History of the Play Julius Ceasar

HISTORY OF THE PLAY

For the story of the paly Shakespeare utilized the text of Plutarch 'The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans'. Caesar was born of a patrician family. He forged a career as a soldier and statesman and in 60BC, with two other patricians; Pompey and Crassus formed the first Triumvirate. The three men shared power in Rome. Caesar deliberately sought to please the plebeians and therefore made enemies among the older aristocratic families. He married three times. Caesar 's power and popularity increased as a result of his successful military campaigns. The Senate was concerned by the popularity and military independence of Caesar. In 50BC Caesar was asked to relinquish command of his armies. He refused and in 49BC led his legions across the River Rubicon thus initiating civil war. Pompey fought against Caesar but was defeated by him at Pharsalus in Greece, in 48BC. Pompey fled to Egypt but was later murdered. Caesar spent the following winter in Alexandria with Cleopatra, by whom he is said to have a son, Caesarion. He defeated the remnants of Pompey' s supporters and then returned to Rome, finding it in a state of civil unrest. Caesar was elected consul and the Senate made him Dictator in order to suppress the riots. Some of the Senators feared Caesar' s ambition thinking that he was going to proclaim himself Emperor. They favoured a republican government with the Senate holding power. Caesar was assassinated on the steps of the Senate on the Ides of March 44BC by a group of republicans including Brutus and Cassius on the very day that he was to accept the crown.

DID YOU KNOW?

THAT SHAKESPEARE PROBABLY STUDIED PLUTARCH 'S 'THE LIVES OF THE NOBLE GRECIANS' AT SCHOOL

DID YOU KNOW?

THAT PLUTARCH WROTE THE TEXT 'THE LIVES OF THE NOBLE GRECIANS' 150 YEARS BEFORE CAESAR 'S DEATH

DID YOU KNOW?

THAT PLUTARCH DOES NOT MENTION CALPURNIA 'S PRESENCE AT THE LUPERCAL FESTIVAL BUT SHAKESPEARE INCLUDED HER TO ILLUSTRATE CAESAR 'S ANXIETY FOR AN HEIR

DID YOU KNOW?

THAT PLUTARCH DETAILS THE SOOTHSAYER 'S WARNING AS OCCURING FOLLOWING THE LUPERCAL FESTIVAL BUT SHAKESPEARE TO MAKE THE PLAY MORE DRAMATIC USES IT TO INTERRUPT CAESAR 'S VICTORIOUS PROCESSION

HISTORY OF THE PLAY

For the story of the paly Shakespeare utilized the text of Plutarch 'The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans'. Caesar was born of a patrician family. He forged a career as a soldier and statesman and in 60BC, with two other patricians; Pompey and Crassus formed the first Triumvirate. The three men shared power in Rome. Caesar deliberately sought to please the plebeians and therefore made enemies among the older aristocratic families. He married three times. Caesar 's power and popularity increased as a result of his successful military campaigns. The Senate was concerned by the popularity and military independence of Caesar. In 50BC Caesar was asked to relinquish command of his armies. He refused and in 49BC led his legions across the River Rubicon thus initiating civil war. Pompey fought against Caesar but was defeated by him at Pharsalus in Greece, in 48BC. Pompey fled to Egypt but was later murdered. Caesar spent the following winter in Alexandria with Cleopatra, by whom he is said to have a son, Caesarion. He defeated the remnants of Pompey' s supporters and then returned to Rome, finding it in a state of civil unrest. Caesar was elected consul and the Senate made him

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