The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

In today’s society, people’s wills are corrupt by the power and politics of the government. This is also evident in William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare was born in 1564, about one hundred miles from London, in a market town called Stratford-Upon-Avon. By 1585, Shakespeare had begun his career as an actor and playwright, in London. Shakespeare joined a play company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men, in 1594. Because Shakespeare had a share in the theater company and the theaters where they preformed, he became a wealthy man and bought a house in Stratford for his family. However, he lived in London for most of the year due to his job. Shakespeare’s acting company had built the globe, an open-air playhouse, in 1599. The Globe held 3,000 people in its circular space. The costumes used in plays at the globe were very realistic, which helped make up for the loss of scenery. Women were not allowed to perform, so the boys used their high voices, and girl-like costumes to create an illusion that women were performing. Shakespeare’s play is based on the transition of the Roman Empire during the time of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare opens his play in 44 BC, a time in Roman society when it looked as though, if Caesar took over, the republic could fall. Caesar took over after the wealthy politician, Crassius, died in 53 BC. Caesar also had to defeat Pompey, another Roman military general, in Egypt. At this point, Caesar was crowned dictator for life, which is where the play starts. In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by Shakespeare, the wills of characters clash between power and politics due to surprises, will instead of reason, and spirit.

To begin, Shakespeare uses surprises to demonstrate the c...

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...rises play a key role because they show the inconsistent side of human kind. Also, will instead of reason portray a key theme because it shows how someone’s will to do something is different from the reason as to why they do it. Lastly, spirits are important because they show the change in one’s mind and body. In today’s society, after reading the play, one will be able to see why they agree with some people and fight with others.

Works Cited

Honigmann, E.A.J. “A Clash of Wills: Politics and Power in Julius Caesar.” Bloom’s Modern

Critical Interpretations: William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. New York: Bloom’s

Literary Criticism, 2009. 112-123. Print.

Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.” The New Folger Library Shakespeare:

Julius Caesar. Ed. Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. New York: Washington

Square Press, 1992. 3-213. Print.