Background Information

William Shakespeare ( ) Born in Stratford upon Avon Attended Stratford Grammar School receiving education in Latin, the Bible, and English composition At 18 married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than he, in 1853  Had 3 children – Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith

Shakespeare’s Work Wrote 37 plays – comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances – including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth Wrote Julius Caesar in 1599 Died on April 23, 1616 at the age of 52, and is buried in Stratford where his grave can still be seen today

Shakespeare’s Love of Theater 1592 – became an actor and playwright Actors considered to be “rogues, vagabonds, beggars, and common players.” Needed support and protection of noblemen to keep theaters open Joined the theatrical group, Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later became the King’s Men in 1603) and wrote for this company until his retirement in 1612

Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth I ruled England during the time that Shakespeare wrote many of his plays She ruled England for nearly 50 years and was very popular ( )  She was such a strong ruler that the time is called the Elizabethan Age or England’s Golden Age. Elizabeth never married, although she had many suitors during her lifetime.

Elizabethan theater Theatre was not the only form of entertainment. People also enjoyed music and dancing. No women were allowed to act in the plays – young boys acted the female parts Actors wore clothes from their own time period regardless of the play’s setting Rowdy audiences talked during the plays and threw garbage at the actors if they didn’t like the play.

The Globe Theater 1576 – James Burbage, father of Shakespeare’s partner, built the 1 st public theater 1599 – the Theater is demolished and timber from this building was rafted over the Thames and was reassembled into the Globe Theater. Shakespeare’s greatest plays were performed in “this wooden O” Seating: The Pit: General crowd Galleries: A small additional fee could afford you these seats Box seats : royalty or noblemen only

The Globe Theater The capacity for the play performance was 3,000 Sound effects were made in the huts Ghosts could appear on stage through the trap doors Flags, trumpets, and fliers told when there would be a play The flags also told the audience what type of play they would be seeing: Red flag: history play White flag: comedy play Black Flag: tragedy play

Parts of the Globe  The Pit  The Stage  Main Entrance  Lord’s Rooms  Middle Gallery  Inner Stage  Flag  Stage Doors  Hut  Tiring House  Stairs  Trap Door  Hell

Parts of the Globe

The Sets and Actors There was little scenery; much was left to the audience’s imagination Actors wore elaborate costumes; there were flags, banners and musicians, special effects and sounds Actors were all male: young boys played female roles until 1660 Acting was vigorous and flamboyant to catch and hold the attention of the audience which at times number up to 3000

Julius Caesar – Life and Times  Rome in Caesar’s Day  Three types of government:  Monarchy – government with a king ( or queen)  Republic – government more like the U.S. with representatives  Dictatorship – could be appointed in case of emergency (tyrannical power)  Classes of people:  Plebeians – common people with no real power  Patricians – wealthy, high born citizens (ruling class)  Tribunes – men who could protect plebeians and intervene in any department of government

Julius Caesar – Life and Times  Roman History Before 509 B.C. – Monarchy Revolt led by Brutus’ family overthrew monarchy and established a republic Senate ruled because the common people had no power  100 B.C. to 44 B.C. Government was democratic but ruled by the Senate Possibility that a dictator could be named if necessary Rivalries among senate members caused the military to take control of the government Dictators were appointed because of these rivalries

Caesar the Man Born around 100 B.C. Died March 15, 44 B.C. Achievements – great military leader, speaker, politician and writer He helped to make Rome the center of an empire that encompassed much of Europe. These skills frightened Caesar’s political opponents, and led directly to his death.

Rome in Caesar's Day 60 B.C. a triumvirate was formed to govern Rome – Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey Crassus was killed while fighting in Mesopotamia Caesar gained popularity – Friend to the people, earned and gave money to the Romans, became a powerful leader who built an army The Triumvirate took over the Senate and the rulings of Rome for a while. The idea was that Caesar had the backing of the legions (army), Pompey had the political power, and Crassus had financial backing In 59 B.C. Caesar remarried. His wife’s name was Calphurnia The same year, Pompey married Caesar’s daughter, Julia

Pompey After much military success, Pompey became increasingly jealous of Caesar. Pompey decided to join with Rome’s conservative leaders and try to get rid of Caesar. This ripped apart the triumvirate, and caused a civil war in 49 B.C. When Caesar returns to Italy, Pompey warns him that if he crosses the Rubicon River then Caesar is declaring war on Rome. Caesar responds with “the die is cast” Pompey, jealous of Caesar’s popularity, joined the Senate, and they ordered Caesar to disband his army Caesar “fought back” and took control over Rome  Pompey fled to Spain, Caesar followed, fighting him at Pharsalus, Spain 3 years later, Caesar defeated Pompey’s sons at Munda, Spain

Pompey Caesar becomes absolute ruler of Rome for his life In 49 B.C., Caesar appointed himself dictator of this empire. It was during this 5 years that Caesar won the war that made Cleopatra ruler of Egypt. After defeating Pompey, Caesar pardoned his enemy’s supporters. These same men later took part in Caesar’s assassination

Caesar Trivia  The word “Caesar” eventually became not a name, but a word meaning “ruler” or “chief” in Latin.  The word “Caesar” evolved into different languages such as German, which took the name and turned it into Kaiser. The Russian word for czar as well traces its roots back to “Caesar.”  The term “caesarian sections” or “c- sections” can race its origins back to Julius Caesar because it was believed that Caesar did not have a natural childbirth, but instead was “cut from the womb.”

ARTWORK

The Play

Shakespeare’s Plays Characters inhabit a world run by a just God who rewards good and punishes evil. Universal order stemmed from the authority of God, the supreme ruler Monarch’s right to rule came from God, and opposition to the ruler was opposition to God. When authority was offended, the Heavens were offended, and society as a whole could be plunged into disorder.

Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar The play takes place during a time of great political turmoil. Julius Caesar and Pompey have been fighting against each other during a civil war. The play begins as Caesar returns to Rome after his defeat of Pompey The action of the play is spread out over 5 acts. In this play, we will encounter betrayal of friendships and the result of too much ambition.

Helpful Terms Tragedy – ruin of the main character Tragic Hero – noble, admirable character with a flaw who falls from high to his death Idealism – sees things in an unreal form (dreamer) Pragmatism – practical Opportunism – takes advantage of every opportunity

Literary Elements of the Play  Protagonist: character who drives the action of the play  Julius Caesar has more than one: Brutus and Cassius drive the action until Antony’s oration, after which Antony emerges as the protagonist  Antagonists:  Caesar, Antony, Octavius

Literary Elements of the play  Conflicts: Man VS. Man ; Man Vs. Himself  Setting: Rome, 44 B.C. ; Sardis and Philippi, 42 B.C.  Significant Techniques: blank verse, dramatic, situational, and verbal irony ; soliloquy; figurative language ; imagery ; foreshadowing

Literary Techniques Soliloquies – long “think out loud speech” Asides – side of stage where one to two speakers talk Figurative Language – similes, metaphors, personification Imagery – language involving the five senses Foreshadow – hint of the future Dramatic, situational, verbal irony Allusion – reference to a person/place in history or literature

Themes 1. Chaos results when the social order is overturned 2. The best intentions of good, noble men can lead to tragedy 3. Language is a powerful weapon which can be used to manipulate others 4. Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good or sound results 5. Orderliness and a stable rule, even though “dictorial”, are preferable to social chaos