Introduction

This chapter will provide an introduction to the play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare. It will consider the historical context the play is set in as well as the historical context it was written in.

Shakespeare

For the most part Shakespeare is considered to have been the greatest writer in the English language. While many people today find his work too hard to understand or assume that it's not relevant to their lives, it would be impossible for this reputation to have endured unless there was some substance to the claim.

Shakespeare is popular with English scholars because of his enormous contribution to the English language. It has been estimated that up to ten per cent of the words Shakespeare wrote he invented himself. Most of these were made by combining Greek and Latin roots, or by using variations on existing words. A large number of the words he created are commonly used in English today. You already speak Shakespeare's language.

It's important to remember, however, that Shakespeare didn't rise to prominence because of his ability to make new words. He became popular and famous as a playwright for the rowdy crowds gathered in Elizabethan theatres.

Shakespeare's plays became known for their wit, humour, drama, tension, sly political comment, action and adventure.

This is perhaps one of the most important things that we can bear in mind as we study the work of Shakespeare. He wrote and worked to entertain the people with interesting stories told in entertaining ways.

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar remains one of the best known figures in Roman history. As Elizabethan society was heavily influenced by classic Greek and Roman teaching, it makes sense that at some point Shakespeare would write about history's most famous Roman.

This play was written in the year 1599 and is believed to have been the first play performed at the Globe Theatre, in which Shakespeare was an investor. It is broadly classified as one of Shakespeare's tragic plays although it is not considered to be as tragic as others such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet or King Lear.

The play centres on the period of Roman history around the assassination of Julius Caesar. It provides a context for the events leading up to the murder and explores the consequences for the people involved. Shakespeare is believed to have based much of his play on the English translation of Plutarch's history called The Lives of the Greeks and Romans. This was originally written in Greek, translated first into Latin and then translated into French. The French version was translated into English by Sir Thomas North in 1579.

The events in this play condense several years in Roman history (around 48BC) and trade heavily on the assumption that audiences will be familiar with the basic history surrounding this time. This was true in Elizabethan times, however often today we are less familiar with this period in history and it's worth taking some time to catch up.

Rome in the time of Julius Caesar

Several hundred years before the time of the events in the play, Rome was ruled by a tyrannical king called Tarquin the Proud. Tarquin was defeated in a rebellion led by Lucius Junius Brutus (an ancestor of Marcus Brutus) in the year 509BC. At this time Rome was made a Republic, ruled by consuls who were elected by the people. The Senate advised the consuls. Tribunes were elected from the citizenry to protect the rights of the commoners and keep an eye on the Senate.

By 1st century BC this whole system had weakened and three Roman leaders formed a triumvirate (a group of three people who share administrative responsibility) to rule Rome and its provinces. This triumvirate consisted of Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar. Crassus was killed fighting the Parthians in 53BC and civil war broke out as Pompey and Caesar fought to gain control of the empire.

In 48BC Pompey was defeated by Julius Caesar who then fought and defeated Pompey's sons. The play begins with Caesar returning to Rome after his victory. These events inform the characters, themes and plot of the play.

Elizabethan audience

Shakespeare often wrote his plays to be as relevant to the lives of his audience as possible. Commenting directly on the political situation at the time could have got him and the actors into serious trouble. It wasn't unusual, however, for his plays to involve characters and situations similar to the times he lived in.

Julius Caesar was written towards the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. England had enjoyed relative prosperity under her rule and this play is often thought to have held subtle references to the possible future of England after the Queen's death.

Shakespeare also wrote to larger themes about the nature of people and the ways in which different people can respond to circumstances. These themes can be applied to all people and are part of why his plays have endured the test of time.

In addition to this, Elizabethan society held a great appreciation for word play and so Shakespeare often makes clever use of double meanings to tell jokes and advance his plot lines. This is part of what can make his language difficult to understand, but is also what helps to make it so rich.