Caesar for being ambitious. He then presents all of the images of Caesar in which Caesar has not been ambitious, such as when Caesar thrice refused the crown on the day of Lupercal, or when Caesar filled the Roman treasury with ransom money from victories of war. The plebeians slowly become convinced that Caesar was not ambitious and that he was wrongly murdered. Antony then pulls out Caesar’s will and tells them he would not read it to them. They beg him to read it, and he finally agrees, but puts if off by descending into the masses and standing next to the body of Caesar. He shows them the stab wounds and names the conspirators who gave Caesar the wounds. The crowd starts to surge away in anarchy, crying, Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!” Antony stops them and continues speaking. He finally reads them the will, in which Caesar has given every Roman citizen seventy five drachmas. The plebeians react in a frenzy of anger against the men who killed Caesar, and carry away the body. Antony says “Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot / Take thou what course thou wilt”. He has successfully instigated the mob to mutiny.
Calpurnia arrives and tells him that he dare not leave the house that day. Caesar acts brave and tells her that he fears nothing, and that he will die when it is necessary for him to die. The servant returns and tells him that the sacrificed animal showed a very bad omen, namely the beast did not have a heart.
Caesar insists on misinterpreting the omens, but Calpurnia begs him to blame her for his absence from Senate, to which he finally agrees. However, Decius arrives at that moment in order to fetch Caesar to the Senate House. Caesar tells him to inform Senate that he will not come this day. Decius claims that he will be mocked if he cannot provide a better reason than that. Caesar then tells him about Calpurnia’s dream, which Decius reinterprets in a positive light. Decius then overwhelms Caesar’s resistance by asking him if the Senate should dissolve until a better time when Calpurnia has more favourable dreams. Decius also tempts Caesar by saying that the Senate plans to give the crown to him and they may change their minds if he does not go. Caesar tells Calpurnia that he was acting foolishly, and agrees to go to the Senate.
Cassius and the other conspirators arrive at that moment to accompany him to the Senate. Antony also appears and joins the group of men who then escort Caesar out of his house. Caesar takes his seat in the Senate and proceeds to allow Metellus Cimber to petition him. The man throws himself down at Caesar’s feet in order to beg for his brother’s release from banishment, but is ordered to get up. Caesar tells him that fawning will not win him any favours. At this Brutus comes forward and pleads for the man’s brother. Cassius soon joins him. Caesar tells them this decision is, “constant as the Northern Star” and that he will not remove the banishment. Casca kneels and says “Speak hands for me”. Casca first, and then the other conspirators and Brutus all stab Cesar who fall saying, ‘Et tu, Brute? – Then falls Caesar.
Antony arrives and laments the death of Caesar. He begs the murderers, specially Brutus, to tell him why Caesar had to be killed. Brutus tells him that Caesar was destroying the republic and had to be removed from power. Antony pretends to be convinced by this and asks conspirators to, “Let each men render me his bloody hand” He then shakes hands with each of them, naming them as he shakes the hand.
Antony quickly recants his agreement with the murderers, and tells Cassius that he almost joined them after shaking their hands; He asks them if he may have permission to take the body to the marketplace and show it to the crowds. Brutus gives him permission to do this, but immediately, Cassius pulls Brutus aside and says, “You know not what you do”. Brutus decides to give his speech first, and to allow Antony to speak afterwards, provided that Antony only says positive things about the conspirators. Antony agrees to this.
Left alone with the Body of Caesar, Antony says, “O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth /That I am meek and gentle with these butchers” He continues, with his speech becoming ever more violent, “Domestic fury and fierce civil strife/Shall cumber all the parts of Italy”
Brutus tells the masses that he loved Caesar and more than any of them, but that he killed Caesar because he loved Rome more. Brutus then asks them, if they want him to kill himself for his actions, to which crowd replies, “Live, Brutus, live, live!” He lastly begs them listen to Mark Antony speak and to let him depart alone. He leaves Mark Antony alone to give his oration.
Antony’s speech beginnings with the famous lines, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” His speech continually praises Brutus as “an honourable man” who has killed Caesar for being ambitious. He then presents all of the images of Caesar in which Caesar has not been ambitious, such as when Caesar thrice refused the crown on the day of Lupercal, or when Caesar filled the Roman treasury with ransom money from victories of war. The plebeians slowly become convinced that Caesar was not ambitious and that he was wrongly murdered. Antony then pulls out Caesar’s will and tells them he would not read it to them. They beg him to read it, and he finally agrees, but puts if off by descending into the masses and standing next to the body of Caesar. He shows them the stab wounds and names the conspirators who gave Caesar the wounds. The crowd starts to surge away in anarchy, crying, Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!” Antony stops them and continues speaking. He finally reads them the will, in which Caesar has given every Roman citizen seventy five drachmas. The plebeians react in a frenzy of anger against the men who killed Caesar, and carry away the body. Antony says “Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot / Take thou what course thou wilt”. He has successfully instigated the mob to mutiny.
Julius Caesar (1979 TV)- Antony funeral oration
AFTER THE EXTRACT
Antony Delivering the Funeral Oration Over Caesar.
ANTONY instigates the mob to revenge. He then sits with Octavius Caesar, Julius Ceasar's nephew, coldly calculating how to purge any future threat. Brutus and Cassius fall apart as the idealist in BRUTUS is outraged by CASSIUS' practicality. The armies of Octavius Caesar and Antony clash with those of Brutus and Cassius at Philippe and Sardis. Brutus and Cassius are defeated and both commit suicide.
A FEW IRONIES IN THE PLAY JULIUS CAESAR
Calpurnia stressing her fears to Caesar
· JULIUS CAESAR was assassinated on the IDES OF MARCH – March 15, 44 B.C. A Soothsayer tells Caesar who is already on his way to the Senate (and his death), “Beware the Ides of March” Caesar replies, “He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.”
· Artemidorus offered a letter to Caesar warning him about the conspiracy in the street but Caesar refused to read it.
· Caesar’s enemies assassinated him at the foot of Pompeys’ statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the Temple of Venus.
· Artemidorus offered a letter to Caesar warning him about the conspiracy in the street but Caesar refused to read it.
· Caesar’s enemies assassinated him at the foot of Pompeys’ statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the Temple of Venus.