Julius Caesar English Literature Class 10 & 9 ICSE

Who was Julius Caesar?

Gaius Julius Caesar was born on or around July 13, 100 B.C., to Gaius Julius Caesar, and Aurelia Cotta. He was a famous common lawmaker, and researcher, politician, in Antiquated Rome. He has driven military campaigns and prevailed in a tremendous locale of Gaul. He inevitably got to be a despot who transitioned the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

Despite his negligible organizing time, Julius Caesar is an urgent figure in Shakespearean plays. William Shakespeare depicted the play based on the genuine incidents that happened to Julius Caesar in Rome.

Julius Caesar - The character in the Shakespearean Play

In the Shakespearean play, Mark Antony, Caesar’s close friend hails him as the “noblest man” that has ever lived “in the tide of times”. Brutus, one of his assassins calls him “the foremost man in this world”. Despite all his high accolades from the other characters, Shakespeare doesn't portray the intense achievements of Caesar. He appears in merely three scenes with limited dialogues out of which none are memorable.

In his public appearance, he immediately executes commands that are swiftly obeyed by the commoners. At home, with his wife Calpurnia, he is more hesitant and more open to superstition and persuasion. His final moments are spent in the capitol where he inadvertently signals the conspirators to act. His death follows marking an underwhelming end to the role.

The Leading Characters in the Play

• Julius Caesar - The greatest and most powerful of the Romans, and the last of the three men who formed the first triumvirate. He has always been ambitious.
• Octavius Caesar - The great-nephew of Julius Caesar, and heir to his uncle's wealth and position. Octavius, only eighteen years at the time of Caesar's assassination, joins Mark Antony in making war on the conspirators.
• Mark Antony - Caesar's loyal friend, who stirs up the opposition when Caesar is murdered. Octavius Caesar and Lepidus lead the attack on the conspirators.
• Marcus Brutus - Caesar's great friend, who joins in the Rome conspiracy because his love for is even greater than his love for his friend. An idealist, he assumes that others will share his high principles.
• Caius Cassius - The instigator and organizer of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. He is a fanatic, but he is also a practical man who knows his limitations and those of other men. Although not a very attractive character at first, he becomes more noble even heroic in defeat.
• Calpurnia - The wife of Julius Caesar whose prophetic dream foretells the assassination.
• Portia - The wife of Marcus Brutus, who is devoted to her husband and distressed by his anxieties. Through her, we see another Brutus aspect of a gentle, loving husband.

The Setting of the Play

Julius Caesar is set in Rome in the first century BC, near the end of Julius Caesar's life. During this time, Rome was riven by conflict between the wealthy and the poor, with the latter supporting Julius Caesar heavily.

Julius Caesar: Important Quotes

Act 1: See where their basest mettle be not mov'd: They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.

Act 2: let Caesar seat him sure, For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

Act 3: a 'Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins.

Act 4: ‘thou shalt see me at Philippi’

Act 5: I Kill’d not thee with half so good a will’.

An Influence on Education

In the Elizabethan education system, Julius Caesar was a prominent figure in the national curriculum reflecting the Latin language as a cornerstone subject that encompasses history and literature in grammar schools. This made a huge impact on Caesar’s significance in their educational journey. Shakespeare's original audiences were well aware of Caesar’s background and achievements that required no additional biographical information to appreciate the high regard for Mark Antony and Brutus.

The First Triumvirate - The beginning of the play

Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus create a triumvirate in the early first century BC to govern Rome and her territories. After Crassus died in 53 BC while battling the Parthians, tensions between Pompey and Caesar increased, resulting in civil war. Caesar's decisive win over Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalia in 48 BC, followed by Pompey's sons' defeat at the Battle of Munda, set the stage for the drama, which begins with Caesar's return for its final victory.

The Political Beginning

Although Julius Caesar appeared to hold dominant power, the title of king was both disliked and feared in Rome. Despite his widespread popularity among the people, some senators and aristocrats were concerned and apprehensive about his potential to become a tyrant mainly Marcus Brutus, and Cassius. These individuals who had earlier fought Pompey against Caesar in the civil war were pardoned and forgiven by him. Despite being pardoned, and by Caesar's clemency Brutus and Cassius conspire him to death in 42 BC.

Accolades

Caesar was born in 100 BC and had achieved military distinction by his early 20s. Throughout his illustrious career, he governed Africa, Spain, and France extending Rome. He was also a gifted writer with his “commentaries on the Gallie Wars” and “commentaries on civil war” showcasing this narrative skill. Additionally, his works include include the subjects of astronomy. He also reformed the calendar that led to the Julian calendar in 46 BC, based on our current system. He holds the honor of July being named after him.

Julius Caesar - The Horror Act

Julius Caesar is slain at the beginning of Act 3 of Shakespeare's play, which is uncommon given that the key figure is taken off stage so early. Even after his death, Caesar's presence in the drama has a significant impact. The lingering presence is highlighted when Caesar's ghost appears to Brutus before the battle of Mississippi. Brutus welcomes this phantom visit calmly and says they'll meet again at Phillipi. This sorrow thus goes beyond Caesar's death, impacting Brutus and Cassius psychologically. Brutus recognizes that the task begun on the ides of March should be completed.

Second Triumvirate

Despite the defeat of the conspirators, the dream of going back to a fully democratic state was never realized. Instead, a second triumvirate was established with Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius. Lepidus was deemed ineffective by Antony who criticized his role (4.1.12-40), while Antony himself was known for his revelry. Despite Cassius's (5.1.61) description of Octavius as a spoiled schoolboy, Octavius grows into one of the Roman Empire's leading men. As the nephew and heir of Julius Caesar, Octavius took on the titles Caesar and Augustus, indicating the transition from a republic to an empire. By 27 BC, Octavius, now known as Augustus, assumed the title Princeps, signifying the fall of the Roman Republic.

Julius Caesar - Death

The senators, under the leadership of Gaius Cassius Longinus, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, and Marcus Junius Brutus, stabbed Caesar 23 times on the Ides of March (March 15, 44 B.C.), ending his reign and his life when he collapsed into the Senate floor, bleeding, at the feet of a statue of Pompey.