I.

Title: Julius Caesar

II. Author: William Shakespeare
III. Characters:
Brutus - A supporter of the republic who believes strongly in a government guided by
the votes of senators. While Brutus loves Caesar as a friend, he opposes the
ascension of any single man to the position of dictator, and he fears that Caesar
aspires to such power. Brutus’s inflexible sense of honor makes it easy for Caesar’s
enemies to manipulate him into believing that Caesar must die in order to preserve
the republic. While the other conspirators act out of envy and rivalry, only Brutus
truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome. Unlike Caesar, Brutus is able to
separate completely his public life from his private life; by giving priority to matters of
state, he epitomizes Roman virtue. Torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his
allegiance to the state, Brutus becomes the tragic hero of the play.
Julius Caesar - A great Roman general and senator, recently returned to Rome in
triumph after a successful military campaign. While his good friend Brutus worries
that Caesar may aspire to dictatorship over the Roman republic, Caesar seems to
show no such inclination, declining the crown several times. Yet while Caesar may not
be unduly power-hungry, he does possess his share of flaws. He is unable to separate
his public life from his private life, and, seduced by the populace’s increasing
idealization and idolization of his image, he ignores ill omens and threats against his
life, believing himself as eternal as the North Star.
Antony - A friend of Caesar. Antony claims allegiance to Brutus and the conspirators
after Caesar’s death in order to save his own life. Later, however, when speaking a
funeral oration over Caesar’s body, he spectacularly persuades the audience to
withdraw its support of Brutus and instead condemn him as a traitor. With tears on
his cheeks and Caesar’s will in his hand, Antony engages masterful rhetoric to stir the
crowd to revolt against the conspirators. Antony’s desire to exclude Lepidus from the
power that Antony and Octavius intend to share hints at his own ambitious nature.
Cassius - A talented general and longtime acquaintance of Caesar. Cassius dislikes the
fact that Caesar has become godlike in the eyes of the Romans. He slyly leads Brutus
to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die, finally converting
Brutus to his cause by sending him forged letters claiming that the Roman people
support the death of Caesar. Impulsive and unscrupulous, Cassius harbors no illusions
about the way the political world works. A shrewd opportunist, he proves successful
but lacks integrity.
Octavius - Caesar’s adopted son and appointed successor. Octavius, who had been
traveling abroad, returns after Caesar’s death; he then joins with Antony and sets of
to fight Cassius and Brutus. Antony tries to control Octavius’s movements, but
Octavius follows his adopted father’s example and emerges as the authoritative
figure, paving the way for his eventual seizure of the reins of Roman government.
Casca - A public figure opposed to Caesar’s rise to power. Casca relates to Cassius and
Brutus how Antony ofered the crown to Caesar three times and how each time
Caesar declined it. He believes, however, that Caesar is the consummate actor, lulling
the populace into believing that he has no personal ambition.
Calpurnia - Caesar’s wife. Calpurnia invests great authority in omens and portents.
She warns Caesar against going to the Senate on the Ides of March, since she has had
 terrible nightmares and heard reports of many bad omens. Nevertheless, Caesar’s
ambition ultimately causes him to disregard her advice.
Portia - Brutus’s wife; the daughter of a noble Roman who took sides against Caesar.
Portia, accustomed to being Brutus’s confidante, is upset to find him so reluctant to
speak his mind when she finds him troubled. Brutus later hears that Portia has killed
herself out of grief that Antony and Octavius have become so powerful.
Flavius - A tribune (an official elected by the people to protect their rights). Flavius
condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar, when once they
cheered for Caesar’s enemy Pompey. Flavius is punished along with Murellus for
removing the decorations from Caesar’s statues during Caesar’s triumphal parade.
Cicero - A Roman senator renowned for his oratorical skill. Cicero speaks at Caesar’s
triumphal parade. He later dies at the order of Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.
Lepidus - The third member of Antony and Octavius’s coalition. Though Antony has a
low opinion of Lepidus, Octavius trusts his loyalty.
Murellus - Like Flavius, a tribune who condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in
cheering Caesar, when once they cheered for Caesar’s enemy Pompey. Murellus and
Flavius are punished for removing the decorations from Caesar’s statues during
Caesar’s triumphal parade.
Decius - A member of the conspiracy. Decius convinces Caesar that Calpurnia
misinterpreted her dire nightmares and that, in fact, no danger awaits him at the
Senate. Decius leads Caesar right into the hands of the conspirators.

IV. Positive Aspects of Julius Caesar

He was willful and consistent: When Caesar arrived in Gaul, he was heavily in
debt, with an impressive literary background and a rocky political career, but he wasn't
considered a special general by any means. For the next decade, he woke up every
day trying to figure out how he could tear the political structure of Gaul apart and
rebuild it so that everyone 'reported' to him. Keep in mind that more than anything in
the world, Caesar wanted to be in the middle of the action in Rome - but he knew he
needed to subdue Gaul to get the money and experience he needed to become the
best ever. I think this was his most important quality
He was Inspiring - to all sorts of people: Politicians could not help but be sucked
in by his speaking voice - even Cicero admitted that Caesar was one of the best. He
knew how to get his soldiers on board with unpopular campaigns. Though I'm sharing
the same story as Ethan, below, here's an excerpt from my podcast, where Caesar
turns the soldiers' fear to shame to inspiration in his first year in Gaul:
He was Daring & Lucky: The old saying goes - not only was Caesar the best
general, he was also the luckiest. It's true, but there's something to be said about his
calculated risks - until the very end, they paid of. From his marches with very few men
to secure strategic points in Gaul, to confronting Pompey's army of almost 50,000 men
with only 22,000 of his own - he wasn't afraid to roll the dice. The best leaders take
chances, and then work as hard as possible to prove that it was the right roll of the
dice.
  Conquered Gaul for the Roman Republic, while bringing wealth in the form of
land, gold, and slaves
 Stabilized the failing political system of the Roman Republic by gaining
ultimate power after defeating his opponents in civil war
 Pardoned his political enemies(who later assassinated him)
 Brought Egypt into the fray of Rome by supporting Cleopatra VII, who became
his mistress
 Successfully granted land for his veterans, who established Roman colonies
which evolved into large cities(Carthage, Arelate, Corinth)

V. Negative Aspects of Julius Caesar

. Very few leaders have had the unanimous support of their people, and Julius Caesar was
no exception. Though he was an extremely successful military leader and politician —
consolidating power, defeating Roman enemies and gaining territory abroad — he had his
detractors. Of course, the bad things about Caesar are a matter of perception. He was
extremely unpopular among aristocrats due to some of his policies, which favored the
poor and therefore angered wealthy Romans. Caesar's success at gaining and
consolidating power also led some to suspect he was trying to become a king in Rome: this
is something that was not supported by the political system and public opinion of the
time.
 The Gallic Wars killed 500,000–1,000,000 Gauls
 Caesar’s civil wars killed thousands of Roman legionaries
 His political allies and enemies would later on engage in another devastating civil war
after his death
 Created controversy over his illegitimate son Caesareion by Cleopatra, which would
spark a future civil war between Octavian and Antony
 The colonies were established mostly at the confiscation of land from his dead
political enemies in the civil war

VI. Summary
The tribunes, Marullus and Flavius, break up a gathering of Roman citizens who
seek to celebrate Julius Caesar’s triumphant return from war. The victory is marked by
public games in which Caesar’s friend, Mark Antony, takes part. On his way to the arena
Caesar is stopped by a stranger who warns that he should ‘Beware the Ides (15th) of
March.’
Fellow senators, Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus, are suspicious of Caesar’s
reactions to the power he holds in the Republic. They fear he will accept ofers to
become Emperor. Cassius, a successful general himself, is jealous, while Brutus has a
more balanced view of the political position. Cassius, Casca, and their allies, visit Brutus
at night to persuade him of their views, and they plan Caesar’s death. Brutus is troubled
but will not confide in his devoted wife, Portia.
On the 15th March Caesar is urged not to go to the Senate by his wife, Calphurnia,
who has had dreamsthat he will be murdered, and she fears the portents of the
 overnight storms. He is nevertheless persuaded by flattery to go and as petitioners
surround him Caesar is stabbed and dies as Brutus gives the final blow. Against Cassius’s
advice Mark Antony is allowed by Brutus to speak a funeral oration in the market place
after Brutus has addressed the people of Rome to explain the conspirators’ reasons and
their fears for Caesar’s ambition. Brutus calms the crowd but Antony’s speech stirs them
to rioting and the conspirators are forced to flee from the city.
Brutus and Cassius gather an army in Northern Greece and prepare to fight the
forces led by Mark Antony, who has joined with Caesar’s great-nephew, Octavius, and
with Lepidus. Away from Rome, Brutus and Cassius are filled with doubts about the
future and they quarrel bitterly over funds for their soldiers’ pay. They make up the
argument and despite the misgivings of Cassius over the site they prepare to engage
Antony’s army at Philippi. Brutus stoically receives news of his wife’s suicide in Rome,
but he sees Caesar’s ghost as he rests, unable to sleep on the eve of the conflict.
In the battle the Republicans at first appear to be winning but when his messenger’s
horse seems to be overtaken by the enemy Cassius fears the worst and gets his servant,
Pindarus, to help him to a quick death. Brutus, finding Cassius’s body, commits suicide as
the only honourable action left to him. Antony, triumphant on the battlefield, praises
Brutus as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’, and orders a formal funeral before he and
Octavius return to rule in Rome.

VII. Conclusion

In the play "Julius Caesar" written by shakespeare shows very tragic irony throughout
the course of the play. Julius Caesar was played as the heroic figure that everyone had
charished and loved. Though he had some flaws that Cassius began to find out that was so
called his friend. He still liked him and so did all people of Rome. As the historical figure
they thought of him the same he changed Rome by showing everyone that he was a great
leader, and warrior. He was also a hero and also had many flaws of his own. Although
many years have passed people still think of Julius Caesar a leader and the face of Rome.
Literally because he has statue's all over the place there.
 A BOOK REVIEW

Title: JULIUS CAESAR

Author: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

ALVIN D. PORTUGUES
11 – TVL

MRS. EDNA MARIA MADRONA

TEACHER