Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar is a political tragedy about the assassination of the Roman leader Julius Caesar and its aftermath. The play explores themes of power, honor, loyalty, and the consequences of political violence, focusing on the internal conflicts of Brutus, who joins the conspiracy believing he acts for Rome's good.

• 1Caesar returns to Rome victorious, and people fear he will become a tyrant
• 2Cassius manipulates Brutus into joining a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar
• 3Despite warnings from a soothsayer and his wife's dreams, Caesar goes to the Senate
• 4The conspirators stab Caesar to death; he falls at the feet of Pompey's statue
• 5Mark Antony's funeral speech turns public opinion against the conspirators
• 6Civil war erupts; Brutus and Cassius are defeated and take their own lives

• •Power and ambition
• •Honor and integrity
• •Fate versus free will
• •Public versus private self
• •The manipulation of language and rhetoric
• •The consequences of political violence

• Julius Caesar: Powerful Roman leader whose assassination triggers tragedy
• Marcus Brutus: Noble Roman torn between friendship and duty to Rome
• Cassius: Cunning senator who orchestrates the conspiracy
• Mark Antony: Caesar's loyal friend who seeks revenge
• Calpurnia: Caesar's wife who warns him of danger
• Portia: Brutus's devoted wife concerned for his wellbeing

• Written around 1599, based on historical events from 44 BCE
• Reflects Elizabethan anxieties about succession and political stability
• Based on Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans
• Set during the transition from Roman Republic to Roman Empire
• Explores questions about legitimate authority and tyranny

• Analyze Shakespeare's presentation of political rhetoric, especially Antony's speech
• Examine Brutus as a tragic hero and his internal conflicts
• Discuss the role of omens, portents, and fate in the play
• Consider how personal relationships interact with political loyalties
• Explore the consequences of political idealism versus pragmatism