Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry PDF
Preview Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry
SHAKESPEARE for Students SHAKESPEARE for Students Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Plays and Poetry SECOND EDITION: VOLUME 2 AnneMarieHacht,Editor ForewordbyCynthiaBurnstein Julius Caesar Scholars generally agree that Julius Caesar was 1599 first written and performed in 1599 and may have been the first of Shakespeare’s plays to be presentedinthenewlyconstructedGlobetheater in London. The drama was apparently quite popular among Elizabethan audiences, most of whomwerefamiliar,fromnumerousotherliter- arysources,withthehistoricalJuliusCaesar. OtheraspectsofthisplaythatShakespeare’s audiences could relate to included civil wars, whichtheywereforcedtoendure,andthewide gap between the powerful, wealthy aristocracy and the working class populace. Also, neither political assassinations nor ambitious tyranny, whicharetopicscoveredintheplay,werenovel concepts.Inotherwords,Shakespeare’saudien- ceswerewellexperiencedwiththematerialthat made up this tragic drama; even the stories of Englishhistorythattheystudiedinschoolwere coloredbytheconquestsoftheplay’stitlemili- tarygenius. In writingJuliusCaesar,Shakespeare chiefly drew on the events in the lives of the historical figures of Brutus, Caesar, and Antony, which he tookfrombiographieswrittenbyPlutarch,called ParallelLives(translatedbyThomasNorthasThe LivesoftheNobleGreciansandRomansin1579). PlutarchwasaGreekhistorianandessayistwhose work constitutes a record of the historical tradi- tion,themoralviews,andtheethicaljudgmentsof ancientGreekandRomancultures.Accordingto some academic studies, Shakespeare was not 3 3 3 J u l i u s C a e s a r especially interested in the details of history they maintain, serve to intensify Shakespeare’s addressed by Plutarch; rather, he focused on the depiction of the limitations of human under- underlyingcharacterstrengthsandweaknesses,as standing and the difficulty of defining absolute wellasthemotives,thatPlutarchnotedinmanyof truths in regard to individuals and historical thegreatancientleaders. events. WhiletheactionofJuliusCaesarcloselyfol- lows the events described by Plutarch, Shake- speare greatly modified the significance of those events. By Elizabethan times, two sharply con- PLOT SUMMARY trasting views of this period in Roman history Act 1, Scene 1 had emerged. One held that Brutus and the other conspirators were ruthless murderers who At the beginning of Julius Caesar, Flavius and unjustlykilledtheirwould-beemperor;theother Marullus, two Roman tribunes, appear with a interpreted their actions asthe rightful deposing groupofvariouslaborersandcommoners.They of a tyrant. Shakespeare carefully designed his berate the commoners for being in the streets, playinsuchawaythatitseemstosupport,orat telling the men that they should be working. least allows for, both views. As a result, critics When the men reply that they are there to have long debated whether Brutus or Caesar is watchtheparadehonoringCaesar,Flaviusand the chief protagonist of Julius Caesar and Marullus scorn them. Marullus attempts to whethereitherofthemqualifiesasatragichero. belittle Caesar’s victories: ‘‘Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?’’ Then This fundamental ambiguity in the play is Marulluscallsthelaborersnames:‘‘Youblocks, further complicated by the different political you stones, you worse than senseless things!’’ motivationsoftheplay’smaincharacters.Cassius Marullus points out the laborers’ fickleness, assassinatesCaesarseeminglybecausehebelieves recalling how these same men once cheered Caesarisanallegedtyrant.However,throughout Pompey, and now they applaud the man who the play are scattered hints that Cassius might defeatedPompey. have acted out of personal envy. Brutus has Flavius then tells the crowd, ‘‘Disrobe the noblerideals;hejoinstheconspiracybecausehe images / If you do find them decked with cere- wants to preserve the Roman Republic. Mark monies.’’Inotherwords,Flaviuswantsallstat- Antony, on the other hand, rouses the Roman ues of Caesar to be cleared of any special populace against the traitors out of loyalty to decorations, a statement, or direction, that will Caesar, but he later benefits from the leader’s later determine both Flavius’s and Marullus’s deathwhenhebecomesaco-ruleroftheRoman fate. This first scene is a foreshadowing of the Empire. attitudes that will be revealed among the con- The circumstances surrounding Caesar’s spiratorswhoplotCaesar’sassassination,which assassinationrevealthatalthoughthemajorchar- isabouttounfoldinthenextscene.Italsofore- actersstrivetoattaindifferentpoliticalends,the shadows the fickleness of the crowd that will meansbywhichtheyachievetheiraimsareoften occuragainafterCaesarismurdered. quitesimilar.Furthermore,despitethesupposed good intentions of these men, they all become Act 1, Scene 2 corruptedinsomeway,andtheiractionseventu- Caesar is marching through the streets with his allyleadtoviolenceandcivilstrife. wife,Calpurnia,withbothenemiesandsupport- Scholars have increasingly come to regard ersofCaesarpresent.MarkAntonyispreparing Julius Caesar as a work of rich complexity. totakepartinaceremonialruntocelebratethe Whereas earlier commentators attempted to holiday,thefeastofLupercal.Duringthisexer- provide definitive analyses of Brutus and cise, runners become symbols of fertility, and Caesar, more recent scholars have concluded Caesar reminds Antony to be sure to touch that Shakespeare’s portraits are not necessarily Calpurnia’shandashepassesby,thusanointing explicit;rather,theyfeatureironic,evenconfus- Calpurnia with the power to become pregnant. ingelements.Today,criticsgenerallyagreethat ThissignalsCaesar’s desire to haveanheirand the uncertainties surrounding the protagonists heightenssuspicionsthatCaesarisalsothinking and the political issues raised by the drama are about becoming king; that is, if Caesar does intentional. The ambiguities in Julius Caesar, become king, he will want a son to inherit the 3 3 4 S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2 J u l i u s C a e s a r crown.Forhispart,Antony,demonstratinghis Caesar’srefusal,Caesarmadeamotionindicat- loyalty, says, ‘‘When Caesar says ‘do this,’ it is ing that the crowd might as well have slit his perform’d.’’ throat.Cascaalsotells Brutusand Cassius that MarullusandFlaviuswereputtodeathforpull- Soon after, the Soothsayer tries to warn ing the decorations off Caesar’s statues; this Caesar of the conspiracy plot, telling him, strengthens Brutus’s opinion that Caesar is ‘‘Beware the ides of March.’’ The Soothsayer beginning to act as a tyrant. Before the scene saysthistwice,butstillCaesarbrushesthewarn- ends, Cassius, alone, plots to send anonymous ingaside,saying,‘‘Heisadreamer.’’Indismiss- letterstoBrutustofurtherpersuadehimtojoin ingtheSoothsayer,Caesardemonstratesthathe Cassius’splot. is not superstitious like many of the people around him, as well that he does not wish to showfear. Act 1, Scene 3 Onemonthlater,Cascaisoutinaterriblethun- Everyone leaves the stage except Cassius derstorm, which scares him. Cicero passes by, andBrutus.Inthecourseoftheirconversation, andCascatellshimofmanyterrifyingsightshe Cassius discovers that Brutus is upset. Cassius has seen: a lion roaming the streets and people attempts to persuade Brutus to do something burnedbythelightningsignifythetormentthat about Caesar, telling Brutus that many is raging in people’s minds, as word has gotten Romans are not pleased with Caesar but are out that some of the Roman senators are plan- impressed with ‘‘noble Brutus.’’ When horns ningtoofferacrowntoCaesar.Cicero,whohas are heard, Brutus says that he fears the people vowedtoremainpoliticallyneutralinregardsto have asked Caesar to be their king. Cassius Caesar, tells Casca, ‘‘Men may construe things jumps on Brutus’s statement and says that if after their fashion, / Clean from the purpose of Brutus fears this, he should do something the things themselves.’’ In other words, omens about it. Brutus states that he loves Caesar,yet maybeinterpretedinmanydifferentways.Then he listens to what Cassius has in mind. Brutus Cicero leaves, and Cassius appears. Cassius is hints that as long as the plot that Cassius is not afraid of the storm and chides Casca for consideringisconceivedinhonor,hecouldbea beingsotimid.Throughtheirtalkingaboutthe partofit. storm, the men understand that beneath their AfterrelatingastorythatportraysCaesaras wordsisaplantopreventCaesarfrombecoming beingweak,Cassiusobserves,‘‘Andthisman/Is king. Casca says that he will join Cassius in now become a god,’’ insinuating that Caesar is whatever he is planning. Cinna next appears, being worshipped but is not strong enough to and Cassius gives Cinna the anonymous letters becomeking;Caesarisflawed.Brutuslistensto hehaswrittenandasksCinnatodeliverthemto Cassius and finally states that he thinks he Brutus.ThethreemenhopethatBrutuswilljoin understands what Cassius is alluding to. Still, themintheirconspiracy,forBrutusisknownas heasksCassiustosaynomoreandtogivehim a noble and honorable man, and with Brutus timetothink. among them, the people will respect them no Caesar and Antony return, and Caesar tells matterwhattheydo. Antony that he does not trust Cassius: ‘‘Yond Cassiushasa leanandhungrylook;/Hethinks Act 2, Scene 1 toomuch:suchmenaredangerous.’’Antonytells The conspirators, including Cassius, Casca, Caesar not to worry, as Cassius is a noble man, Decius,Cinna,MetellusCimber,andTrebonius, but Caesar is not convinced. Caesar states that meetatBrutus’shouse.Cassiuswantsthemento Cassius‘‘readsmuch,/Heisagreatobserver,and takeanoath,butBrutusdoesnot,believingthat helooks/Quitethroughthedeedsofmen.’’ their cause is powerful enough in and of itself. Meanwhile, Brutus stops Casca and asks Then Cassius discusses the possibility of killing him why the crowds roared. Casca tells him not only Caesar but also Antony. Cassius says, that Antony offered Caesar a crown three ‘‘I think it is not meet, / Mark Antony, so well times, and Caesar refused it three times. Each beloved of Caesar, / Should outlive Caesar.’’ time Caesar refused, the crowd roared. Casca However, Brutus says that he thinks the plot saysthathethinksCaesarwantedtoacceptthe would be considered too bloody if they were to crownbutcouldnotgoagainstthewishesofthe killmorethanjustCaesar:‘‘Ourcoursewillseem crowd.Cascasaysthatwhenthecrowdcheered toobloody,CaiusCassius,/Tocuttheheadoff S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2 3 3 5 J u l i u s C a e s a r wound on her thigh, asking, ‘‘Can I bear that withpatience,/Andnotmyhusband’ssecrets?’’ But someone knocks on the door, and Brutus tellsPortiatoleave;hewillrevealhissecretlater. ThemanatthedoorisLigarius,asickmanwho wants to join the conspiracy, even though he does not know all the details. He follows Brutus blindly, as he trusts Brutus to be hono- rableinwhateverhedoes. Act 2, Scene 2 At Caesar’s house, the thunderstorm continues to thrash the skies. Caesar is awake and men- tions that no one in his house has found peace that night. Besides the loud thunder, Calpurnia has cried out three times in her sleep, saying, ‘‘Help,ho,theymurderCaesar!’’ EngravingofthebustofJuliusCaesar Calpurnia appears, and after telling Caesar of her dreams, she pleads with her husband to stayhomeandnotgototheSenate,asshefears forhislife.Shetellshimofallthebadomensshe and then hack the limbs.’’ Also, Brutus tells the haseitherseenorheardabout,butCaesardoes menthatwhentheymurderCaesar,theyshould notwanttogiveintohiswife’sfears.Ifthegods doitproperly;BrutusdoesnotwantCaesartobe haveordainedhisdeath,Caesarbelieves,hecan butchered.Brutussays,‘‘Let’scarvehimasadish do little about it. He remarks, ‘‘Cowards die fitforthegods,’’assertingthatthiswillmakethem many times before their deaths; / The valiant appearmoreas‘‘purgers,notmurderers.’’Inthis nevertasteofdeathbutonce.’’WhenaServant way, Brutus attempts to rationalize what he is reportsthatCaesar’spriestsalsopredictthatthe abouttodo. comingdaywillnotbeagooddayforCaesarto Cassius remains concerned about Antony, go out, Caesar finally succumbs to his wife’s because of Antony’s love for Caesar, but wishes.However,Deciusthenappearsandrein- BrutusinsiststhattheyleaveAntonyaloneand terprets Calpurnia’s dream, suggesting that the does not believe Cassius should worry about dream was not a bad omen but rather a sign of Antony. Brutus suspects that Antony will fall greatnesstocome.CaesarfallsforDecius’strap into despair and become harmless. This andleaveswithDeciusfortheSenate. exchange reveals a weakness of Brutus’s—his inability to properly evaluate other people. At On the way to the Senate, the conspirators last, the conspirators make their plan concrete, appear. Caesar believes that they have risen so setting the time and place for the assassination. early to greet him and walk with him. When DeciuspromisestobringCaesartotheSenateat Antony appears, Caesar tells him to go ahead theappropriatetime. andtelltheothersenatorsthatheiscoming. After the men leave Brutus’s house, Portia, Brutus’swife,appearsandtellsBrutusthatsheis Act 2, Scene 3 worried about his not sleeping. She knows that Artemidorus,onstagealone,readsapaperheis somethingisbotheringhimandpleadswithhim to speak with her. Brutus lies, saying that he is holding.ThenotetellsCaesartobeawareofthe sick, but Portia does not believe him, and she conspirators, for they are not to be trusted. then challenges his definition of their marriage. Artemidorusannouncesthathewillstandthere She wants to know if she is his wife only to eat on thestreetand hand thenote toCaesarashe meals with him and share his bed but not to passes: ‘‘If thou read this, O Caesar, though share in all his intimate thoughts. To prove her mayest live; / If not, the Fates with traitors do trustworthiness, she shows him a self-inflicted contrive.’’ 3 3 6 S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2 J u l i u s C a e s a r Act 2, Scene 4 vocalizing it. Antony repeats some of Brutus’s At Brutus’s house, Portia orders the houseboy, assertions, such as that Caesar was ambitious; Lucius, to run to the Senate and watch what Antonythencountersthisclaimbynotingtimes happens.Heisthensupposedtoreportbackto when Caesar was not ambitious. In order to Portia. The boy leaves, and the Soothsayer dispute Brutus’s claims about what Caesar has enters. Portia tries to get information from the done without appearing to attack Brutus him- Soothsayer, who says he will try once again to self, Antony states, ‘‘Brutus is an honorable warnCaesarbeforehereachestheSenate. man.’’ Following this pattern throughout his speech, Antony builds doubt in the minds of Act 3, Scene 1 the people, so that they finally question if The Soothsayer once again warns Caesar, and Brutus istruly honorable: how could Brutus be Artemidorus hands Caesar the warning note, honorable if what he has just said is not true? butCaesarheedsneitherthemennortheirmes- Antony sways the crowd further by showing sages. The conspirators then gather around them the bloody body of Caesar and reading Caesar,pretendingtopleadwithhimtopardon Caesar’s will, which Antony says promises the brother of Metellus Cimber; this gives the muchgoodforthecommonpeople. men a chance to surround Caesar without his At length, the crowd is in an uproar. They becoming suspicious. As planned, Casca pulls shout that Brutus and his co-conspirators are out his dagger and inflicts the first wound, as villains and murderers, and they want to burn followed by the others, with Brutus stabbing down Brutus’s house. As they leave, Antony Caesar last. In dying, Caesar cries out, ‘‘Et tu, remarkstohimself, ‘‘Nowletitwork.Mischief, Brute?ThenfallCaesar!’’ thouartafoot.’’ The word of Caesar’s death reaches the other senators and the general public, and pan- demoniumsetsin.UnderBrutus’sguidance,the Act 3, Scene 3 conspiratorswashtheirhandsinCaesar’sblood. Cinnathepoetisconfrontedbyagroupofpeo- Brutus tells them that they will walk out, thus ple. They mistake him for Cinna, one of the bloodied, and will shout, ‘‘Peace, freedom, and conspiratorsandkillhim.Thisoccurrencehigh- liberty!’’Brutusbelievesthatthepeoplewillsup- lightstheunrulinessofthecrowdandforeshad- porttheassassinationbecausethetyrantisdead. owstheseriesofdeathsthatwillfollow. OneofAntony’sservantsentersanddelivers a short speech, seemingly praising Brutus and surrenderingtoBrutus’spower.Brutustellsthe Act 4, Scene 1 servant to fetch his master, and Antony soon With Brutus and Cassius having left Rome, enters.HeasksBrutustoallowhimtospeakto Antony forms an alliance with Octavius and thecrowdafterBrutushasfirstmadehisappeal. Lepidus to prepare for the impending war Cassius does not trust Antony, but Brutus against the conspirators. The three men meet believes that his own speech will persuade the and discuss which Romans should live and crowd to support the conspirators and that which should die under the new government. nothingAntonymightsaywillchangethat. Once Lepidus leaves, Antony tells Octavius that he deems Lepidus unfit to help rule the Act 3, Scene 2 soon-to-be-established empire. Octavius does Brutusmakeshisspeechtothecrowd,proclaim- not understand why Antony led Lepidus to ing hislove ofCaesar. In defending theassassi- believe he is part of the triumvirate if Antony nation, Brutus states, ‘‘Not that I loved Caesar believesLepidusissounworthy.Antonyasserts less, but that I loved Rome more.’’ Caesar was that Lepidus will do the hard work and help not good for Rome, Brutus tells them, as he ensure their success; Lepidus will bear certain would have eventually enslaved everyone; with burdens just ‘‘as the ass bears gold, / To groan Caesar dead, Romans are now free. The crowd and sweat under the business, / Either led or supportsBrutus. drivenaswepointtheway.’’Thisexchangedem- AntonyenterscarryingthebodyofCaesar. onstratesAntony’scunning,asheusespeopleas Antony’sspeechprovesdeceptivelyclever,ashe he sees fit, then discards them when he has communicates what he feels without explicitly accomplishedhisgoals. S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2 3 3 7 J u l i u s C a e s a r Act 4, Scene 2 NearSardis,BrutusreceiveswordthatCassiusis near. Brutus suspects, however, that something hascomebetweenthetwomen;theirfriendship hascooled.Cassiusappears. MEDIA Act 4, Scene 3 ADAPTATIONS CassiusexpressesangeroverBrutus’sdecisionto condemnoneofhismenfortakingbribes.Brutus (cid:2) JuliusCaesarwasadaptedtofilmbyMetro- and Cassius then have a tremendous argument, Goldwyn-Mayer in 1953. This critically duringwhichBrutusaccusesCassiusofalsotak- acclaimedmotion-pictureversionofthetrag- ing bribes. The fight continues to escalate until edyfeaturesMarlonBrando,JamesMason, Cassius, deeply offended, bares his breast and andJohnGielgud.Thefilmwasdirectedby offers Brutus his dagger. Brutus overcomes his JosephL.MankiewiczandproducedbyJohn anger, and the two men are reconciled. Brutus Houseman. thenrevealstoCassiusthatPortiaisdead. (cid:2) AneducationalversionofJuliusCaesarwas Turning to a discussion of battle plans, made into a video by BHE Education, in Brutus resists Cassius’s strategy of making the conjunction with Seaborne Enterprises, in enemyseekthemanddecidestoengageOctavius 1969.Thevideooffersperformancesofkey andAntonyatPhilippi.Later,whenheisalone, scenesintheplay. Brutus sees the ghost of Caesar, who tells him (cid:2) In 1970, another film version of Julius thattheywillmeetagainatPhilippi. Caesar was produced by Peter Snell, through Commonwealth United. This film Act 5, Scene 1 starsCharltonHeston,JohnGielgud,Jason Brutus and Cassius meet Antony and Octavius Robards, Richard Chamberlain, Robert atPhilippitoconfer;however,afterthetwosides Vaughn,andDianaRigg. exchangeinsults,theyagreetofaceeachotheron thebattlefield.CassiusandBrutusareconcerned (cid:2) A televised performance of Julius Caesar was presented by the BBC and Time-Life thattheymaynevermeetagain,andsotheysay Television in 1979 as part of a series of good-byetooneanother. Shakespeare’splays. Act 5, Scene 2 Brutus tells Messala, his servant, to give orders foroneofhislegionstoattackOctavius’sgroup. Brutus thinks he sees a weakness and wants his Act 5, Scene 4 mentosurpriseOctavius’sarmyandcrushthem. InabattlewithAntony,Luciliuspretendstobe Act 5, Scene 3 Brutusinordertokeep Brutus from beingcap- tured. Antony recognizes that Lucilius is not Brutus’smilitarydecisionsprovetobemistakes, Brutus and orders that Lucilius be kept safe, with his errors giving rise to a weakness in remarking, ‘‘I had rather have / Such men my Cassius’s army. Specifically, Brutus ordered his friendsthanenemies.’’ men to move too quickly, and now they are distracted; they begin looting the camp instead of supporting Cassius’s men. Cassius’s troops, Act 5, Scene 5 seeing their doomed fate, are running away. After learning of Cassius’s death, Brutus pre- Fearing that some approaching soldiers are the parestoengagetheenemyagain.Brutus’sforces enemy, Cassius sends Titinius to find out who are defeated in this second battle, and Brutus they are and orders his servant Pindarus to does not want to be taken prisoner, so he com- observe what happens. While the troops are mits suicide. Upon finding Brutus’s body, really members of Brutus’s army who welcome Antony delivers a brief oration, proclaiming, Titinius into their ranks, Pindarus mistakenly ‘‘Thiswas thenoblestRomanofthem all.’’The reports that Titinius has been captured. other conspirators, Antony says, committed Cassius, in despair, asks Pindarus to help him their crimes out of envy; only Brutus believed commitsuicide. that what he did was for the common good. 3 3 8 S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2 J u l i u s C a e s a r Antony ends his speech by stating, ‘‘Nature Marcus Brutus might stand up /and say toall the world, ‘This MarcusBrutusisaRomansenator.Hejoinsthe wasaman!’’’Inaddition,Octaviusdeclaresthat conspiracy because he fears that Caesar’s ambi- Brutuswillbeburiedwithfullhonors. tion will turn to tyranny, which will eventually destroy the Roman Republic. Brutus is often described as a noble man with high ideals; he is a character of seemingly irreproachable honor CHARACTERS and virtue and is often regarded as the tragic hero of the play. But Brutus might also possess Mark Antony thetragiccharacteristicknownashubris—exces- Mark Antony, whose Latin name is Marcus sive pride that leads to misfortune. Brutus’s Antonius, is a Roman general and a loyal friend hubrisderivesfromhisarrogance,self-righteous- of Julius Caesar’s. He is angered and sad upon ness,andlackofself-knowledge.Hisinvolvement learning of Caesar’s death and persuades Brutus intheconspiracyisgroundedinhisearnestbelief to allow him to speak at Caesar’s funeral. that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome, but he is Although Brutus demands that Antony support blind tothepotentialrepercussionsofthe assas- theconspirators,Antonycleverlyusestheoccasion sination and to his accomplices’ lack of moral to rouse the crowd against Brutus and his co- principles. He is also so sure of the virtue of conspirators.Antonydisplaysahighlevelofcunning Caesar’s assassination that he does not believe in the wayhemanipulates the crowd’s emotions, anyone can convince the Roman people that suchasbymakingrepeatedironicreferencestothe Caesar’s death was murder. So unaware is he conspirators as ‘‘honorable men,’’ by displaying that he allows Antony to speak to the crowd, Caesar’scloakandcorpse,andfinallybyreading convincedthatnotonlyAntonybutalsothepeo- theruler’swill.AnundercurrentofMachiavellian plewillbeloyaltothecause.Brutus’snaı¨vete´,or opportunismcanalsobefoundinAntony’schar- perhaps more accurately his blindness, catches acter;afterherousesthecrowdwithhisspeech,he him off guard as the masses turn against him meets with Octavius to plot how they can take andtheconspirators.Ultimately,Brutus’stragic advantageoftheturmoilthatCaesar’sdeathand flawishisinabilitytorealizetheconsequencesof Antony’sspeechhavecaused. his actions, and this lack of self-awareness leads MuchliketheactionsofCassiusandBrutus, tohisdownfallattheendoftheplay. Antony’s dealings, while initially appearing admirable, reveal a pragmatic political motiva- Julius Caesar tion,whichhasasignificantbearingonthedra- Caesar is a Roman general, a consul, and a maticevents oftheplay. Thesethree characters would-beemperor.HeisassassinatedbyBrutus, are ultimately linked by the common bond of Cassius, and others because they fear his ambi- ambition, which precipitates, and in some tion.Heappearsonlybrieflyintheplay.Afterhis respects is thwarted by, the central crisis of the assassination, his spirit haunts Brutus at Sardis play—Caesar’s assassination. Antony and andPhilippilaterintheplay. Octavius defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi and, with Lepidus, form the triumvirate that ThecharacterofCaesarisperhapsthemost eventuallyrulesRome. difficulttointerpret,sincereadinghimoneway oranothercanaltertheperspectiveontheentire Artemidorus play.IfCaesarisviewedasanoverlyambitious, Artemidorus is a teacher of rhetoric. He gives vain, and pompous tyrant, as Cassius and Caesar a letter revealing the plot to assassinate Brutus see him, then his assassination might be him,butCaesardoesnotreadit. seen as a necessary act to purge Rome of a potentially corrupt dictatorship. On the other hand,ifCaesarisregardedasawiseandbenev- Decius Brutus olent leader, as Mark Antony views him, then Decius is a Roman general and conspirator of theconspiracyappearstobeanattempttoover- Caesar’s assassination. He persuades Caesar to throwthegovernmentbyagroupofenviousand gototheSenateonthedayCaesarisassassinated power-hungrypoliticians. by interpreting Calpurnia’s prophetic dream as oneofhonorratherthanonethatforetellsCaesar’s Perhapsthemosteffectivewaytoresolvethe death. issue of Caesar’s character is to consider that S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2 3 3 9 J u l i u s C a e s a r Shakespeare intentionally presented an enig- men in the play. He has traditionally been matic figure to emphasize the contradictory described as a villainous, self-seeking politician nature of the assassination and to leave unde- whohelpsmurderCaesaroutofenvyandspiteful- cided the question of whether the conspirators’ ness.WhileacknowledgingthesetraitsinCassius’s actions were justified. Often, critics of the play character, some critics have also emphasized his debatewhoisthemoretragicfigureinthisplay, shrewdMachiavellianism.Machiavellianismholds CaesarorBrutus. thatpoliticsareamoralandthatanymeans,how- ever unscrupulous, are justified in achieving and Octavius Caesar retaining power. Recently, critics have credited OctaviusisJuliusCaesar’sadoptedsonandheir. Cassius with having more dimension than the OctaviusisnotinRomewhenCaesarisassassi- typical Machiavellian villain has. Support for nated. Upon his return, he joins Antony in thisperspectivecanbefoundinCassius’sleader- defeating Brutus and Cassius at Philippi. Then, shipandkeenpowersofjudgment,hisapparent withLepidusandAntony,Octaviustakespartin enthusiasm for Brutus’s ideal of republicanism, thetriumviratethatrulesRome. andhisgreatrespectforandfriendshipwithhis co-conspirator. Calpurnia Calpurnia is Caesar’s wife. After having night- Cicero mares about his murder, Calpurnia urges her CiceroisamemberoftheRomanSenate.Heisa husband not to go to the Senate on the ides of renownedoratorandisconsideredanobleman. March, or March 15th, the day he is killed. TheconspiratorsconsideraskingCicerotojoin Calpurnia is invested in omens and dreams, all them,believingthathisreputationwouldhelpto of which point to Caesar’s death. Caesar is sway the masses in their favor. Brutus does not almost convinced by Calpurnia’s fears and ini- agree. Later,Antony andtheother membersof tiallystayshome,butheiseventuallyswayedto thetriumvirateorderCicero’sdeath. leave,notwantingtobeseenasafearfulleader. Calpurnia is chastised when Caesar ignores his Cinna wife’sanxietiesanddeparts. Cinna is a tribune and conspirator. He urges CassiustorecruitBrutusfortheircause. Casca Casca is a tribune and member of Caesar’s Cinna the poet entourage.CascareportstoCassiusandBrutus Cinna the poet is mistaken for Cinna the con- that he saw the way Caesar and Antony spirator by the mob. He explains the error, but respondedtotheofferingofacrowninfrontof thecrowdkillshimanywayforhis‘‘badverses.’’ the crowds of people; Casca was not fooled by theirpublicdisplayandbelievesthatCaesarwas playing with the crowds in refusing the crown. Flavius Casca insinuates that Caesar is merely waiting FlaviusisaRomantribune.Hewantstoprotect for the right time to accept the crown and the thecommonersfromCaesar’styranny.Hecon- power that comes with it. Casca joins Cassius’s demnsacrowdofmenforpraisingCaesarwhen plot and later is the first conspirator to stab not too long before that they had praised Caesar. Pompey,Caesar’senemy.DuringCaesar’scele- bratory parade, Flavius removes decorations Caius Cassius from Caesar’s statues and is later ‘‘put to CassiusisageneralandaRomanpolitician.He silence.’’ Through Flavius’s character, Shake- organizes the conspiracy against Caesar and speareforeshadows thefickleness of the masses recruits Brutus to his cause through flattery aswellasthefateofthosewhogoagainstCae- and by forging letters that suggest that the sar,suchasBrutusandCassius. RomanpeoplesupportCaesar’sassassination. Caesar refers to Cassius as being a lean and M. Aemilius Lepidus hungry-looking man, one who should not be LepidusisaRomanpolitician.HejoinsAntony trusted. Caesar, of course, turns out to be right, and Octavius to rule the Roman Empire after buthedismisseshisownthoughtslaterintheplay. Caesar’sassassination.Antonytakesadvantage Cassiusappearstobeoneoftheleasttrustworthy of Lepidus’s weak nature, essentially ordering 3 4 0 S h a k e s p e a r e F o r S t u d e n t s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n , V o l u m e 2
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