CAESAR

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CAESAR
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Julius Caesar Background Notes

• For centuries Romans debated and even fought
  civil wars to decide whether a monarchy, a
  republic, or a dictatorship was the best form of
  government
• For the first 250 years after its founding, Rome
  was ruled by kings whose domination became
  increasingly oppressive.
• In 509 B. C. the Romans led by Brutus family
  evicted the reigning Tarquins (kings) from the
  throne and the Roman monarchy became a republic.

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Julius Caesar Background Notes

• The Roman people discovered they exchanged rule
  by a king for the rule by a group of patricians
  (group of wealthy Romans).
• This republican form of government was composed
  of two consuls, The first one being, the Roman
  Senate that was made up of praetors who
  administered civil justice. The second consul was
  the tribune who represented the people.
• By 100 B.C. Rome was a moderate democracy-ruled
  by the Senate.

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Julius Caesar Facts

• Born July 12 or 13 100 or 102 B.C, premature and
  epileptic son of minor nobility Caesarean birth
• As a great commander- second only to Alexander
  the Great skillful gifted politician and orator,
  popular among the people, defender of the
  populares, gave power and money to the plebeians,
  gave citizenship to the people he conquered

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Julius Caesar Facts

• Caesar means Kaiser (German) Tsar (Slavonic)
  Quasar (Islamic)
• Caesar's family traced its lineage to Venus.

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Caesar Timeline

• 84 B. C. married Cornelia (daughter of Lucius
  Cornelius Cinna) had a daughter Julia ordered
  by Lucius Sulla to divorce but he refused
• 73 named pontiff at Rome
• 68 Cornelia died

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Caesar Timeline

• 68-66 Gave great support to Pompey, boyhood/best
  friend
• 66 married Pompeia (granddaughter of Sulla and
  relative of Pompey the Great)
• 62 Became praetor (judge), second in power only
  to the consul of Rome

Pompey
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Caesar Timeline

• 61 named governor of Spain divorced Pompeia
  suspected of affair
• 60 formed an alliance with Crassus (wealthy) and
  Pompey (respected leader and friend) result was
  the creation of the
• FIRST TRIUMVIRATE (a rule btw. three) against
  traditional politicians, i.e. Cato

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Caesar Timeline

• 59 Julius Caesar married Calpurnia she was
  barren childless and Pompey married Caesar's
  daughter Julia
• 59 Caesar was a patrician and a consul member.
  Known for siding with the common people and
  granting them favors became very popular

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Caesar Timeline

• 57 Caesar's ambition helped him to extend the
  Roman's power and enabled him to conquer Gaul
  (Southern region of France and Northern Italy)
• 57 He was named governor of various parts of
  Gaul as governor, fought next to his soldiers
  reputation grew. He was also a historian, sending
  his reports back to Rome (wrote Commentaries on
  the Gallic Wars)

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Caesar Timeline

• 57-51 Victory over Gaul in Gallic Wars solidified
  financial, political strength
• 55 first Roman general to raid Britain Rome was
  impressed
• 54 Julia died followed by Crassus who was killed
  in battle at Parthia

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Caesar Timeline

• 52 repressed Gaul fought back. Caesar burned
  their fields. Again he fought side by side his
  men wearing a scarlet cloak to encourage them.
  Although surrounded and outnumbered 5 to 1, he
  sent a detachment to attack the Gallic section
  from behind. Frightened, they fell back and Rome
  was victorious. Julius had conquered all of Gaul.

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Caesar Timeline

• 50 Pompey became extremely jealous and alarmed at
  Caesar's success and fame. Pompey joined the side
  of the conservatives and made himself sole consul
  of Rome. He and the senate requested Caesar's
  immediate return without his army so that they
  could discuss his political agenda. Caesar
  refused.

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Caesar Timeline

• 49 Pompey warned Caesar that once he and his army
  crossed the Rubicon River, which separated Gaul
  from Italy, that there was no turning back, "the
  die was cast," and a civil war would occur. Civil
  war did break out between the conservatives and
  Caesar's army.

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Caesar Timeline

• 49 Caesar and his troops invaded Rome where he
  made himself the absolute ruler, dictator.
  Pompey's troops surrendered and Pompey fled to
  the Balkans. Caesar and his army followed Pompey
  as he fled to Greece and then on to Egypt. Since
  Caesar did not have a living heir declared his
  nephew, Octavius, his sole heir.

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Caesar Timeline

• 48 Caesar conquered both Greece and Egypt Pompey
  was killed by Egyptians (Caesar merely wanted him
  captured - Pompey was his friend) took Cleopatra
  as mistress they had a son helped her fight her
  brother Ptolemy XIII she soon became the ruler
  of Egypt

Cleopatra
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Caesar Timeline

• 47 defeated Pompey's ally Pharnaces "Veni, vidi,
  vici"- (I came, I saw, I conquered)
• 45 Several foreign campaigns followed with Caesar
  making his power absolute by defeating his
  enemies, Pompeys sons, in Spain he returned to
  Rome was granted dictatorship for ten years he
  granted clemency to Cassius and Brutus and gave
  them responsible positions they became senators
• Caesar was loved by the common people declared
  dictator for life by senate
• While in Rome, his affair with Cleopatra and news
  of their son humiliated Caesar's wife Calpurnia
  and her family

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Caesar Timeline

• 44 The Romans had overthrown their last king 450
  years before and had set up a republican
  government.
• The idea of another king ruling the "free Romans"
  was unthinkable. So 60 conspirators plotted and
  assassinated Caesar (stabbed him to death) this
  threw nation into chaos

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PLAYS BEGINS ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ASSISSNATION!

• 18 year old Octavius, Caesar's nephew, took over
  power with Marc Antony by his side
• 2ND TRIUMVIRATE was formed between Octavius,
  Antony, Lepidus
• Lepidus eventually retired his position and the
  Roman Empire was to be split- Octavius ruling the
  western region and Antony ruling the eastern

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• Antony began having an affair with Cleopatra
  (their affair produced twin sons) and was
  consumed with greed thus a struggle for power
  over the entire Roman Empire grew between him and
  Octavius
• War was declared and during the Actium War,
  greatest naval battle of that time, Marc Antony
  was defeated

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• Antony and Cleopatra fled and committed suicide,
  twins were killed by the Romans, Caesar and
  Cleopatra's son was never heard of again.
• Octavius became sole ruler of the Roman Empire
  and it's emperor given the name Octavius
  Augustus, "anointed one" his rule was the
  beginning of 200 years of Roman peace known as
  the "Golden Age"

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• IMPT!!! - The political conflict of the play is
  between Brutus, Cassius, and other tribune
  conspirators versus those who support Caesar
  (Antony and Octavius).
• Brutus, Cassius, as well as others conspire
  against Caesar's desire for absolute power in an
  attempt to preserve Republican Rome and their own
  freedom.
• In order to understand the themes you must
  understand the religious beliefs at that time as
  well as the view of the universe. During this
  time it was believed that the monarch's right to
  rule came from God as well as the people, and so
  opposition to the anointed ruler was really
  opposition to God.

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THEMES

• Chaos results when prescribed social order is
  broken.
• The best intentions of good, noble men can lead
  to tragedy. (tragic heroknow the traits!!!)
• Language is a powerful weapon, and in the hands
  of a skilled person, it can be used to manipulate
  others.
• Violence and bloodshed can never have morally
  good results.
• Orderliness and a stable rule, even though
  dictatorial, are preferable to social chaos.

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Characteristics of the Roman People

• Polytheistic belief in many gods
• Superstitious
• Respect for physical strength
• Patriotic
• Sense of honor
• Deep regard for reputations
• Respect for others

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Weaknesses of the Roman People

• Easily influenced or swayed fickle
• Relatively uneducated

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POLITICAL TERMS

• 1. Bondsman slave
• 2. Commons - the common people
• 3. Consul- the chief magistrate and the highest
  official in Roman Republic
• 4. Dictator- total political control by one
  person
• 5. Plebeian- the common people

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POLITICAL TERMS

• 6. Praetor- Roman judge or magistrate, next to
  consul in rank
• 7. Rabblement / rout - the rabble, mob
• 8. Senators-mainly patricians (wealthy, high-born
  citizens) made the laws
• 9. Tribune - a magistrate who protects the rights
  of the lower classes
• 10. Triumvirate -rule by three men

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MILITARY TERMS

• Alarum- a trumpet or drum call to arms
• 2. Battle- a unit or part of the army
• 3. Battles - the armed forces drawn up for
  fighting
• 4. Charges - the troops
• 5. Cohort - an army division

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MILITARY TERMS

• 6. Ensign - the f lag (standard) or standard
  bearer
• 7. The "horse" in general- the cavalry
• 8. Legion - (3000-6000) soldiers of 10 cohorts
• 9. Parley - a conference between opposing
  forces
• 10. Tributaries - captives who had to pay a
  tribute or ransom to Rome before they could
  obtain their freedom

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Greek Philosophies

• Epicureanism The secret of the good life was the
  intelligent pursuit of pleasure.
• The Epicureans did not believe that there were
  gods that man had to please nor did he have a
  soul whose afterlife should be central concern
  for his life.

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Greek Philosophies

• Epicureanism They felt the most lasting pleasure
  was to be found in a simple, quiet life of
  moderate indulgence and mental activity. This was
  a completely self-centered philosophy that
  tolerated no emotion that disturbed one's
  detachment from day today events
• Motto Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we
  die.
• Caesar and Antony exemplify this

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Greek Philosophies

• Stoicism The stoics believed that the secret of
  happiness and pleasure was to be found in doing
  one's duty, in pursuing virtue (honor), and in
  mastering man's passion with reason.
• The highest aim of man was to live in harmony
  with his belief and in doing so achieve inner
  strength and peace.

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Greek Philosophies

• Stoicism This his is a very individualistic
  philosophy, but its rigid morality not give it a
  broad appeal. It did have a a strong influence on
  Roman law, the Roman Empire, and on much of
  Christian thought. Remember Portia's reference to
  marriage!
• BRUTUS This is his philosophy. Also Brutus
  is a Tragic Hero...review characteristics of a
  tragic hero!

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Tragedy

• A play depicting serious and important events in
  which the main character or characters suffer
  great loss or even death.

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• The story is tragic, because we have grown to
  care about the character who suffers this loss.

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Tragic Hero

• The main character in a tragedy who is flawed,
  but is more noble than evil.

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REVIEW of TRAGIC HERO CHARACTERISTICS

• Noble in stature/royal
• Not perfect has tragic flaw (harmartia) ex.
  Pride (hubris)
• Downfall partially own fault/due to free choice
• Misfortune not wholly deserved
• Accepts his fate and gains wisdom
• Catharsis is experienced

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Tragic Flaw

• Harmartia - a fundamental character weakness
  that is partially responsible for the heros
  demise.

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The Frog and The Scorpion

• Why did you sting me, Mr. Scorpion? For now
  we both shall drown.

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The scorpion replies,

• I couldnt help it, its in my nature.

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Pun

• A play on the multiple meanings of a word, or
  on the sound of a word.
• I am but as youd say a cobbler.

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Anachronism

• An event or detail that is inappropriate for the
  time period.
• i.e. the chiming of the clock in Julius Caesar
  from Act II, sc i

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Hyperbole

• A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to
  express strong emotion or to create comic effect.
  Also called overstatement.

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An example of hyperbole

• JC Act I, sc 1
• Weep your tears into the channel, till the
  lowest stream do kiss the most exalted shores of
  all.

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Personification

• Nonhuman things or qualities are talked about
  as if theyre human

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Soliloquy

• A long speech in which a character alone on
  stage expresses private thoughts or feelings

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Foreshadowing

• Using clues to hint at what might happen later in
  the plot.
• Beware the ides of March.

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C a t h a r s i s

• A sense of emotional release experienced from
  watching a tragedy

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V e r s e

• Poetry. Many of the characters in JC speak in
  blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter

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P r o s e

• Prose is the language of the common people. The
  commoners speak in prose language.

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Iambic pentameter

• An iamb is a unit of speech consisting of two
  syllables one unstressed syllable followed by
  one stressed syllable, such as in the words deny
  and expect.
• Iambic pentameter is a line of poetry containing
  5 iambs 10 syllables total.

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F o i l

• A character used to contrast another character.
  Writers use a foil to emphasize the difference
  between characters.

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EXTENDED METAPHOR

• comparison between 2 unlike things without using
  like or as. Several lines long.

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example

• our Ship of State, which recent storms have
  threatened to destroy, has come safely to harbor
  at last, guided . . .

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M o t i v a t i o n

• Something that causes a character to do something
  or act in a certain way

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Verbal irony

• A contrast between what is said and what is
  meant. An example can be sarcasm.

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Dramatic Irony

• occurs when the audience knows something
  important that a character does not know

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Situational Irony

• what actually happens is the opposite of what
  was expected to happen