Julius Caesar

A Tragedy in 5 Acts By William Shakespeare

Characters

Not the main character Characters are preoccupied with him Wants to become emperor (king)

Julius Caesar

High-ranking, well-respected nobleman Motivated by his sense of honor

Places Rome above his own personal interests His honor is his weakness

Brutus

Loyal friend of Caesar Impulsive, pleasure-seeking, passionate Lives life in the moment

Mark Antony

Talented general Acquaintance of Caesar Resents that Roman populace revere’s Caesar

as a god Shrewd opportunist Lacks integrity

Cassius

Caesar’s adopted son and appointed

successor Authoritative figure Later changes his name to Augustus

Octavius

Conspirator Tribune

elected official that represents the common people

Rough, blunt

Casca

Caesar’s wife Invests in the authority of omens and portents

Calphurina or Calpurnia

Brutus’s wife Daughter of Cato (Roman Noble) Brutus’s confidante

Portia

Tribunes who condemn the plebeians for

cheering for Caesar , when they use to cheer for his enemy—Pompey

Remove decorations from Caesar’s statures during his triumphal parade.

Flavius and Murellus

Senator Known for his oratorical skill Speaks at Caesar’s triumphal parade

Cicero

Go Team!

Team Caesar

Julius Caesar Mark Antony Octavius Lepidus Calphurnia

Team Pompey

Brutus Cassius Flavius Murellus Casca Portia

Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

A central idea or statement Unifies and controls an entire literary work Author’s way of communicating:

Ideas Perceptions Feelings

Stated or implied

Theme

Brief and meaningful insight; comprehensive

vision of life Progress: Victorian works Order and duty: early Roman works Carpe diem (Seize-the –day ): late Roman works Jealousy: Shakespeare’s Othello

Theme examples

Complicated doctrine

Milton’s theme in Paradise Lost justify the ways of God to men

Upton Sinclair, The Jungle Socialism is the only sane reaction to the labor

abuses in Chicago meat-packing plants

Theme examples

Fate vs. Free Will Public Self vs. Private Self Misinterpretations vs. Misreadings Inflexibility vs. Compromise Rhetoric and Power

Theme of Play

Recurring structures, contrasts; or literary

devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes

Motifs

Omens and Portents

Letters The power of a written letter depends on the

addressee Orators must read the emotions of the crowd,

they can adjust their speech and intonations as needed

Motifs in Play

Objects, characters, figures, or colors used to

represent abstract ideas or concepts

Symbols

Women and Wives

Represent the private/domestic realm

Symbols in Play

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Resources