Inside Shakespeare's mind: Julius Caesar

For once, Shakespeare is much closer to history in its authenticity than in many of his other historical tragedies. Julius Caesar written eight years before Antony and Cleopatra, he has maintained the character line-up right. For example, Octavius Caesar, his great-nephew who plays a mighty role in Antony and Cleopatra, comes out as a stronger man than in Julius Caesar. He has the audacity to force Antony to wed his sister, Octavia to get back at Cleopatra who is deeply in love with Antony.

In no way blind to the faults of the stage of his day, Shakespeare was aware that history had to be presented in a manner close as possible to the events he chose.

There were the 'University Wits' who toad to alert if he messed up. His empiricism in no way had to be different.

Portia chides Brutus. ‘Am I yourself. But, as it were, in sort of limitation’ ....Act. 11. Sc. 1

It is under these circumstances that Julius Caesar debuted. Literary judgment is no different history judgment and often rest upon an antithesis.

Although not sustained by patriotism, he upheld the prestige which belongs to the great names of antiquity such as Brutus, Caesar, Cleopatra and Coriolanus.

Within this framework, Shakespeare's mind reacted. He knew to write his way out from a problem without losing the essence of the play.

After writing Henry V, the Bard was set to write the conquering of Caesar in his next play based on Sir Thomas North's Plutarch in the French version that was to prove a tragedy of two men; that of murdered Caesar who dominates even after death and Marcus Brutus, the liberal patrician. But it was disappointing and wrong that the paly tails off after the quarrel scene between Brutus and Cassius.

Written in 1599, Julius Caesar is the story of a powerful faction who fears the growing strength of Julius Caesar in the Republican Rome. As he walks to the festival games, a soothsayer warns him of the impending danger to his life on the Ides of March, without pausing, he moves on.

Marcus Brutus have visitors on a stormy night and they are Cassius and Casca who conspire to win over Brutus to their rebel party. He receives them along with other conspirators in his garden where they plan to assassinate Caesar next morning.

Lucius - Sir, t'is your brother Cassius at the door who doth desire to see you

Brutus - Is he alone?

L. - No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, and half their faces buried in their claaks. That by no means I may discover them by any mark of favour.

B. - Let 'em enter. They are the factions. O conspiracy. Sham'st thou to show the dang'rous brow by night. When evils are most free? O, then by day where will you find a cavern dark enough to mask thy monstrous visage? ....

Act. 11 Sce. 1.

The women came into play at this stage. Portia observes husband, Brutus's uneasiness. Caesar's wife, Calpurnia seeks to prevent him from going to the Capitol and he ignors her; Caesar is greeted on the street by Brutus with the conspirators and the soothsayers:

Caesar - The Ides of March are come;

Soothsayers - Ay, Caesar but not gone -

Artemidorus - Hail, Caesar, Read the schedule

Decius - Trebonius doth desire you O'er read at you best leisure. This is humble suit.

Art. - O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's suit that touched Caesar nearer. Read it great Caesar; ....

Act. 111 Sc. 1

Caesar is stabbed to death by Brutus and the conspirators. There is chaos but Brutus appease them by telling the mob his reasons. Mark Antony permitted to speak as Caesar's friend, rouses the people of Rome in a speech of searching and calculated irony with passion.

Caesar's great-nephew, Octavius, Antony and Lepidus make up the triumvirate against the conspirators.

The fire-brand Cassius and Brutus engage in a mighty quarrel in their camp at Sardis. However, the misunderstanding is settled. One of Shakespeare's honourable female characters, Portia commits suicide and Cassius is shaken when he hear about it.

The meeting of the armies is schedule at Philippi and the ghost of Ceasar appear to Brutus to announce that he will be there too.

Quiet unnecessary for Shakespeare to have introduced Caesar's ghost at this moment because already the desperate Cassius and Brutus are aware of their fates in the very near future.

In desperation with the knowledge that the final battle will be lost, the repentant Cassius orders his servants to stab him.

Brutus falls on his own sword. Antony speaks the epitaph over his foe.

Antony - This was the noblest Roman of them all, All the conspirators save one. Did that did in envy of great Caesar; he only in a general honest thought. All common good to all made one of them, his life was gentle; And the elements. So mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world. This was a man.

Octavius - According to his virtue let us use him, with all the respect and rites of burial. Within my tenthis bones tonight shall lie...

Act. V Sce. 111

There is evidence that Julius Caesar was staged as far back as 1599 at the Globe where a Swiss traveller in England, Dr Thomas Plater saw it.

The tragedy first arrived in the USA in 1774 at Charlestown, South Carolina. In 1817 it was revived in New York.

A great impact was created when Hollywood adopted the tragedy with its Thespians such as Marlon Brando playing Antony and John Geigland a scorching Cassius. Later, Charlton Heston took on the role of Antony etc.

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