The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

• By William Shakespeare

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Ideas to Consider as We Read..

• Most people resent others power.
• Sometimes being superstitious is a good thing.
• No cause, political or other, is worth dying for
• Revenge is like drinking poison
• Power necessarily corrupts.

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Ideas to Consider as We Read..

• 6. I am drawn more to advice from my peers than
  that from persons of authority.
• 7. "The evil that men do lives after them the
  good is often buried with their bones.
• One instance of betrayal from a friend warrants
  ending that relationship
• People are drawn toward darkness, whether they
  admit it openly or not.
• Murder and honor cannot coexist.

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Plot Diagram of Julius Caesar

• Act I Exposition- intro of characters, elements
  of setting (time, place)
• Inciting Incident/Exciting Force- intro of major
  conflict, force that drives rest of plot
• Act 2 Complication (Rising Action)- struggles
  intensify, plot events leading twrd climax
• Act 3 Climax- highest point of tension/action
• Act 4 Denouement (Falling Action)- events
  following climax, leading twrd resolution
• Act 5 Resolution- loose ends tied up major
  problems solved!

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Act I, Scene i

• Setting Streets of Rome, 44 B.C.
• Marullus Flavius- 2 tribunes (officials elected
  to protect interests of commoners)
• People are celebrating both the Feast of Lupercal
  and Caesars defeat of Pompeys sons. (Caesar
  had defeated Pompey, an old rival, in 48 B.C he
  has just defeated Pompeys sons in battle)

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Act I, Scene i

• Cobbler (shoemaker) Carpenter- both commoners-
  meet Flavius, Marullus
• Note comic relief pun- play on 2 words similar
  in sound and meaning- lines 13-15 mender of bad
  soles
• F M- see Caesar as threat to Romes republican
  rule, want to shame commoners, remind them of
  past loyalty to Pompey, lines 41-5

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Act I, Scene i

• Flavius- disgusted w/ celebrations
• He orders all statues be removed of any
  decorations celebrating Caesar (lines 73-80)
• These growing feathers plucked from Caesars
  wing/ Will make him fly an ordinary pitch.

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Act I, Scene ii

• Note evidence of superstition and ritual early in
  this scene Caesar orders Antony to touch his
  wife Calpurnia so that she may become fertile.
• (Antony participating in Feast of Lupercal races-
  lead runner believed to be able to remove curse
  of sterility)

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Act I, Scene ii

• ---Soothsayer (fortuneteller) to Caesar Beware
  the ides of March. (foreshadowing)
• Ides- Latin- translated roughly to halfway point-
  ides of march- modern-day metaphor for doom
• The arrogant Caesar blows him off
• He is a dreamer. Let us leave him pass.

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• Questions for Review
• 1.Why could Flavius and Marullus be described as
  officious and supercilious?
• 2. Look at the rhetorical ?s in Marullus speech
  in 1.1. What is their function?
• That Tiber trembled under her banks- literary
  devices?....
• Characterize the relationship between Caesar and
  Pompey.
• (C P had had a major falling out during their
  rule in the 1st triumvirate of Rome.)

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Act I, Scene ii

• Cassius- is a shady, sly character- uses flattery
  to lure Brutus in Cassius wants to take Caesar
  down, to take advantage of Brutus inner
  conflict regarding Caesar.
• Why might Brutus be conflicted?
• Brutus I love the name of honor more than I
  fear death.
• I would not Cassius, yet I love him well.

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Act I, Scene ii

• Brutus loves Caesar, but he fears that he will
  not lead Rome well. (internal conflict)-He is
  caught between his loyalty to a dear friend and
  his love of Rome, his commitment to honoring the
  good of the republic.
• Which Macbeth character does Brutus remind you
  of? Why?

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Act I, Scene ii

• Cassius- Why shouldnt you, Brutus, be the
  leader of the Romans? You are just as good as
  Caesar!
• Cassius story of Caesars past monologue- lines
  97-138- Caesar is a physically weak man why
  should someone like him be king? (cannot swim,
  fevers, epilepsy)

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Act I, Scene ii

• Casca to Brutus- The people of Rome love Caesar,
  want to crown him king. Caesar refused the
  crown 3 times, suffered epileptic fits, even
  offered the crowd his throat to be cut. a true
  spectacle!
• if Caesar had stabbed their mothers they would
  have done no less

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Act I, Scene ii

• Caesar on Cassius He is very wary of him, yet he
  goes on to say he doesnt fear him. (dramatic
  irony/foreshadowing)
• Caesar- half deaf and epileptic
• Why do you think Shakespeare portrayed Caesar
  this way?.....

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Act I, Scene ii

• Cassius soliloquy- his plan to lure Brutus into
  the conspiracy against Caesar.
• Cassiuss plan- write letters in all sorts of
  handwriting, throw them in Brutus window
• (inciting incident/exciting force!)
• Note the presence of rhyming couplets.
• Cinna will plant the letters..
• (Every conspirator plays a key role).

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Act I, Scene iii

• Notice the omens Casca says he experienced (signs
  from nature, usually somewhat spooky/supernatural,
  that are linked to future disaster).
• Locate 5.

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Act I, Scene iii

• A tempest (violent storm)
• A slaves hand was on fire, but he is unscathed.
• There was a random lion in the capitol, but he
  did not attack.
• A crowd of women see a group of men walking
  around on fire.
• A creepy owl shrieking during the day
  (Shakespeare is clearly obsessed).

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Act I, Scene iii

• Conspirators
• Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Cinna,
  Metellus Cimber, Trebonius, Decius
• (Later, another is added as revealed later in Act
  2- Caius Ligarius- hes not so important,
  though).

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Act II, Scene i

• Lucius- Brutus servant
• Brutus soliloquy illustrates his feelings about
  Caesar My issues w/ Caesar are not personal. I
  fear that if he is crowned king, he will change
  power might go to his head. He seems to have
  risen to power too quickly and poses a danger to
  the republic. Ambition may ruin him- and Rome!
  Bs internal conflict.

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Act II, Scene i

• Key points of his soliloquy
• What is an adder anyway?
• Th abuse of greatness is when it
  disjoins/Remorse from power./lowliness is young
  ambitions ladder,/Whereto the climber upwards
  turns his facescorning the base degrees/By which
  he did ascend.
• Note the extended metaphor
• Note the simile in line 33.

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Act II, Scene i

• Key points of his soliloquy
• The adder is used as a metaphor to symbolically
  represent Caesar as a potentially evil tyrant.
  Brutus fears what could happen to Rome if he is
  given the crown, is successful in achieving total
  control.
• The ladder is used as a metaphor to symbolically
  represent Caesars rise to power. Should Caesar
  climb to the top, he will treat those down below-
  the common Romans- poorly and with disdain.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene i
• Brutus reaction to letters planted by Cinna
• I will act on these requests of the Romans and do
  what is best. He is resolute in his decision.
• --- Has Brutus started to change? How so? What
  exactly is his tragic flaw? (ironically enough)

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene i
• It is the ides of March (as Lucius reveals)
• All conspirators arrive
• Cassius- repeats what is contained in letters to
  make sure Brutus joins conspiracy (97-102)
• Brutus Oaths are beneath us they arent
  necessary for we are men of honor.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene i
• Cassius feels Marc Antony should also be killed,
  but Brutus does want to make things too bloody.
  He feels Antony does not pose too much of a
  threat, is only a limb of Caesar./ extended
  metaphor of body continues in 195,6
• Clock strikes- anachronism- placement of an
  event, idea, or person in wrong time period-
  Clocks didnt exist at this time.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene i
• Portia, Brutus wife, senses he is tormented,
  begs him to trust her and confide in her, tell
  her his secrets. She states that even though she
  is a woman, she can handle anything he may tell
  her. She even stabs herself in the thigh to show
  her toughness!
• Does she remind you of anybody? How so?

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene ii
• Caesar is very troubled by Calpurnias dream in
  which she cried out 3X- Help ho, they murder
  Caesar! (foreshadowing)
• Omens she mentions scary lioness, graves
  opening and closing, warriors fighting amongst
  themselves in the clouds, blood raining down on
  Capitol, horses going nutty
• Doe she remind you of anybody? How so?

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene ii
• Calpurnia refers to omens as comets from
  heaven- He must not go to Capitol.
• Literary devices/techniques in her speech?...
• Where and how is animal sacrifice present? What
  does this show about the Romans?
• Why does Caesar decide to ignore the advice of
  Calpurnia? What does this show about him?

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene ii
• Decius follows through on his pledge to
  conspirators to ensure that Caesar goes to
  Capitol- uses flattery and trickery
• This dream is all amiss interpreted./ It is a
  vision fair and fortunate.
• This dream shows you are the lifeblood of Rome,
  giving Romans hope as a strong leader who will do
  what must be done! The blood is not a sign of
  death.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene ii
• Decius deception continues.
• Decius The Romans intend to crown you king. Are
  you going to tell them that you fear your wife
  and are too scared to show?....

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Act II, Scene i

• Act II, Scene iii-iv
• Artemidorus He reads aloud a letter in which he
  tries to warn Caesar of the plot against him.
• He will try to pass this letter to Caesar as he
  passes on his way to Capitol.
• Portia is a mental wreck at this point. She is
  onto the conspirators.
• She pumps the soothsayer for info, but she can
  only wait.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene I
• Shakespeare dramatized some of the actual history
  behind the story of JCs assassination..
• Caesar dismisses Artemidorus attempt to warn him
  about the threat to his life.
• What touches us ourself shall be last
  served.What, is the fellow mad?

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• Trebonius draws Marc Antony out of the way.
  (During the murder, Trebonius will pull MA aside
  so that he cannot protect C).
• Metellus Cimber distracts Caesar by asking him
  to lift the banishment (exile) placed upon his
  brother, Publius Cimber.
• Casca He will be the first to stab Caesar
  others will then join him. (As Cinna states, You
  are the first that rears your hand line 32)

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• Caesar refuses to lift the banishment he has
  placed upon Publius Cimber I am as constant as
  the Northern Star.
• Casca stabs Caesar, others join in
• Et tu, Brute? (Latin- you too, Brutus?)- shows
  Caesars recognition of the betrayal
• According to Brutus instructions, conspirators
  smear their swords, wash and hands in Caesars
  blood, walk around crying, Peace, Freedom,
  Liberty!

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• Marc Antonys servant enters, pledging that Marc
  Antony will be loyal to Brutus now that Caesar is
  dead. Brutus assures the servant that MA will be
  untouched.
• How does Cassius feel about Marc Antonys vow?
  (lines 160-2) What had he said in II.i about
  Brutus decision to let Marc Antony live? What
  does this show about Cassius?

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• When he appears, Marc Antony is trying to get the
  conspirators to trust him. He tells them that if
  they wish to kill him, then he would feel honored
  to die next to Caesars body.
• Brutus assured MA that he is not in danger.
• MA- you shall give me reasons/Why and wherein
  Caesar was dangerous (Why did you kill my
  friend?....)

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• Marc Antony- let me speak at the funeral
• Cassius doesnt think this is such a hot idea
• Brutus grants Marc Antony permission to speak at
  Cs funeral under these conditions
• Brutus speaks first
• MA has to tell the crowd he is speaking b/c
  Brutus said he could.
• MA cannot speak badly about the conspirators.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• What happens when MA speaks over Caesars body?
• In this soliloquy, MA vows to Caesars corpse
  that he will avenge Caesars death, will go after
  the conspirators bigtime.
• He invokes help of Ate (allusion to Greek
  mythology, god of discord vengeance) to make
  Brutus conspirators pay.
• MA- not afraid to start bloodiest of wars in
  getting justice for his friend.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene i
• Octavius is on his way to Rome (Caesars
  great-nephew, actually did go on to rule Rome
  under the name Augustus)

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii
• Rhetoric the art of speaking and writing
  persuasively skill in using language effectively
• Rhetorical devices techniques writers (speakers)
  use to enhance their arguments and communicate
  more effectively
• Pay close attention to the rhetoric in both
  Brutus and MAs speech which proves more
  effective in winning over the plebeians?

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii
• Plebeians (common folk) demand answers regarding
  Caesars death.
• Brutus- Why did I kill Caesar?- not that I loved
  Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more (I
  killed Caesar for his ambition, his potential to
  become a tyrant).

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Act II, Scene i

• Brutus Speech
• He establishes his credibility and honor
  immediately by stating, rather logically, his
  reasons for killing Caesar as he was ambitious,
  I slew him.
• The crowd is convinced by his authoritative
  pledge to protect the republic.
• At the end of his speech, he appeals to the
  plebeians sense of nationalism..
• His 3 objectives Establish his honor, that of
  the conspirators, and the necessity of Caesars
  death. His ambition would have choked the
  republic!

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Act II, Scene i

• Rhetorical devices in Brutus speech
• - Repetition honor, ambition, love,
  weep- these appeal to crowds emotions
• Parallelism- same types of sentences and
  grammatical constructions used over and over
  again emphasize his points
• Key example of parallelism Hear me.believe
  me.censure me

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Act II, Scene i

• Rhetorical devices in Brutus speech
• Note the repetitious use of If. towards the
  end- This an example of anaphora- repetition of
  an initial word/s to emphasize a key point.
• Rhetorical questions Who here is so vile that
  will not love his country? (appeals to the
  plebeians sense of nationalism)
• How could we characterize his tone?....

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Act II, Scene i

• Rhetorical devices in Brutus speech
• More on anaphora parallelism
• As he was fortunate.As he was valiant.as he
  was ambitious.
• Who is here so base.Who is here so rude.Who is
  here vile
• Notice how the sentences begin the same way
  (parallelism) and key words are repeated
  (anaphora)

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii- MAs speech
• Repetition- Honorable, ambitious
• Antony emphasizes that Caesar was not ambitious-
  at least in the negative way the conspirators
  suggest- and that the conspirators are not
  honorable
• Did in this Caesar seem ambitious?.....(had
  denied crown 3x during Feast of Lupercal)
• Apostrophe-  literary device in which someone
  (usually, but not always absent), some abstract
  quality, or a nonexistent personage is directly
  addressed.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii- MAs speech
• Rhetorical questions- (several times)
• He wants his listeners to think they have a say
  in what he is doing or even that they are
  controlling him. The crowd is reacting in
  exactly the way Antony wants them to he is
  manipulating them, but they do not realize it.
• Key example of verbal irony Brutus is an
  honorable man. (MA doesnt think he is).

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii- MAs speech
• Paralepsis- emphasizing a point by seeming to
  pass over it (the reading of the will). Notice
  that he wants the audience to hear about Caesars
  will. Why?....
• What is the effect of the presence of Caesars
  body upon the audience? (Notice how MA shows them
  the wounds and uses the conspirators names as he
  does so).

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii- MAs speech
• MA persuades the crowd into believing that
  Caesars murder was unjust and that the people
  should rise up. (Remember his vows during the
  soliloquy).
• Well mutiny.Well burn the house of Brutus!
  (plebeians)
• Lepidus joins forces w/ MA and Octavius
• Brutus and Cassius have fled Rome b/c they are
  scared of the plebeians, who have turned against
  them.

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Act II, Scene i

• Act III, Scene ii- MAs speech
• Cinna the poet is torn to death because the crowd
  has gone wild. At first, they think he is Cinna,
  one of the conspirators, but when they realize he
  is Cinna the poet, they shrug it off and murder
  him anyway. (Theyre all riled up, want revenge,
  acting like lunatics).
• Cinna the poet is used to emphasize how effective
  MAs speech was in turning the plebeians
  against the conspirators.