The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Act III by

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III by William Shakespeare Feature Menu Introducing Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III by William Shakespeare “How many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted over in states unborn and accents yet unknown!”

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Introducing Act III So far, in Act I. . . Act I ends with the senators intent on crowning Caesar the next day. Cassius calls together his fellow conspirators, then sets out to visit Brutus to make a last appeal for his assistance in Caesar’s assassination. “He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question. ”

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Introducing Act III So far, in Act II. . . Cassius persuades Brutus to join the conspiracy but rejects the plan to kill Mark Antony. Caesar is restless after a night that disturbs all of Rome. Calphurnia, Caesar’s wife, persuades him to stay away from the Senate. “When beggars die, there are no comets seen. . . ”

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Introducing Act III So far, in Act II. . . The conspirators goad Caesar into going to the Senate by suggesting that he is weak to give in to his wife’s fears. They report that the Senate will crown him that day. Caesar prepares to accompany the conspirators to the Senate. “And we (like friends) will straightway go together. ”

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Introducing Act III So far, in Act II. . . Artemidorus has written a warning of the plot which he hopes to give to Caesar as he walks to the Capitol. Portia, who persuaded her husband Brutus to tell her of the plot, speaks with the soothsayer, who is waiting to warn Caesar of danger. “Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose ‘em. ”

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Introducing Act III opens with Caesar on his way to the Capitol. [End of Section]

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy—a play, novel, or other narrative that depicts serious and important events and ends unhappily for the main character.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Shakespeare’s tragedies share these characteristics with the tragedies of the ancient Greeks: • The main character is often high ranking and dignified, not an ordinary man or woman. • The main character has a tragic flaw—a defect in character or judgment—that directly causes the character’s downfall. • The work ends unhappily, with the death of the main character.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy All of Shakespeare’s tragedies share a similar fivepart structure. Act III Crisis, or turning point Act II Rising action Act I Exposition Act IV Falling action Act V Climax and resolution

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Act I, Exposition • The main characters and their conflicts are introduced. • The setting is established. • Background information is provided. Act III Act IV Act V

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Act II, Rising Action • Suspense builds as a series of complications occur. • The main characters try to resolve their conflicts. Act III Act IV Act V

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Act III, Crisis or Turning Point • The main character makes a choice that determines the rest of the play’s action. • In a comedy, the turning point lifts the play upward to a happy ending. In a tragedy, events spiral downward to an unhappy ending. Act III Act IV Act V

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Act IV, Falling Action • The consequences, or results, of actions taken during the turning point are presented. • The main character is propelled deeper and deeper into disaster; the tragic ending seems inevitable. Act III Act IV Act V

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Act V, Climax and Resolution • The climax, or moment of greatest tension, occurs near the end of the play. • In a tragedy, the climax is usually the death of the tragic hero. Act III Act IV Act V

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act III Literary Focus: Tragedy Act V, Climax and Resolution • A brief resolution (or denouement) closely follows the climax. Loose ends in the plot are tied up, and the play ends. Act III Act IV Act V [End of Section]