Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare A

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare ● A brief bio

The…Reel Background

William Shakespeare ● ● ● April 23, 1564 (in Stratford-upon-Avon) – April 23, 1616 Church records from Holy Trinity Church indicate that he was baptized there on April 26, 1564 ➔ no actual record of birth Married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582. William was 18 at the time, and Anne was 26—and pregnant. - first daughter, Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. - twins, Hamnet and Judith, born February 2, 1585. Hamnet died in childhood at the age of 11. For the seven years following the birth of his twins, William Shakespeare disappears from all records, finally turning up again in London some time in 1592 Acting troupe: under Queen Elizabeth, Lord Chamberlain’s Men; under James I, the King’s Men

Shakespeare’s English ● Insults 1: History of English

Pre-Shakespearean Actors Before Shakespeare’s time, troupes of actors traveled the countryside, to perform in parks halls courtyards and in other open spaces they could find.

Theaters: In 1576, the first playhouse, called Theater, was built outside London’s city walls. Soon other famous London theaters followed. i. e. • the Rose • the Fortune • the Red Bull • the Swan Greek Theater The Globe • The Globe Theater: where Shakespeare’s acting troupe performed; circular design modeled after the outdoor Greek theaters, which were designed in a semicircle around the stage

The Globe Theater ● ● Rebuilt 1598 on London’s Bankside district Actors all men Plebeians stood on floor; upper classes had seats along sides Burned down in 1613, cannon shot during performance of Henry VIII

THE GLOBE main stage Actors: All men covered seats cheap standing room

Renaissance History (1485 -1660) Renaissance Man – inspired by man of Classical Greece: man who cultivated his innate talents to the fullest ● Rulers: 1) House of Tudor – began w/ end of war of the Roses - Henry VIII (infamous for 6 wives) - Edward VI (sickly – brief reign; from age 9 - 16) - Lady Jane Grey (The 9 Day Queen) - Mary Tudor (“Bloody” Mary”) - Elizabeth I___________________ 2) House of Stuart - James I - Charles I - Oliver Cromwell ➔ The Commonwealth ● https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=T 8 Jo 6 s. Atq. XA&ebc=ANy. Px. Kr. T 82 m-k 3 Zz. RZFr. V 9 Uw. PLq 5 JJt 40 DYYa. Cz. Vy. He. We. Pme 5 s. E 3 Qy. L 0 Gl. Cpybs. Y 7 DZ 4 jfg. Pk 1 ALHYVm 92 DUOdk. CK_Gq. TOy. QA

Julius Caesar History ● ● ● The first triumvirate: 60 -53 BC ➔ Pompey, Crassus and Caesar all have grievances against the senate. Strife: To cement their bond, Pompey marries Caesar's only child, Julia (though he is older than her father). Also, Pompey’s veterans use riots to persuade the senators to support them. ➔ Breakdown of triumvirate: Julia dies after giving birth to a daughter. Later, Crassus is killed campaigning in Asia, at Carrhae. There is little now to mask the inevitable rivalry between Pompey and Caesar overthrows Pompey and Pompey’s sons Caesar declared dictator for life ➔ title angers many senators. Moreover, it is rumored Caesar wishes to be declared king. Many senators create a coupe to overthrow Caesar.

Julius Caesar Short http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Rh_j. Tg 9 PXU ●

Julius Caesar (1599) based on the assassination of the Roman military commander and dictator, Julius Caesar, who lived from 102 to 44 BC ● Caesar drives Pompey to Egypt, where Pompey is murdered. ●Caesar declared dictator for 10 years, and was eventually declared dictator for life ● Romans did not like the idea of having a king again after 450 years ● Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B. C. ●

Sources Major source: Sir Thomas North’s translation of Plutrarch’s Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans Changes ● Caesar’s ghost in Plutarch is merely Brutus’ “Evil spirit” Shakespeare adds Lucius and entirely remodels Casca ● and adds to the sketch of Octavius (all else are in Plutarch) ● Compression of three years into five days

Some Major Themes 1. Chaos results when the prescribed social order is broken. 2. The best intentions of good, noble men can lead to tragedy. 3. Language is a powerful weapon, and in the hands of a skilled person, it can be used to manipulate others. 4. Violence and bloodshed can never have morally good results. 5. Orderliness and a stable rule, even though dictatorial, are preferable to social chaos.

Shakespeare’s Adaptation of the Play Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar has been called one of the most difficult of Shakespeare’s plays to assess and interpret. ● The plays was first printed in the Folio of 1623 and its shortness of length led scholars to seek evidence that the play had been abridged, though with small success. There is evidence, however, that points to revision. ● Edward Poynter- “The Ides of March” Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will condemn it will come. (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 2. 2. 8 -14)

Tragedy: a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character who is involved in historically or socially significant events. ● According to Aristotle in his Poetics, tragedy is good for the state (political) because people go to theater and are purged of their emotions; they, as a result, leave more docile (calm). ● A good tragedy can recreate. This has to do with the belief in a cosmic order, of nobility and dignity. Sometimes the sacrifice of one person regains the cosmic order, and society is better off (also, the idea of the scapegoat—one must fall/suffer for the rest to remain whole).

Six Characteristics of a Tragic Hero 1. Morality – He is neither extremely virtuous nor extremely viscous. He is not outstanding, but is most like us. He wouldn’t have a flaw if her were too good. 2. He has a tragic flaw (hamartia)– This can be a misstep, a misjudgment, an error that brings about his own destruction. There is something within his character that contributes to or brings about his destruction. It is a virtue carried to excess, usually a minor thing, like HUBRIS (excessive pride). Macbeth’s tragic flaw was his ambition. 3. Social position – A tragic figure must be famous or prosperous. Possible reasons: 1. He has more to lose. 2. He is supposed to be a leader of society. 3. More than just himself is affected.

Tragic Hero Continued 4. Suffering and misfortune – He undergoes a change of fortune that brings about suffering or death. It is not always physical; it can be mental torture (psychological). Often it is unwarranted suffering; it may not be deserved. 5. Tragic Recognition (Anagnorisis) – When a hero recognizes what he has done, the reader can sympathize with him. This recognition comes at a reversal called Reversal of situation (peripeteia) 6. Catharsis the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. In a tragedy, he is a good tragic hero, a purging of the emotions of pity and fear (catharsis), a sympathy, a release of the emotions, will occur.

The of Colorful Nature of Shakespeare’s English Insults 1: Do you bite your thumb at me sir? – insults ● Insults 2: Modern Insults v. Shakespeare’s Insults ●