Julius Caesar (theatre): Difference between revisions

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{{quote| ''"[[Famous Last Words|Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar.]]"''}}
{{quote|''"[[Famous Last Words|Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar.]]"''}}


One of [[William Shakespeare]]'s tragedies, the play is his take on the assassination of Julius Caesar in [[Ancient Rome]] and its bloody aftermath.
One of [[William Shakespeare]]'s tragedies, the play is his take on the assassination of Julius Caesar in [[Ancient Rome]] and its bloody aftermath.
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* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: The plot was taken wholesale from Plutarch's biography of Caesar. Shakespeare wrote some extremely good dialogue for it.
* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: The plot was taken wholesale from Plutarch's biography of Caesar. Shakespeare wrote some extremely good dialogue for it.
* [[Ambition Is Evil]]
* [[Ambition Is Evil]]
{{quote| '''Brutus:''' As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.}}
{{quote|'''Brutus:''' As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.}}
* [[Anachronism Stew]]: The characters refer to many things that didn't exist in Ancient Rome, but did exist in Elizabethan England.
* [[Anachronism Stew]]: The characters refer to many things that didn't exist in Ancient Rome, but did exist in Elizabethan England.
* [[Anti-Villain]]: Brutus -- consider how honorable and idealistic Brutus is in the play; then remember, the widespread idea used in Dante's ''Inferno'' which considered him the worst traitor in history along with Cassius and Judas.
* [[Anti-Villain]]: Brutus -- consider how honorable and idealistic Brutus is in the play; then remember, the widespread idea used in Dante's ''Inferno'' which considered him the worst traitor in history along with Cassius and Judas.
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* [[Arc Words]]: "Beware the Ides of March..."
* [[Arc Words]]: "Beware the Ides of March..."
* [[Astroturf]]: Cassius pulls this on Brutus:
* [[Astroturf]]: Cassius pulls this on Brutus:
{{quote| I will this night, <br />
{{quote|I will this night,
In several hands, in at his windows throw, <br />
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens, <br />
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings all tending to the great opinion <br />
Writings all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely <br />
That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely
Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at }}
Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at }}
* [[Based on a True Story]]: Shakespeare got all his information from Plutarch and didn't deviate much from the facts, making this possibly the most accurate of his histories.
* [[Based on a True Story]]: Shakespeare got all his information from Plutarch and didn't deviate much from the facts, making this possibly the most accurate of his histories.
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* [[Democracy Is Bad]]: The citizens are continually shown as highly fickle.
* [[Democracy Is Bad]]: The citizens are continually shown as highly fickle.
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: When the angry mob surrounds Cinna the poet, this exchange occurs:
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: When the angry mob surrounds Cinna the poet, this exchange occurs:
{{quote| '''Cinna:''' Truly, my name is Cinna.<br />
{{quote|'''Cinna:''' Truly, my name is Cinna.
'''First citizen:''' Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator!<br />
'''First citizen:''' Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator!
'''Cinna:''' I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet!<br />
'''Cinna:''' I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet!
'''First citizen:''' Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses! }}
'''First citizen:''' Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses! }}
* [[Downer Ending]]: It's [[Shakespeare]]. [[Captain Obvious|It's a tragedy.]] ''Duh''.
* [[Downer Ending]]: It's [[Shakespeare]]. [[Captain Obvious|It's a tragedy.]] ''Duh''.
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** Although, Brutus's suicide is more honorable (in their society's norms) than Cassius's because Brutus has his servant hold his sword while he runs himself on it, while Cassius makes his servant kill him while he looks away.
** Although, Brutus's suicide is more honorable (in their society's norms) than Cassius's because Brutus has his servant hold his sword while he runs himself on it, while Cassius makes his servant kill him while he looks away.
* [[Large Ham]]: Even from just reading the play, it seems like Caesar is intended to be played as one:
* [[Large Ham]]: Even from just reading the play, it seems like Caesar is intended to be played as one:
{{quote| Danger knows full well<br />
{{quote|Danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:<br />
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
We are two lions littered in one day,<br />
We are two lions littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible. }}
And I the elder and more terrible. }}
* [[Leaning on the Fourth Wall]]
* [[Leaning on the Fourth Wall]]
{{quote| '''Cassius''': How many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted over in states unborn and accents yet unknown!}}
{{quote|'''Cassius''': How many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted over in states unborn and accents yet unknown!}}
* [[Manipulative Bastard]]: Depending on portrayal, Cassius can easily be this. It is left ambiguous whether Cassius is merely jealous of Caesar's new found power even though both Brutus and himself are just as honourable, and has contracted the world's most traitorous form of tall poppy syndrome:
* [[Manipulative Bastard]]: Depending on portrayal, Cassius can easily be this. It is left ambiguous whether Cassius is merely jealous of Caesar's new found power even though both Brutus and himself are just as honourable, and has contracted the world's most traitorous form of tall poppy syndrome:
{{quote| Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world<br />
{{quote|Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men<br />
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about<br />
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.<br />
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates.<br />
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars<br />
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.<br />
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?<br />
Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?<br />
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name.<br />
Write them together, yours is as fair a name.
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well.<br />
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well.
Weigh them, it is as heavy. }}
Weigh them, it is as heavy. }}
** Or whether he genuinely fears that Caesar will be crowned king and therefore be a threat to the very anti-monarchy Roman ideology:
** Or whether he genuinely fears that Caesar will be crowned king and therefore be a threat to the very anti-monarchy Roman ideology:
{{quote| Age, thou art shamed!<br />
{{quote|Age, thou art shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!<br />
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,<br />
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man?<br />
But it was famed with more than with one man?
When could they say till now, that talked of Rome,<br />
When could they say till now, that talked of Rome,
That her wide walks encompassed but one man?<br />
That her wide walks encompassed but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,<br />
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.<br />
When there is in it but one only man.
Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say,<br />
Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once that would have brooked<br />
There was a Brutus once that would have brooked
Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome<br />
Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king. }}
As easily as a king. }}
* [[Murder-Suicide]]: Arguably Brutus and Cassius, though the suicides happen well after the murder.
* [[Murder-Suicide]]: Arguably Brutus and Cassius, though the suicides happen well after the murder.
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* [[One Steve Limit|One Cinna Limit]]: Averted, unfortunately for Cinna the poet, who is mistaken for Cinna the conspirator and killed by an angry mob.
* [[One Steve Limit|One Cinna Limit]]: Averted, unfortunately for Cinna the poet, who is mistaken for Cinna the conspirator and killed by an angry mob.
* [[Out, Damned Spot!]]: Inverted, interestingly, when Brutus suggests:
* [[Out, Damned Spot!]]: Inverted, interestingly, when Brutus suggests:
{{quote| ''...Stoop, Romans, stoop,''<br />
{{quote|''...Stoop, Romans, stoop,''
''And let us bathe our hands in ''Caesar's'' blood''<br />
''And let us bathe our hands in ''Caesar's'' blood''
''Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:''<br />
''Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:''
''Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,''<br />
''Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,''
''And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,''<br />
''And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,''
''Let's all cry Peace, Freedom, and Liberty.'' }}
''Let's all cry Peace, Freedom, and Liberty.'' }}
* [[Poor Communication Kills]]: Lots of people.
* [[Poor Communication Kills]]: Lots of people.
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