Julius Caesar
Biography
Gaius Julius Caesar
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Politician, dictator, military leader, orator, writer
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1oo B.C.- 44 B.C. (assassinated)
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Married 3 times.
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Cornelia
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Pompeia
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Calpurnia (wife in Julius Caesar )
Named pontifex at Rome in 73 B.C.
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Wanted change
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Continued to gain power and popularity
Biography Cont.
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Established first Triumvirate along with Crassus and Pompey
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Caesar’s daughter Julia married Pompey in 59 B.C.
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Julia died in 54 B.C.
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Pompey and Caesar grew apart
Pompey and Caesar engaged in a civil war---Caesar won (47 B.C.)
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Veni, vidi, vici, (I came, I saw, I conquered)
Caesar was awarded dictatorship for life in 44 B.C.
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Success in Gallic War solidified his strength
Assassinated in the Senate at the foot of Pompey’s statue
Caesar was succeeded by his adopted son Octavius who became
Emperor Augustus Caesar.
Fun Caesar Facts
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The name Caesar lead to the terms
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Kaiser German
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Tsar Russian
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Caesarean birth supposedly the way Caesar was born
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There were six rulers in in the Julio-Claudian dynasty that used the
title “Caesar”
Tragedy & Theatre
Greek and Shakespearean
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Similarities
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Exposition: actors to give description of setting and background
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Both provide gaps between scenes in order to create breaks or comic relief
within a tragedy.
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Both question the nature of man’s destiny in the universe.
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Both show that heroism means to accept the pain and hostility of life with
dignity.
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Both use external forces to control or manipulate the characters
Theatre & Tragedy
Greek
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Uses chorus to introduce exposition.
Single theme and plot
Shakespearean
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Uses the actors to introduce exposition.
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Multiple storylines and themes
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Much larger cast of characters; more
actors were on stage at time.
Shakespeare used characters from all
walks of life.
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Fewer characters (and actors).
Characters had to be individuals of
“great” importance.

Performed at religious festivals in
outdoor amphitheaters
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Performed on smaller stages and
courtyards. Commercial entertainment.
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Used masks and elaborate costumes

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Playwrights were well-respected
public officials
Rarely used masks; mostly used wigs and
costumes.
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Playwrights’ reputations and status
among high society was precarious. Seen
as anti-establishment.
Tragic Hero
Shakespearean
Greek
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The tragic hero’s fate is
determined by the gods. Man
is helpless against the divine
power of the gods.
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Tragic flaw: pride or
arrogance
In order to reach catharsis,
tragic heroes can be exiled,
die, or accept a life of eternal
misery.

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The tragic hero takes responsibility for the choices
that lead to his fate/ruin Sometimes supernatural
forces are at play.

Macbeth
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Julius Caesar
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Othello
Tragic flaw: various possibilities
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Jealousy
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Vengeance
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Ambition
The only acceptable way a Shakespearean tragic
hero can reach catharsis is through death.