Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a political conspiracy against Roman leader Julius Caesar, and the events surrounding and following his assassination. Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar after he had completed a series of English political histories, and though the play is set in ancient Rome, it isn’t without sixteenth century English political considerations. The play deals with the importance of upholding the ideals of the Roman Republic, but these were fairly contrary to monarchical rule in contemporary England. The play dates to 1599, when the hot topic in England was who might succeed Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, who would be leaving the crown without an heir. The play focuses on the question of whether rulers who take the crown are fit for it, especially in the eyes of the people (the ruler's subjects). However, the play isn’t an anti-monarchy tirade. Shakespeare doesn’t object to coronation; rather, he implies that those crowned should be good leaders. Julius Caesar is a play about power, but it’s also Elizabethan England’s answer to ancient Rome. It argues that power concentrated in capable hands is not an affront to the common good, but in fact, its only guarantor.

Anytime we get to read about political scandal, we sit up and listen. Julius Caesar is jam packed with all kinds of issues that resonate in big ways with our world today. Sorry to go all inventory on you, but Shmoop loves lists:

• Betrayal. Brutus places his ideals (Rome as a republic) over his friend, Julius Caesar, and is willing to kill Caesar to protect the Roman Republic.
  
  
• Fear. Incredibly afraid of losing Rome as a republic, Brutus is willing to murder Caesar before the guy even does anything wrong. In his mind, it's better to sacrifice an innocent ruler than to risk him becoming a tyrant.
  
  
• Political Turmoil. Things don’t go according to plan. The politicians are like, “the citizens are going to kiss our togas for eliminating the tyrant Caesar! Down with absolute power.” And then the citizens are like, “What! You killed Caesar? We liked him.” Let’s just say that the politicians aren’t exactly tuned in to the wants and needs of the citizens.
  
  
• Passion vs. Reason. With his clear, cool logic, Brutus convinces the concerned public that Caesar was a tyrant, and he needed to be eliminated in order for them to be free. Yet Antony, with his passionate, emotional appeal, just as easily swings the public in the other direction, turning them into an angry mob determined to avenge their beloved Caesar.
  
  
• Sacrificing Personal Morals for the "Greater Good." Brutus is well-known for being a moral and honest guy, yet he decides to commit murder and sacrifice his morals in hopes of ensuring a better future for Rome.
  
  

Well, Shmoopsters, our list has ended (though we’re sure you can dig up many more intense issues highly relevant to our modern world). Chew on these questions for us, and fill in the blanks about how each of these points resonates with your personal life, your experience at school, or even in the country or world as a whole. It seems like the main question is: how can you not care about Julius Caesar?