Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare/ Author Introduction / Historical Context / About the Work / Themes / Characters/ Summary & Analysis

 

Julius Caesar

by 

William Shakespeare

Brief Biography of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was the son of a prosperous leatherworker, John Shakespeare, and a prominent farmer’s daughter, Mary Arden. Shakespeare received no more than a grammar school education. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582, and they had three children together: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith. Shakespeare left his family behind around 1590 and moved to London, where he became an actor and playwright. He was an immediate success: Shakespeare soon became the most popular playwright of the day as well as a part-owner of the Globe Theater. His theater troupe was adopted by King James as the King's Men in 1603. Shakespeare retired as a rich and prominent man to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613, where he died three years later. Shakespeare left behind a legacy of 39 plays and over 150 poems, and remains the most well-known and celebrated writer of the English language to this day.

Historical Context of Julius Caesar

The historical Gaius Julius Caesar lived from 100 B.C.E. to March 15, 44 B.C.E. In 60 B.C.E., Caesar formed a political alliance with Crassus and Pompey called the First Triumvirate. Caesar led many wars, which expanded Rome’s territory as far as Britain, and subsequently touched off a civil war; his victory led to his being proclaimed a dictator for life, which in turn led to his assassination and the rise of the Roman Empire. In Shakespeare’s time, due to government censorship, writers who wished to comment on contemporary politics had to do so indirectly, which they often did by focusing on historical situations that seemed similar to current events. In 1599, Queen Elizabeth was getting old and had produced no heirs, and there was concern that political strife—even civil war—might follow her death. It is likely that Shakespeare intended Julius Caesar as a warning to ambitious British nobles who might try to seize power after Elizabeth died.

Other Books Related to Julius Caesar

The assassination of Julius Caesar and the ensuing power struggles are among the best-documented events ever dramatized by Shakespeare, meticulously chronicled by Roman historians and a favorite subject of poets for centuries thereafter. Shakespeare's chief source for Julius Caesar was Thomas North's translation of Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, by the famous historian Plutarch. Other Shakespeare plays based on events from Roman history include Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra. Being a historical play, Julius Caesar draws on real-life events and references. It takes place just after Caesar’s defeat of Pompey, a struggle that is chronicled by Caesar himself in The Civil War.  Beyond Caesar’s exploits, Brutus’s beliefs and behavior are rooted in the philosophy of Stoicism, a Greek school of thought that came about in the 3rd century B.C.E. Popular Stoic works include Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Letters from a Stoic by Seneca, and the writings of Epictetus.

Key Facts about Julius Caesar

• Full Title: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
• When Written: 1599
• Where Written: England
• When Published: 1623
• Literary Period: Renaissance
• Genre: Tragic drama; history play
• Setting: Rome and environs, 44 B.C.E.
• Climax: Brutus’s suicide
• Antagonist: Cassius
• Point of View: Dramatic

THEMES

Power and Ambition: A central theme in the play is the nature of power and ambition. Characters like Caesar, Brutus, and Cassius grapple with the allure and consequences of seeking power. Caesar's ambition to be crowned king stirs fear among the conspirators, while Brutus's internal struggle centers around balancing his loyalty to Rome and his love for Caesar with his belief in the dangers of absolute power.

Fate vs. Free Will: The play raises questions about fate and free will, especially in relation to the actions of key characters. The soothsayer's warning to Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March," suggests that fate plays a significant role in the events of the play, but characters' choices—such as Brutus's decision to join the conspiracy—also influence the outcome.

Public vs. Private Self: The tension between public duty and private feelings is evident throughout the play. Brutus, for example, must reconcile his love for Caesar with his belief that the murder is necessary for the good of Rome. Many characters act differently in public than they do in private, such as the contrasting images of Caesar as a leader and as a man.

Honor and Betrayal: Honor is a driving force for many of the characters, but it is also used as a justification for betrayal. Brutus, who believes that killing Caesar is an honorable act to protect Rome, is ultimately betrayed by his own ideals. The conspirators see themselves as defenders of Rome's future, but their betrayal of Caesar leads to chaos.

Manipulation and Rhetoric: The power of persuasion and the manipulation of public opinion are key elements in the play. The famous speeches by Brutus and Antony after Caesar's death show how rhetoric can shape the masses' perceptions and incite action. Antony’s masterful manipulation of the Roman crowd contrasts with Brutus's rational but less emotionally compelling speech.

Loyalty and Friendship: Loyalty and betrayal are explored in the relationships between Caesar and his friends, such as Brutus and Cassius. While Brutus’s loyalty to Rome leads him to betray his friend, Caesar’s belief in the loyalty of those around him ultimately makes him blind to the threat posed by the conspirators.

Civil War and Its Consequences: The play also delves into the consequences of civil strife. After Caesar's assassination, the power struggle between the conspirators and those loyal to Caesar leads to chaos and bloodshed, illustrating the instability that can follow political assassination and power vacuums.

CHARACTERS

1. Julius Caesar

• Role: The leader of Rome and the central figure of the play.
• Personality: Caesar is ambitious, proud, and somewhat overconfident. While he is a capable leader, his growing power raises concerns among others that he might become a tyrant.
• Significance: His assassination is the catalyst for the events of the play. His ambition and belief in his own invincibility contribute to his downfall.

2. Brutus

• Role: A senator and one of Caesar's closest allies, ultimately one of the conspirators who assassinates him.
• Personality: Noble, honorable, and idealistic. Brutus struggles with his loyalty to Caesar and his duty to Rome. He joins the conspiracy believing that Caesar’s death is necessary for the good of the republic.
• Significance: His internal conflict and tragic decision to kill Caesar make him one of the play's most complex characters. He values honor and the greater good over personal relationships.

3. Cassius

• Role: A senator and the mastermind behind the conspiracy against Caesar.
• Personality: Cunning, manipulative, and resentful of Caesar’s power. Cassius is driven by jealousy and a sense of betrayal, believing Caesar is not deserving of the adulation he receives.
• Significance: He persuades Brutus and other senators to join the plot against Caesar, believing that Rome will be better without him. His actions set much of the conflict in motion.

4. Mark Antony

• Role: Caesar’s loyal friend and general.
• Personality: Charismatic, clever, and vengeful. Antony is a skilled politician and orator. After Caesar’s assassination, he becomes a key figure in rallying public support against the conspirators.
• Significance: Antony’s funeral speech, where he manipulates the Roman crowd, turns public sentiment against the conspirators. His pursuit of power after Caesar's death is a significant plotline in the second half of the play.

5. Calpurnia

• Role: Caesar’s wife.
• Personality: Concerned and superstitious, she warns Caesar of danger through prophetic dreams and omens.
• Significance: Her forewarnings about Caesar's death serve as a contrast to his arrogance and refusal to heed warnings.

6. Portia

• Role: Brutus’s wife.
• Personality: Strong, intelligent, and devoted. Portia is deeply concerned about her husband’s well-being and the decisions he is making, but she is not fully aware of the conspiracy.
• Significance: Her relationship with Brutus highlights the theme of loyalty and the private struggles of the characters, especially as she deals with Brutus's secretive behavior.

7. Decius Brutus

• Role: A member of the conspiracy and one of the senators who helps to persuade Caesar to go to the Senate on the Ides of March.
• Personality: Persuasive and manipulative. He reinterprets Calpurnia's dream to flatter Caesar and convince him to ignore his wife’s warnings.
• Significance: His role in ensuring Caesar's attendance at the Senate leads directly to Caesar’s assassination.

8. Cinna

• Role: A conspirator against Caesar.
• Personality: Loyal to the cause, though not as prominent as Cassius or Brutus.
• Significance: He plays a minor role in the conspiracy but is later mistaken for another Cinna and killed by the mob in one of the play’s chaotic scenes.

9. Trebonius

• Role: A conspirator who helps ensure Mark Antony is kept out of the Senate chamber during the assassination.
• Personality: Shrewd and strategic, though he is not as vocal or central as some other conspirators.
• Significance: His role in luring Antony away from the Senate highlights the tactical planning involved in Caesar’s assassination.

10. Soothsayer

• Role: A prophet who warns Caesar of the Ides of March.
• Personality: Mysterious and wise.
• Significance: His warning represents the theme of fate versus free will, as Caesar chooses to ignore his prophetic advice.

11. Flavius and Marullus

• Role: Tribunes who are concerned about Caesar’s rising power.
• Personality: Skeptical of Caesar’s ambitions and critical of the people’s loyalty to him.
• Significance: They are punished for removing the decorations celebrating Caesar, showing the tension between the rulers and the people.

12. Lepidus

• Role: A member of the second triumvirate (alongside Antony and Octavius).
• Personality: Seen as weak and manipulated by Antony.
• Significance: Though part of the triumvirate, Lepidus is often sidelined and is portrayed as less capable than Antony and Octavius.

Summary & Analysis

The play opens with Julius Caesar’s triumphal entry into Rome after defeating his rival, Pompey. It’s also the feast of Lupercal, an annual Roman holiday. During the festivities, a soothsayer warns Caesar to “Beware the ides of March”—an omen Caesar quickly dismisses. Meanwhile, Cassius tries to persuade Brutus that Caesar is dangerously ambitious. Brutus admits that although he loves Caesar, he doesn’t want Caesar to become king, and he desires the good of Rome above all else. After the Lupercal race, Casca informs them that Antony offered Caesar a crown three times, and Caesar refused it each time, although he thinks that Caesar looked increasingly reluctant to say no with each refusal. Brutus and Cassius agree to talk later; Cassius plots to leave Brutus fake letters denouncing Caesar’s ambition. Later, the streets of Rome are filled with fearful omens like meteors, earthquakes, lions, and owls. Cassius persuades Casca that the omens are signs of Caesar’s imminent tyranny, winning him over to the conspiracy.

Brutus, who hasn’t slept since Cassius spoke to him of the conspiracy, talks himself into believing that assassinating Caesar is the best thing to do for Rome. He reads an anonymous letter urging him to “redress” unspoken injustices against Rome. Then Cassius arrives with the other conspirators. Brutus continues to be motivated more by principle than by ambition, emerging as a leader of the plot—he rejects the inclusion of Cicero and the assassination of Antony, who’s close to Caesar. After the conspirators part ways, Brutus’s wife, Portia, begs Brutus to tell her what’s going on. She says that as his wife and Cato’s daughter, she’s stronger than most women; in fact, she’s wounded herself in the thigh to demonstrate her trustworthiness. Brutus promises to confide in her later.

Meanwhile, Caesar can’t sleep, either. His wife, Calpurnia, has dreamed of Caesar’s murder and begs him to stay home from the Capitol that day. In spite of this warning and a fearful augury, Caesar, needing to project invulnerability, determines to go anyway. When conspirator Decius arrives, he confirms Caesar’s decision by reinterpreting Calpurnia’s bloody dream in a favorable light and telling Caesar he’ll be crowned by the Senate that day.

At the Senate, the crowds are chaotic, with various attempts either to warn Caesar or encourage the conspirators. Inside the Capitol, the conspirators kneel before Caesar, presenting the case of Metellus Cimber’s brother’s banishment. They use this opportunity to stab Caesar to death in turn. Caesar dies after saying, “You, too, Brutus?” The conspirators dip their hands and weapons in Caesar’s blood as a sign of Rome’s newfound “liberty” from tyranny. Antony comes in, ostensibly makes peace with the conspirators, and gains Brutus’s permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral, despite Cassius’s suspicions. After the others leave, Antony prophesies that brutal civil war will break out, prompted by Caesar’s vengeful spirit, and he begins to plot with Caesar’s nephew and heir, Octavius Caesar.

At Caesar’s funeral, Brutus appeals to the people’s reason, arguing that it was necessary to kill Caesar for the sake of Rome. At first, they shout their approval. When Antony addresses the people, however, he gives an emotionally charged speech, grieving Caesar and ironically praising Brutus as “honorable.” By the time he concludes his speech with a reading of Caesar’s will, he has incited the people to vengeful rebellion, and Brutus and Cassius have fled the city.

Later, Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus—the Second Triumvirate—make battle plans and consider whether to execute other conspirators. In their own army camp, Brutus and Cassius have a disagreement, centered on Brutus’s stubborn sense of principle and Cassius’s pragmatism. After the argument descends into an exchange of insults and Cassius’s dramatic demand that Brutus kill him, the two reconcile. Brutus explains he is short-tempered because of the news of Portia’s recent suicide—she killed herself by eating hot coals because she feared that Brutus couldn’t defeat Antony and Octavius. Brutus successfully argues that their army should go on the offensive, marching to confront Antony and Octavius’s troops at Philippi. That night, Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus for the first time, warning him that they’ll meet again at Philippi.

On the battlefield, the leaders exchange taunts. Later, Brutus and Cassius bid farewell to each another—Cassius newly wary of omens, and Brutus asserting that his Stoic beliefs will keep him from suicide, no matter what happens. As the battle rages, Brutus prematurely orders Cassius’s forces to attack Octavius’s vulnerable ones, giving Antony’s forces a chance to overrun them. Influenced by omens and a hasty assessment of the battle’s outcome, Cassius commits suicide. When he learns of this, Brutus believes that Caesar’s Ghost is getting revenge on the conspirators’ wrongdoing, but he commits to seeing the battle through.

Later, on the run from the enemy, Brutus finally falls on his own sword, believing it’s justice for his killing of Caesar. When Antony finds his body, he declares Brutus to have been “the noblest Roman of them all” and arranges for his honorable burial before going off to celebrate his army’s victory.

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