Alexa Marinelli &Taylor Kilmer
Julius Caesar
By William Shakespeare
Plot:
Julius Caesar, who is celebrating his victory over his archenemy Pompey, is on
his way to power in Rome. His “friends,” Brutus and Cassius, are convinced by
conspirators that this power is unjust, and Caesar needs to be killed. There are many bad
omens along the way and foreshadowing events that Caesar is convinced to ignore.
After Caesars death, Brutus makes a speech that convinces the public Brutus was
a good man and did the right thing. Once the public is convinced the death of Caesar was
a good idea, Antony (Caesars loyal friend) speaks and reads Caesars selfless will which
enrages the citizens and turns them on Brutus and Cassius. These men are then labeled as
traitors and driven out of the city.
Caesar’s adopted son Octavius and Antony create an army to fight the conspirator
army being created outside the city by Brutus and Cassius to avenge the death of their
father and friend. There are many twists during the fighting, but in the end Brutus
commits suicide and Octavius and Antony’s armies win.
Main Characters:
Julius Caesar - Roman leader growing in power. Stricken with the disease
epilepsy.
Brutus - Caesar’s close friend. Feels that Caesar is gaining too much power and
that it isn’t right for Rome to be run by a dictatorship. Is the only
conspirator to act purely on the feeling that Caesar’s death is truly what is
best for Rome and its people.
Cassius - Makes Brutus believe that Caesar’s death is just. He is jealous of
Caesars power.
Antony – Caesar’s true friend, but claims that he is loyal to Brutus and his
conspirators to save his own life after they kill Caesar.
Octavius – Caesar’s adopted son and the appointed successor. Fights with Antony
and their armies against Brutus and the conspirators.
Pompey - Julius Caesar’s predecessor and archenemy in the end of his term
Key Facts:

Caesar was warned multiple times that he was going to die, but ignored
the warnings. –different versions of warnings
o “Beware of the Ides of March”
 Festival celebrated on the 15th of March, which is when
Caesar is murdered
o Caesar’s Wife’s Nightmares



Dreamt of Caesar’s death and warned Caesar of this
Decius convinces Caesar that his wife misinterpreted her
nightmare and that he was safe (Decius was a conspirator)
Caesar suffered from epilepsy
o Many believe that this is the reason why he ignored all of the
warnings about his death (almost like a type of suicide since he’s
so sick)
o This is also used to explain some random things he refuses to do,
such as stand to speak. One symptom of a type of seizure is loss of
control over the bowels.
Important Quotes:


“Et tu, Brute?” (Even you, Brutus?)
o This quote is famous for meaning betrayal by one’s friend.
o Supposedly the last words said by Caesar before he dies in both the
play and real life.
o Spoken as he sees Brutus about to stab him
“Veni,Vidi,Vici”(I came, I saw, I conquered)
o Famous battle cry of victory
o Caesar shouted it to the towns people after his battle with Pompey
Real Life Rome Facts:




Empire lasted 4 centuries
o Patrician class controlled the government
o Plebs elected the 2 patrician consuls (held joint power)
Pompey
o Lieutenant of Sulla
o Emerged as a popular champion (made himself master of Rome)
o Became an ally with Julius Caesar (a popular democratic leader of
the best patrician blood)
o Married to Caesar’s daughter
o Killed by Caesar during a battle for control Caesar gained power
Dictator
o Victory at Pharsalus
o Lieutenant Mark Antony is sent to declare Caesar dictator with no
term limit
o Dictator for life
Veni,Vidi,Vici
o Returning from Egypt Caesar went around the coast to Asia Minor
o Rebellious king tries to fight Caesar and fails
o Slogan used when celebrating Caesar’s victories in Gaul, Egypt,
Asia Minor, and Africa
Murder:

March 15, 44






Ides of March
The Liberators
20 Senators
Fell in front of a statue of Pompey
Lead to a new civil war
Ending with the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman
Empire
Interesting Facts


Julian Calendar
o Designed by Julius Caesar and is the one used today
o Added two months August and July
(Augustus Caesar and Julius Caesar)
Codex Form
o This is the set up of written text used in books today
o Invented by Julius Caesar when he realized how impractical the
use of extremely long scrolls of paper were
Works Cited
Caesar, Julius. "Et tu, Brute?" Shakespeare. enotes. 29 Apr 2009.
<http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/et-tu-brute>.
"The First Triumvirate." InfoPlease. 2007. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Web.11
May 2009. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0857102.html>.
"Hail Caesar." History of Julius Caesar. History World. 11 May 2009.
<http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa44>.
"Julius Caesar." Plot Overview. Sparknotes. 29 Apr 2009.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/characters.html>.