Starting+Julius+Caesar



Before starting the tragedy, Julius Caesar, here are some facts you might want to know: Facts About Julius Caesar: **Position:** A great Roman General and Statesman.
 * Full Name:** Gaius Julius Caesar.
 * Date of Birth:** 12th or 13th July, 100 BC.
 * Place of Birth:** Rome or Italy.
 * Date of Death:** 15th March, 44 BC.
 * Famous For:** Conquest of Gaul and raiding of Britain.

Author: This play was written by the famous English playwright, William Shakespeare. A more extensive biography will also be listed on this wiki.

About the Play: It upheld Shakespeare's little "tradition" for writing about tragedies involving and affecting the high upper class (for example, Hamlet was a prince, and Lear was a king). The play involves the themes of revenge, deceit, and manipulation.  //Julius Caesar was// Shakespeare’s shortest play. It was first performed in 1599. It was probably the first play performed in the Globe Theater, the playhouse that was built around that time in order to handle Shakespeare’s theater company that was become increasingly successful with each play. The Characters:

Julius Caesar: Ruler of Rome and victim of an assassination plot led by Cassius Octavius Caesar: Triumvirs after the death of Caesar Marcus Antonius: Triumvirs after the death of Caesar; He is the main leader of the triumvirs and leads the avenge of Caesar's death M. Aemilius Lepidus: Triumvirs after the death of Caesar Cicero; Publius; Poplius Lena: Senators, part of the assassination plot Marcus Brutus: Caesar's most trusted; betrays him after Cassius manipulates him into the assassination plot Cassius: The main conspirator. Starts the whole plot. Casca; Trebonius; Ligarius; Decius Brutus; Metellus Cimber; Cinna: Conspirators against Julius Caesar Flavius; Marullus: Tribunes Artemidorus of Cnidos, a teacher of rhetoric: Tries to warn Caesar of the plot. A Soothsayer: Warning Caesar of the "Ides of March" Cinna, a poet Another poet Lucilius; Titinius; Messala; Young Cato; Voluminus: Friends to Brutus and Cassius Varro; Clitus; Claudius; Strato; Lucius; Dardanius: Servants to Brutus Pindarus: Servant to Cassius Calphurnia: Wife of Caesar. She is barren, and receives prophetic dreams. She warns Caesar because of one of her dreams. Portia: Wife of Brutus. She is very loyal to her husband, but expects full honesty within their marriage. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, etc.

Setting:

During most of the play, at Rome; afterward near Sardis, and near Phillipi

History:

//Julius Caesar// takes place in ancient Rome in 44 b.c., when Rome was the center of an empire stretching from Britain to North Africa and from Persia to Spain. There was a lot of wars and fighting within each country and empire for power, including even major cities like Rome. Many people fought for power as ruler of Rome and thus its extensive empire. During that time, Julius Caesar was shown to have been the best candidate. However, some people (mainly the ones who were supporters of democracy) were worried that Caesar would enslave the Roman citizens and ruin the empire. As a result, a group of conspirators assassinated Caesar in hopes of stopping what they thought would have happen (no democracy, and enslavement of Roman citizens). But it did not stop the power struggles that were dividing and breaking down the empire. A civil war erupted shortly after. The plot of Shakespeare’s play includes the events leading up to the assassination of Caesar as well as a lot of the civil war, in where the deaths of the leading conspirators becomes sort of a revenge for the assassination.

Sources Used: Shakespeare, William. __The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.__ New York, New York: Signet Classics, 1998.; Creator Unknown, __Julius Caesar at SparkNotes.__ April 19, 2009, < http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/context.html>.; Image above taken from  Accessed April 19, 2009