The Real Man
The Play
The Characters
A historic figure who lived from 100 to 44 BC
Military Leader and Ruler of Rome
Statues currently exist in museums today
Caesar’s biography was written in Plutarch’sLives of the Noble Grecians and Romans
Caesar was assassinated by his fellow senatorsin 44 BC
Multitude of cultural references exist for Caesar
Shakespeare retained many facts fromPlutarch’s biography of Caesar, Antony andBrutus
But he added, deleted and altered to suit hisdramatic purposes
Took 3 years and telescoped it into 6 days ofaction
Speeches in the Forum (famous lines in theplay by Brutus and Antony) – no historicalprecedent
The emotional and fickle mob – Shakespeare’screation to add drama
Characters of Casca, Octavius, Portia andCalpurnia – greatly expanded by Shakespeare
The raw material of the real historic figure ofJulius Caesar is true in the play
BUT the finished product is entirelyShakespeare’s creation
Characteristics of Shakespearean Tragedy
Tragedy: a drama in which a series of actionsleads to the downfall of the main character
Tragic Hero: usually the title character – but inJulius Caesar not so
The tragic hero is a person of high rank, whosefate has an impact on society
Hero has a Tragic Flaw – a fatal error in judgment,a weakness in character that contributes tohis/her downfall
Soliloquies (asides) – speeches given by anactor alone on state that express thoughts thatare hidden from the other characters
“Beware the Ides of March” – famous line, buta real reference to a date on the calendar –March 15th
Julius Caesar and his wife Calpurnia
MarcusBrutus
Cassius
Portia, wife of Brutus
Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony)
Antony
giving his famous speech
to the people of Rome
in Act 3 Scene 2
Act 1
Runner in the Lupercal Games
touch Calpurnia for good luck
In Act 3 Scene 1 – the conspirators assassinate Caesar
The conspirators:
Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Trebonius, Caius Ligarius, Decius Brutus,
Metellus Cimber, Cinna (not the poet)
In Act 1 Scene 2 – a Soothsayer (fortune teller)warns Caesar to beware of the 15th of March –known as “the Ides of March”
“I could be well moved if Iwere as you.If I could pray to move,prayers would move me.But I am constant as theNorthern Star…”
“Et tu Brute”
“Friends, Romans,countrymen, lend meyour ears;I come to bury Caesar,not to praise him.The evil that men do livesafter them;The good is oft interredwith their bones;So let it be with Caesar.”