Transcript by: William Shakespeare

Caesar
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Today, generals in armies
have to report to the
president.
Two thousand years ago,
the generals in the
Roman army had much
individual power.
Sometimes, generals
turned on each other.
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Caesar and Pompey, two generals, clashed in
a civil war in Rome.
The two men were friends. They, along with
Crassus, formed the First Triumvirate (or 3
man government).
Caesar was eager for more power and land,
so he set out in the Gallic Wars, which lasted
for about 8 years.
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Pompey, jealous of Caesar and his growing
power, made the senate order Caesar to
return.
Caesar marched on Rome, took control and
chased Pompey to Egypt, where he was
murdered.
Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra and
lingered in Egypt, returning after nine
months.
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When he returned to Rome, he defeated an
army led by Pompey’s sons.
Became dictator – all of his supporters were
made senators.
The common people loved him.
Caesar’s ambition was hated by the senators,
who despised the idea of another king of
Rome.
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Cassius, a senator, and Brutus, one of
Caesar’s best friends and supporters, plan his
murder “for the good of Rome.”
They convince other senators to participate.
Caesar was stabbed on March 15, 44 B.C., a
date also known as the Ides of March.
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Shakespeare uses
Roman customs and
superstition to create
spooky conditions to
mirror the dangerous
plot being planned.
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The Romans believed
that omens could
reveal the future.
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These omens could
take the form of
unusual weather,
flights of birds, or other
natural phenomena.
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The Romans often
sacrificed animals to the
gods, and had their
entrails examined by an
official called a haruspex.
Any abnormalities or
imperfections indicated
the anger of a god or a
particularly bad event
about to happen.
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Unusual astronomical
and meteorological
occurrences were also
seen as indicators of
future events.
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Solar eclipses were
believed to portend
doom, as was
lightning.
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Julius Caesar
Dictator of Rome
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Marcus Brutus
Cassius
Casca
Trebonius
Ligarius
Decius Brutus
Metellus Cimber
Cinna
The Conspirators
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Calphurnia – Caesar’s wife
Portia – Brutus’s wife
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Soothsayer – a fortune teller
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Octavius Caesar (adopted son)
Marc Antony
Triumvirs after
Lepidus
Caesar’s
Death
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Play takes place in Rome in 44 B.C.
Begins a few months before Caesar’s death
Action takes place in the streets of Rome, the
houses of its leaders, and in the Senate House
Action then moves to the battlefields of
Sardis and Philippi
Fate vs. Free Will
Public Self vs. Private Self
Misinterpretations and
Mis-readings