1. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
By William Shakespeare
Topic: Themes Presented in the Play
Presented By :
Prof. Sukhwinder Kaur Dept. Of English

2. William Shakespeare

3. Background on William Shakespeare
Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in England.
His parents were Mary Arden and John Shakespeare, a respected glove-maker.
He attended the local grammar school were he learned to read and write in English and Latin.
When he was 18, he married a woman by the name of Anne Hathaway. She was 26 at the time of their marriage.

4. Background on William Shakespeare contd.
The relationship was solely based on convenience. It is unclear as to whether or not Shakespeare actually loved her, but when she became pregnant he felt that it was his duty to marry her.
Shakespeare and Anne had three children together: Susanna and the twins Judith and Hamlet.
From , there are no official records of Shakespeare, thus the title “The Lost Years” is given to this period.
It is speculated that he worked numerous odd jobs to try and support his family.

5. Shakespeare background contd.
Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway did not have a loving marriage. As soon as Shakespeare had saved enough money, he moved to London to become an actor and left Anne and the kids in Stratford-upon-Avon.
In 1594, Shakespeare became a charter member of a theatrical group known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men which became the King’s Men in (The name changed because King James I was the patron for this group).

6. Shakespeare Background contd.
Shakespeare acted and wrote for this company until he retired in 1612.
By this time he had written thirty-seven plays-comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances.
Shakespeare is sometimes referred to as “The Bard.”
Not a single original manuscript has survived due partly to the fact that they were written strictly for performance.
Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, at the age of fifty-two.

7. Shakespeare background contd.
At the time of his death he was considered one of the greatest playwrights and actors to have ever graced the stage.
He wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 long poems.
His works were not published during his lifetime, but they appeared four years after his death in the “First Folio.”

8. Historical Background of Julius Caesar
Most scholars agree that Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Julius Caesar in 1599.
The historical play is based upon the assassination of Julius Caesar by his close friends and confidants.
Shakespeare gained much of his knowledge about Caesar and Roman life from Plutarch’s The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans.
During Caesar’s time, Rome was constantly at war.
The ruling power of Rome was in the hands of its generals.

9. Historical Background of Julius Caesar
These generals would contract “private armies” and subdue other countries that were weaker than Rome.
After these “private armies” conquered a new area, a Roman governor was sent there to watch over the new land.
In many cases, the governor exacted cruel taxes on the conquered people.
Sometimes the generals themselves turned on one another, because they were strong men battling for power. This treachery is exactly what happened in Julius Caesar.

10. Julius Caesar
                                         
                      

11. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
Julius Caesar was born in 100 B.C. in Rome.
Julius Caesar rises to power through the use of his oratory skill.
He was always a member of the democratic or popular party.
He married Cornelia, the wealthy daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna.
Caesar’s uncle arranged the marriage.

12. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
When Caesar was given orders by Sulla to divorce Cornelia, he fled Rome in 81 B.C. for fear of his life because he refused to obey Sulla.
After Sulla’s death, Caesar returned to Rome and began to climb his way through the political arena.
Caesar soon began to back Pompey, the head of the popular party.
Caesar helped him gain both military and political advantages.

13. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
Caesar and Pompey agreed that one would leave to fight for the good of Rome every three years, and then return to Rome so that the other person could leave and have his turn at conquest.
During this time Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form the First Triumvirate, which means “three men” or “rule by three.”
They took over the Senate and the rulings of Rome for a while. The idea was that Caesar had the backing of the Legions (army).

14. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
Pompey had the political power, and Crassus had the financial backing.
Pompey was even married to Caesar’s daughter Julia at this time.
The First Triumvirate would not last long due to the jealousy that erupted between Caesar and Pompey.

15. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
Pompey returned early from his sieges and told Caesar that it was his turn to leave again. While Caesar is gone, Pompey uses this opportunity to rally people behind him by claiming that Caesar has become too powerful and is only interested in benefitting himself and not the Roman Empire.
By making these allegations, Pompey declares a war with Caesar.
The problem is that Caesar had the backings of the Legions, and Pompey only had the backing of the Senate.

16. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
While Caesar is conquering new territory for Rome, he gets word of Pompey’s plan. Caesar decides to quit his campaigns and return to Rome to face Pompey and the charges against him.
When Caesar returns to Italy, Pompey warns him that if he crosses the Rubicon River, he is declaring a civil war on Rome.
Caesar responds with Alea Iacta Est, which translates to “the die is cast.”

17. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon is a symbolic acceptance of Pompey’s challenge.
During this time the other member of the First Triumvirate, Crassus, takes his money and flees.
Caesar easily makes his way into Rome and forces Pompey to flee.
Caesar was now in total control of Rome.

18. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
During this time Caesar proclaims himself Senator for Life.
Caesar eventually tries to go after Pompey, who fled to Egypt, but he never catches him.
Servants of Cleopatra later kill Pompey while he is in Egypt, and his sons try to avenge the death of their father by declaring war on Caesar.
Shakespeare’s play begins after Caesar defeats Pompey’s sons.

19. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
Contrary to popular belief, Caesar was not an actual Emperor of Rome. In fact, Rome had no actual emperors until about twenty years after Caesar’s death.
While Caesar was living, Rome was a Republic ruled by a Senate.
The name “Caesar” eventually became not a name, but a word meaning “ruler” or “chief” in Latin.

20. Historical Background of Julius Caesar contd.
The word “Caesar” evolved into different languages such as German which took the name and turned it into Kaiser. The Russian word Czar as well traces its roots back to “Caesar.”
The term “caesarian sections,” or “C-sections” can trace its origins back to Julius Caesar because the popular belief was that Caesar did have not a natural childbirth, but instead was “cut from the womb.”

21. Themes 1. Fate versus Free Will :
Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.Shakespeare deals with the following themes in the play:
1. Fate versus Free Will :
Julius Caesar raises many questions about the force of fate in life versus the capacity for free will.
Cassius refuses to accept Caesar’s rising power & thinks a belief in fate to be nothing more than a form of passivity or cowardice.

22. Themes contd.
The play seems to support a philosophy in which fate and freedom maintain a delicate coexistence.
Caesar believes that certain events lie beyond human control; to crouch in fear of them is to enter a paralysis equal of death.
Brutus interprets his & Cassius’s defeat as the work of Caesar’s ghost, but also the force of people’s devotion to him, the strong legacy of a man who refused any fear of fate.

23. Themes contd. 2. Public self verses Private Self:
Most of the play’s tragedy stems from the characters’ neglect of private feelings & loyalties in favor of what they believe to be the public good.
Brutus puts aside his personal loyalties for his friend, Caesar and kills Caesar the leader, the imminent dictator.
Caesar describes his distrust of Cassius, tells Antony that the problem with Cassius is his lack of a private life. He fears that such a man will let nothing interfere with ambition.

24. Themes contd. 3. Misinterpretations and Misreading :
Ultimately, neglecting private sentiments to follow public concerns brings Caesar to his death. He endangers himself by believing that the strength of his public self will protect his private life.
3. Misinterpretations and Misreading :
Much of the play deals with the characters’ failure to interpret correctly the omens that they encounter.
The night preceding Caesar’s appearance at the senate is full of portents, but no one reads them accurately.

25. Themes contd.
Cassius manipulates Brutus into joining the conspiracy by means of forged letters.
Brutus’s trusting nature causes him to accept the letters as pleas from the Romans.
Cassius’s death occurs because of misinformation about Titinius’ capture by the enemy.
Thus, in the world of politics, the inability to read people and events leads to downfall. On the contrary, the ability to do so is the key to survival

26. Themes contd. 4. Inflexibility versus Compromise :
In the play’s aggressive political landscape, individuals succeed through adaptability, bargaining and compromise.
Caesar’s constancy brings about his death, as he refuses to heed ill omens and goes willingly to the Senate into the hands of murderers.
Brutus’ rigid ideals leave him open for manipulation by Cassius.
Antony proves perhaps the most adaptable of all the politicians and succeeds in convincing the crowd regarding the murder of Caesar.

27. Themes contd. 5. Rhetoric & Power :
The ability to make things happen by words alone is the most powerful type of authority.
Caesar has this type of absolute authority: “When Caesar says, ‘Do this’, It is performed” , says Antony.
Antony convinces the conspirators of his desire to side with them: “Let each man render with his bloody hand.”
Brutus speaks to the crowd in order to justify the killing of Caesar.
Antony likewise wins the crowd’s favor using persuasive rhetoric to whip the masses into frenzy so great that they do not realize the fickleness of their favor.