Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s Motivations: Why Caesar? Absolute monarchy did not allow for political discourseAbsolute monarchy

Julius CaesarJulius CaesarByBy

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

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Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Motivations:Motivations:Why Why Caesar?Caesar?

• Absolute monarchy did Absolute monarchy did not allow for political not allow for political discoursediscourse

• means of expressing means of expressing societal fears regarding societal fears regarding England’s leadership.England’s leadership.

• Shakespeare’s audience Shakespeare’s audience identified with identified with Caesar’s Caesar’s conflicts/plotconflicts/plot

• Political commentaryPolitical commentary





parallels between Caesar parallels between Caesar and Queen Elizabeth Iand Queen Elizabeth I

• Shift from republican to Shift from republican to imperial Rome much like the imperial Rome much like the Elizabethan trend towards Elizabethan trend towards consolidated monarchyconsolidated monarchy

• on the throne for nearly 40 on the throne for nearly 40 years!years!

• Grew more powerful over Grew more powerful over time, at the expense of the time, at the expense of the house of commonshouse of commons

• Like Caesar, Elizabeth Like Caesar, Elizabeth Lacked heirs to inherit Lacked heirs to inherit thronethrone

• British citizens feared her British citizens feared her death would plunge England death would plunge England into chaos, just as Caesar’s into chaos, just as Caesar’s death did to Rome.death did to Rome.



From Plutarch to From Plutarch to ShakespeareShakespeare

• Plutarch authored Plutarch authored influential history book: influential history book:

Parallel LivesParallel Lives

• Parallel LivesParallel Lives– Series of biographies of Series of biographies of

famous Greeks & Romansfamous Greeks & Romans

• Shakespeare’s source of Shakespeare’s source of information for information for Julius Julius Caesar. Caesar.





Key PlayersKey Players•PompeyPompey•CassiusCassius•BrutusBrutus•Marc Marc AntonyAntony



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PompeyPompey• Formed 1st Triumverate Formed 1st Triumverate

with Caesar & Crassuswith Caesar & Crassus• Allies until death of Allies until death of

CrassusCrassus• Battled Caesar for powerBattled Caesar for power• Married to Julia Caesar, Married to Julia Caesar,

Caesar’s daughter & only Caesar’s daughter & only child.child.

• Defeated by Caesar and Defeated by Caesar and murdered by his own murdered by his own menmen

• Play opens with Play opens with discussion regarding discussion regarding Caesar’s defeat of Caesar’s defeat of PompeyPompey





CassiusCassius• Military general Military general

& acquaintance & acquaintance of Caesarof Caesar

• Shrewdly Shrewdly opportunisticopportunistic

• Jealous of Jealous of Caesar’s powerCaesar’s power



BrutusBrutus• Caesar’s best Caesar’s best

“friend”“friend”• Staunchly Staunchly

supported the supported the RepublicRepublic

• Power to the Power to the People!People!

• Tragic HeroTragic Hero



Marc AntonyMarc Antony• Married to J-Married to J-

LoLo• Allegiance Allegiance

questionablquestionablee

• Skilled Skilled oratororator







Why Caesar Today?Why Caesar Today?

• LoyaltyLoyalty• GreedGreed• Fear Fear • Power of RhetoricPower of Rhetoric


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Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s Motivations: Why Caesar? Absolute monarchy did not allow for political discourseAbsolute monarchy