Shakespeare and Julius Caesar u “Not of an age, but for all time”

Shakespeare Shakespeare andand

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

““Not of an age, but for all time”Not of an age, but for all time”

The Life of William The Life of William ShakespeareShakespeare

Born in Stratford-on-Avon, Born in Stratford-on-Avon, England on April 23, 1564England on April 23, 15641st born son1st born sonTotal of 8 childrenTotal of 8 children

. . . continued. . . continued Parents: Mary Parents: Mary

Arden and John Arden and John Shakespeare.Shakespeare. Mary: family Mary: family

of successful of successful farmers.farmers.

. . . continued. . . continued John:John:

A glover and whittawer A glover and whittawer (dresser of white or light (dresser of white or light colored leather).colored leather).

In 1568, he was a mayor.In 1568, he was a mayor.Apparently illiterate.Apparently illiterate.

. . . continued. . . continued William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

At the age of 14 became At the age of 14 became apprenticed to a butcher.apprenticed to a butcher.

Never attended a university or Never attended a university or college. college.

Voracious reader and very Voracious reader and very observant.observant.

. . . continued. . . continued At the age of 18, At the age of 18,

married Anne married Anne Hathaway, 8 Hathaway, 8 years his elder.years his elder.

Had 3 children: Had 3 children: Susanna, Hamnet, Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith.and Judith.

Briefly a rural school master.Briefly a rural school master. At the age of 23, left Stratford At the age of 23, left Stratford

for Londonfor LondonBy 1592 became a flourishing By 1592 became a flourishing

actor and playwright.actor and playwright.Was part owner of a Was part owner of a

successful theater known as successful theater known as the Globe.the Globe.

. . . continued. . . continued

In his forties, Shakespeare retired In his forties, Shakespeare retired in Stratford on Avon.in Stratford on Avon.

Popular success in his time and Popular success in his time and invested his money wisely.invested his money wisely.

Died on April 23, 1616.Died on April 23, 1616.

His plays were His plays were praised as “the praised as “the mirror of life.”mirror of life.”

Jonson stated Jonson stated Shakespeare was, Shakespeare was, “Soul of the Age! “Soul of the Age! The applause, The applause, delight, the wonder delight, the wonder of the stage.”of the stage.”

The GlobeThe Globe Built in 1598-99Built in 1598-99 3 stories high3 stories high Octagonal shapedOctagonal shaped

The eight sides of The eight sides of the theater housed the theater housed covered tiers of seatscovered tiers of seats

. . .continued. . .continuedMiddle and upper-class Middle and upper-class

viewers sat in these seats.viewers sat in these seats. Open-air courtyard in the center.Open-air courtyard in the center.

Lower class viewers sat in the Lower class viewers sat in the courtyard.courtyard.

. . . continued. . . continued

1613- It 1613- It burned down burned down when cannons when cannons fired during a fired during a performance performance of Henry VIII.of Henry VIII.

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

All classes of people attended.All classes of people attended. Audiences played an active role Audiences played an active role

in the performance by hissing, in the performance by hissing, cheering, and throwing cheering, and throwing vegetables. vegetables.

. . .continued. . .continued Plays were staged w/o sets.Plays were staged w/o sets. Costumes and props were Costumes and props were

elaborate.elaborate. Women were not allowed to act.Women were not allowed to act.

Juliet was played by a young Juliet was played by a young male actormale actor

TragedyTragedy Definition:Definition:

a work of literature, especially a work of literature, especially a play, that results in a a play, that results in a catastrophe for the main catastrophe for the main character.character.

. . . continued. . . continued

Main Character:Main Character:always a significant person, a always a significant person, a

king or a hero.king or a hero.Possesses a tragic flaw or Possesses a tragic flaw or

weaknessweakness

. . .continued. . .continued

Purpose is to not only to arouse Purpose is to not only to arouse fear and pity in the audience, fear and pity in the audience, but also , in some cases to but also , in some cases to convey a sense of the nobility convey a sense of the nobility of the human spirit.of the human spirit.

The Security of the ThroneThe Security of the Throne Queen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I

was the ruler of was the ruler of England during England during the time that the time that Shakespeare Shakespeare wrote.wrote.

. . .continued. . .continued Faced threats to her security.Faced threats to her security. By 1599,By 1599, when when Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

premiered at the Globe, the premiered at the Globe, the situation was comparable to situation was comparable to that of Rome and its ruler Julius that of Rome and its ruler Julius Caesar.Caesar.

. . . continued. . . continued The people worried The people worried

about Queen about Queen Elizabeth’s successor. Elizabeth’s successor.

In 1586, Mary, Queen In 1586, Mary, Queen of Scots, was accused of Scots, was accused of plotting to murder of plotting to murder Queen Elizabeth I.Queen Elizabeth I.

. . .continued. . .continued Conspirators Conspirators

were tried and were tried and executed.executed.

Mary was Mary was beheaded the beheaded the following year.following year.

After reading After reading Julius CaesarJulius Caesar you you will be able to answer these will be able to answer these

questions!questions! What sort of lesson or warning What sort of lesson or warning

may Shakespeare have been trying may Shakespeare have been trying to send the people of England?to send the people of England?

To the Queen?To the Queen? To present day society?To present day society?

Julius Caesar, the ruler of Rome.Julius Caesar, the ruler of Rome. Born a patrician.Born a patrician. Caesar first shared the Caesar first shared the

rule of Rome with two rule of Rome with two others.others. Triumvirate: Caesar, Triumvirate: Caesar,

Gnaeus Pompey, Gnaeus Pompey, Marcus Crassus.Marcus Crassus.

. . . continued. . . continued Pompey murdered Pompey murdered

by a former officer.by a former officer. Crassus died in Crassus died in

battle.battle. Thus, Caesar began Thus, Caesar began

to rule alone.to rule alone.

. . .continued. . .continued

Won battles in Greece, Asia Won battles in Greece, Asia Minor, Africa, Egypt, Spain, Minor, Africa, Egypt, Spain, and Gaul.and Gaul.

Common people saw him as a Common people saw him as a great warrior and strong leader.great warrior and strong leader.

. . . continued. . . continued Senate feared he Senate feared he

would become too would become too powerful and rule like powerful and rule like a king.a king.

On the 15th of March On the 15th of March 44 BC, the so called 44 BC, the so called Ides of March, Caesar Ides of March, Caesar was murdered.was murdered.

““The spirit of The spirit of an assassinated an assassinated leader is larger leader is larger in death than in in death than in life.” Arthur life.” Arthur NaftalinNaftalin

What character traits What character traits should a leader possess?should a leader possess?

Can power corrupt those that Can power corrupt those that possess it?possess it?