William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Shakespeare in the Elizabethan times was one of the most famous

play-writers of all time. In the year 1599 Shakespeare wrote a play

called Julius Caesar.

In the play people think that Julius Caesar is becoming powerful. The

play is about the conspiracy of the dictator Julius Caesar. Julius

Caesar trusted too many people and in turn they think he has become

too powerful.

Caesar is the main character throughout the play and dies half way

through the play. Despite this, the rest of the play is about the

consequences of his death which makes him the main character

throughout the play.

There are quite a few themes that put the play together. Some of these

are courage, Ritual, order, fate, honour, friendship and betrayal.

The betrayal of Julius Caesar by Brutus is one of the most famous,

when Brutus joined Cassius to kill his own friend Caesar. The first

signs of suspicion and betrayal to Caesar were in Act 1, Sc 2, lines

191-213. In lines 194-194, Caesar says

“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men

are dangerous.”

This shows Caesar judged Cassius correctly as Cassius was plotting and

“thinking too much.”

However Caesar seemed unaware of the threat from the other

conspirators, all of which claimed to be his friend, which meant

Caesar placed his trust in them. This was to lead to his downfall.

Friendship is also a central theme in the play. Brutus who became one

of the conspirators even refers to the dead Caesar as his “best

lover.” (Act 3, Scene 2.)

When Caesar tells Anthony how Cassius is “lean and hungry.” Anthony

says that Cassius is ...

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... might

happen when the queen dies. People were scared about civil war as many

people would want to get into power when the queen dies with no heir

to the throne. Shakespeare played on this fear when he wrote of the

death of Caesar; the story was old, but the theme was current.

Similarly, Julius Caesar was having problems ruling the country. After

his death, there was a civil war. Also when Antony warned that Rome

would experience:

“Domestic fury and fierce civil strife”

He would have reminded the Elizabethans of their own fearful

situation.

The story of Julius Caesar had courage, Ritual, order, fate, honour

and friendship and betrayal. It showed what may happen if the queen

died with no heir. All these points made the play appealing to the

Elizabethan audiences and made it one of Shakespeare best plays.