Historical Overview:
Julius Caesar takes place during the time that Rome was the largest power in the Western World. The fall of the First Triumvirate (around 54 BCE), which included Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, started when Crassus was killed in battle while Caesar was occupied in the conquest of Gaul. Coming back to Rome, Caesar crossed The Rubicon from Gaul to Italy which started a war between him and Pompey, ultimately leading Pompey to retreat to Egypt, where he was killed. After following Pompey to Egypt, Caesar declared martial law and ruled Egypt with Cleopatra until he left to lead his army through Asia Minor, leaving Ptolemy Caesar, his and Cleopatra’s son, as his heir to the throne. After defeating all other enemies, Caesar returned triumphantly to Rome, where conspiracy and rebellion awaited him.
Plot Summary:
The play begins with a parade in honor of Julius Caesar, who has just returned from defeating the sons of Pompey, his political rival, in battle. A soothsayer comes forward from the crowd and warns Caesar to “beware the Ides of March”, which he ignores. Meanwhile, Cassius is striving to convince Brutus to overthrow Caesar, who has been offered the crown from the plebeians (commoners of Rome). This plot ultimately leads to a fierce debate about political ideals and the role of leaders in a fraught political landscape, which culminates in an epic battle for power over Rome.
Major Character Summary:
Julius Caesar: the would-be emperor of Rome. Often seen as possessing considerable egotism. Caesar is an accomplished politician, but this does not prevent him from making some critical mistakes and oversights. He is a brilliant and powerful military general, but he is prone to physical infirmity, shown through his “falling sickness” and partial deafness, and many senators see this as evidence that he is unfit to rule.
Marcus Brutus: a politician turned conspirator who has a close personal relationship with Caesar. His reputation as an honorable, though not always personable, man is unquestioned. He wants what is best for Rome. It is this allegiance to his country that leads him to turn against Caesar and join with the conspirators as he comes to the conclusion that Caesar’s increasing power threatens the balance of the nation.
Caius Cassius: A senator and one of the instigators in the plot against Caesar. Cassius is the ringleader of the conspiracy, convincing Brutus and many other senators to take action against Caesar. For Cassius, the recruitment of Brutus is a tactical move that is meant to associate the man's honorable reputation with their cause. Later in the play, Cassius' morality is questioned over matters of funding, forcing the viewer to ask whether his motivations in this plot were ever as honorable as Brutus'.
Mark Antony: A politician and supporter of Caesar. His gift for rhetoric is something that is shown to great effect in the third act. As a whole, Antony is portrayed as an energetic and faithful ally to Caesar. He, in this capacity, serves as a foil and potential enemy to the conspirators.
La Vonne Evans
AnnMarie Kolbl
Danny Rickard
Ryan Wilson
From the University of Akron, Department of English - Dr. Nunn's Shakespeare: Early Plays class.
