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    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
    Ebook118 pages2 hours

    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    By William Shakespeare

    3.5/5

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    Betrayal and Honor-- Fearing that Caesar means to end the Roman republic and make himself the emperor, Brutus, Caesar's closest friend, allows himself to be caught up in a plot to kill Caesar. Once Caesar is killed Brutus realizes, too late, that there was far more to this than meets the eye. Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights; Yond' Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWilder Publications, Inc.
    Release dateJun 10, 2015
    ISBN9781627557191
    Author

    William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare is the world's greatest ever playwright. Born in 1564, he split his time between Stratford-upon-Avon and London, where he worked as a playwright, poet and actor. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare died in 1616 at the age of fifty-two, leaving three children—Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. The rest is silence.

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    Reviews for The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    3.5/5

    2,141 ratings35 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I liked this one. There is some good banter at the beginning, the speeches over Caesar’s body are wonderful, and the scenes set at the battle of Philippi felt appropriately hopeful or despondent. Caesar is a bit of a non-entity, though, and I’d have wanted a little more friction between Mark Antony and Octavian Caesar. But a very enjoyable play on the whole.
    • 4/5
      Forgive me that it took me eight months to finish Shakespeare's shortest play. I kept picking it up, reading the first act, and then forgetting. It's strange reading about Roman history through compound filters: dramatization, Shakespearean England, what we know of the Roman Republic, modern norms. One gets so twisted around that nary an eyebrow is raised in Act 2 when Caesar asks "What is't o'clock?" (Brutus: "Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.") Such a tangle that it might not jump immediately to mind that there were probably not a whole lot of chiming clocks in the first century BC. We've got Centurions herein acting like they're on Queen Elizabeth's court. Strange.This play is brief. Brief enough that it doesn't feel like a story so much as a string of exchanges. Brutus (who refers to himself in the third person and thus puts me in the mind of Tarzan or other deep-voiced simpleton) seems instantly swayed to subterfuge. Caesar is full of lofty exaltations but kind of amounts to nothing when you think about it. Marc Antony does show a bit of craftiness, and Cassius is devious. I do like the way Casca responds to Cassius' invitation to dinner and I hope I can use it myself sometime: "Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating."I do feel like that sometimes.
    • 5/5
      I love the Folger editions w awesome illustrations from the library. This is a larger sized paperback which is easy on the eyes. I have to say that Shakespeare is fairly neutral in presenting the main characters.Was happy to see "Let loose the dogs of war", though I previously thought that was from one of the Henry's.
    • 5/5
      “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Et tu, Brute. Beware the ides of March.” I'm a little embarrassed to admit that this is all I knew of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar up to this point in my life. There's so much more to this play. Shakespeare captures the tension and drama of the last years of the Roman Republic and the role of Julius Caesar's ambition in hastening its end. The L.A. Theatre Works audio production is outstanding. The cast includes Richard Dreyfuss, Kelsey Grammar, Stacy Keach, John De Lancie, and JoBeth Williams. I will listen to this recording again. Next time I will plan to do my listening when I'm able to follow along in the printed text.
    • 3/5
      1599, meest klassieke tragedie, bron is Plutarchus; perfecte tekst (bijna helemaal rijm), later verketterd als schooltekstBrutus is de hoofdrolspeler, maar Caesar beheerst wel de handeling. Brutus is een idealist die ten onder gaat door een gebrek aan praktisch doorzicht; het tegendeel is Cassius, maar toch meer medevoelen met hem; Antonius is de gehaaide opportunist, demagoog. Brutus’ motieven: II,1 (p 820)Moord III,1Verheven pathetiek van Marcus Antonius na de moord, p 826, 827 (maar wel vals)Redevoeringen bij begrafenis III,2 vormen het hoogtepunt, vooral die van Antonius (p 828-29): opruiend door details over de dood van Caesar en een verwijzing naar zijn testament, tegelijk vriendelijk ten aanzien van de samenzweerders.
    • 4/5
      Good story.
    • 5/5
      One begins to understand cultural references the more one reads Shakespeare, and Julius Caesar is no exception to this rule (this is perhaps especially true for Star Trek fans). The fault being not in our stars but in ourselves is a great bit of poetry that everyone should heed.
    • 4/5
      "Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look." This was one of Shakespeare's more excellent books in my opinion. While historical it wasn't as bad as one of the Richard books--it had a timeless story without being too historical or too political, especially British-ly political. One of the original eponymous tragedy, a story of a man's success and betrayal. A wonderful masterpiece and underrated.
    • 4/5
      Cassius is quickly able to plant the idea of overthrowing Julius Caesar in the mind of Brutus, a man who claims to love Caesar. Cassius and Brutus gather a group of the Caesar's friends, who they join together to murder the leader, then tell each other that they did the man a favor and will be remembered for their courage in removing a tyrant. But then Marcus Antony gives a clever eulogy at the funeral, which causes the public to question the motives of the assassins, the conspirators no longer trust one another and Brutus finds his position threatened.A good example of how power corrupts, as even the good guy, Antony, tries to manipulate his friends to gain more for himself.
    • 5/5
      Wow that Brutus was one sneaky guy he just wanted to be like Caesar. and then the scene when they killed Caesar was like WOW
    • 5/5
      Shakespeare’s dissection of the damage that idealism can do in politics is still relevant.
    • 5/5
      The first Shakespeare I ever read. I am wildly in love with Marc Antony (odd, because I actively despise him in [book: Antony and Cleopatra]).
    • 4/5
      This is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and one that I have read and reread over the years in addition to seeing several performances of the play. The classic story is informed by history as we know from Roman accounts about the life and death of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare adhered closely to the version of the story in Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans. In comparing prominent figures from Greek and Roman history , Plutarch presented history as a compendium of the deeds of great men, portraying the characters with all the ambiguities and idiosyncrasies that were present in their lives. The writings of Marcu Tullius Cicero also informed Shakespeare. Cicero was a staunch republican and his dislike of Caesar preceded the conspiracy that led to his assassination, which conspiracy Cicero did not directly participate in. A final source for Shakespeare was the Roman historian Appian who chronicled the civil wars as part of his longer history of Rome. All of these sources inform the dramatic tension within this play adding a historical realism to Shakespeare's own dramatic genius. I especially like the relationship between Caesar and his wife. I also found the psychology of the characters, particularly Brutus, an important aspect of the drama. This helps make many of the characters from Brutus and Cassius to Mark Antony as memorable as the title character. It is one of the great Roman plays in Shakespeare's works, and it is both an historical and a dramatic achievement.
    • 4/5
      In the book Julius Caesar, a group of conspirators lead by a man named Brutus plot to kill Julius Caesar. After succeeding in killing him, Brutus sees Julius Caesar's ghost who promises to see him in Philippi. On a battlefield in Philippi, Brutus fights with Cassius's army. Cassius being overthrown, commits suicide. When one member of Cassius's army finds Cassius dead, he then also kills himself. Brutus is defeated and runs upon his sword. Conflict in Rome is at an end. As a twelve year old this wasn't the best book I've ever read. It was a little confusing with a lot of characters and action. I thought the book was going to be about Julius Caesar but it was more about the conspirators getting rid of him. One of the morals was don't murder anyone because you will have to live with the guilt the rest of your life. This play taught me a little about Rome and war. I really enjoy reading Shakespeare. Overall this was a good book.
    • 4/5
      I read this play just after finishing Goldsworthy's excellent biography of Caesar. The play focuses much more on the conspirators, especially Brutus and Cassius, rather than the titular subject, who indeed hardly appears in person and is only about three scenes, one of them as a ghost. It is splendid stuff, largely, at least in the initial acts based on the premise that the conspirators were freeing Rome of a tyrant through their act; only, when Antony makes his famous "friends, Romans, countrymen" speech does a more nuanced view of Caesar's positives and negatives enter the scene. Not one of the meatier plays, but a good supplement to other reading about the period.
    • 3/5
      Julius Caesar is the first Shakeaspeare I ever read (in English I). I didn't remember much of it when I picked it up again in preparation for a performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, but was pleasantly surprised by how modern and relevant it seemed.
    • 5/5
      I think everyone knows parts of this play: "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." The first part of it is maybe not so well known, but I think most people know something of Mark Antony's speech after Caesar's death. I think this might be my favourite Shakespeare play so far -- possibly partly due to already loving to read about Caesar, but also because of the strength of the rhetoric in it.

      I have actually seen parts of this performed -- the speech I referred to, actually -- and when I'd read it, I looked on youtube for performances of my favourite parts. I'd go see this play in a heartbeat.

      So, anyone remember why I disliked Shakespeare before...? I do wish schools wouldn't shove Romeo and Juliet down people's throats: it's far from my favourite.
    • 2/5
      So dry. What a mistake to cram this down 15-year old throats just because it's short. How many 10th graders have been completely turned off by Shakespeare because this is over their head. I really didn't care much for this. Many of his history plays are far superior. Should've been called "The Rise and Fall of Brutus" because Caesar is such a minor character -- no development either.
    • 3/5
      This is the best William Shakespeare that I have ever read. I haven't read much but this one was really appealing to me. Even though I knew the ending, I couldn't put the book down until the end.
    • 2/5
      I read this play during my Sophomore year of high school. I loved it! "Et tu, Brute!" I thought of it again because I'm reading "A Long Way Gone", and this play is referenced frequently.
    • 4/5
      One of the most powerful of his plays. Yes, the characters are set in black and white in true Shakespearean style and there is no room for hman error, but therein lies the beauty and power of this drama.
    • 3/5
      I read this due to my interest in HBO's Rome series (which has been cancelled after only 2 seasons - why TV gods, WHY???). Anyway, as an English major I read tons of Shakespeare, so it wasn't a challenging read for me and I found my mind analyzing language/passages as I would have been required to do in school. Let's just say the history plays have never been my favorites; maybe knowing the ending spoils the play?
    • 5/5
      I hope to see this again soon. The first time I saw it as a high school play, the next time in 1997 at a Pub theater (more members of the cast than the audience) next to the railroad station in Greenwich England...with a wonderful redo as a Mafia, Chicago script.
    • 3/5
      Great Play, could easily see this as a modern re-telling set in the Italian Mob or as hotile financial take over...I see Macbeth the same way.But betrayal is a hell of a thing.
    • 4/5
      'Tis happened upon chance that mine eyes have read the tale of Julius Caesar. For sooth, a great tragedy were 't. Yet happiness was clutch't betwixt mine hands that such wordsmithings are imbued into my corpus of knowledge. Brutus was not a noble understood, know that I now. It has cometh to pass that Royal Antony's quotes sitteth in upon my vernacular at the ready. What pleasure shall I give mine eyes to scan upon next? Be it, I prayeth, one of Sir William's comedies, for these tragedic readings have ravaged vexings upon my soul. Twelfth Night? Much Ado About Nothing? Instruct me, fellow plebeians.
    • 3/5
      My favourite part of this play is the "Antony is an honest man" speech. Excellent.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful classic that truly speaks to the duality of man and his eternal search for not only power, but those that are truly pure at heart. Amazing how many quotes and sayings have come from this piece of literature.
    • 4/5
      did an adaptation of a scene of this! love it!
    • 3/5
      Had to read the play, cause I love the history. Im not a big fan of Shakespeare, but the loved the play because of the charectors.
    • 3/5
      Enh I don't know what I can tell you about this. Antony's funeral oration is fairly amusing.

    Book preview

    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare

    THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR

    by William Shakespeare

    Wilder Publications, Inc.

    Copyright © 2014

    All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

    Manufactured in the United States of America

    10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

    ISBN 978-1-62755-719-1

    Table of Contents

    Dramatis Personae

    ACT I

    ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. A street.

    ACT I. SCENE II. A public place.

    ACT I. SCENE III. A street. Thunder and lightning.

    ACT II

    ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Brutus in his orchard.

    ACT II. SCENE II. Caesar’s house. Thunder and lightning.

    ACT II. SCENE III. A street near the Capitol.

    ACT II. SCENE IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.

    ACT III

    ACT III. SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above. A crowd of people, among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer.

    ACT III. SCENE II. The Forum.

    ACT III. SCENE III. A street.

    ACT IV

    ACT IV. SCENE I. A house in Rome. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table.

    ACT IV. SCENE II. Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus’ tent. Drum.

    ACT IV. SCENE III. Brutus’ tent.

    ACT V

    ACT V. SCENE I. The plains of Philippi.

    ACT V. SCENE II. The field of battle.

    ACT V. SCENE III. Another part of the field.

    ACT V. SCENE IV. Another part of the field.

    ACT V. SCENE V. Another part of the field.

    Dramatis Personae

    JULIUS CAESAR, Roman statesman and general

    OCTAVIUS, Triumvir after Caesar’s death, later Augustus Caesar,

    first emperor of Rome

    MARK ANTONY, general and friend of Caesar, a Triumvir after his death

    LEPIDUS, third member of the Triumvirate

    MARCUS BRUTUS, leader of the conspiracy against Caesar

    CASSIUS, instigator of the conspiracy

    CASCA, conspirator against Caesar

    TREBONIUS, conspirator against Caesar

    CAIUS LIGARIUS, conspirator against Caesar

    DECIUS BRUTUS, conspirator against Caesar

    METELLUS CIMBER, conspirator against Caesar

    CINNA, conspirator against Caesar

    CALPURNIA, wife of Caesar

    PORTIA, wife of Brutus

    CICERO, senator

    POPILIUS, senator

    POPILIUS LENA, senator

    FLAVIUS, tribune

    MARULLUS, tribune

    CATO, supportor of Brutus

    LUCILIUS, supportor of Brutus

    TITINIUS, supportor of Brutus

    MESSALA, supportor of Brutus

    VOLUMNIUS, supportor of Brutus

    ARTEMIDORUS, a teacher of rhetoric

    CINNA, a poet

    VARRO, servant to Brutus

    CLITUS, servant to Brutus

    CLAUDIO, servant to Brutus

    STRATO, servant to Brutus

    LUCIUS, servant to Brutus

    DARDANIUS, servant to Brutus

    PINDARUS, servant to Cassius

    The Ghost of Caesar

    A Soothsayer

    A Poet

    Senators, Citizens, Soldiers, Commoners, Messengers, and Servants

    SCENE: Rome, the conspirators’ camp near Sardis, and the plains of Philippi.

    ACT I

    ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. A street.

    Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners.

    FLAVIUS: Hence, home, you idle creatures, get you home.

    Is this a holiday? What, know you not,

    Being mechanical, you ought not walk

    Upon a laboring day without the sign

    Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?

    FIRST COMMONER: Why, sir, a carpenter.

    MARULLUS: Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?

    What dost thou with thy best apparel on?

    You, sir, what trade are you?

    SECOND COMMONER: Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am

    but, as you would say, a cobbler.

    MARULLUS: But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.

    SECOND COMMONER: A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe

    conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.

    MARULLUS: What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?

    SECOND COMMONER: Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me; yet,

    if you be out, sir, I can mend you.

    MARULLUS: What mean’st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow!

    SECOND COMMONER: Why, sir, cobble you.

    FLAVIUS: Thou art a cobbler, art thou?

    SECOND COMMONER: Truly, Sir, all that I live by is with the awl; I

    meddle with no tradesman’s matters, nor women’s matters, but with

    awl. I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in

    great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon

    neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.

    FLAVIUS: But wherefore art not in thy shop today?

    Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?

    SECOND COMMONER: Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes to get myself

    into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Caesar

    and to rejoice in his triumph.

    MARULLUS: Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?

    What tributaries follow him to Rome

    To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?

    You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!

    O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,

    Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft

    Have you climb’d up to walls and battlements,

    To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops,

    Your infants in your arms, and there have sat

    The livelong day with patient expectation

    To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome.

    And when you saw his chariot but appear,

    Have you not made an universal shout

    That Tiber trembled underneath her banks

    To hear the replication of your sounds

    Made in her concave shores?

    And do you now put on your best attire?

    And do you now cull out a holiday?

    And do you now strew flowers in his way

    That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?

    Be gone!

    Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,

    Pray to the gods to intermit the plague

    That needs must light on this ingratitude.

    FLAVIUS: Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault,

    Assemble all the poor men of your sort,

    Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears

    Into the channel, till the lowest stream

    Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

    Exeunt all Commoners.

    See whether their basest metal be not moved;

    They vanish tongue—tied in their guiltiness.

    Go you down that way towards the Capitol;

    This way will I. Disrobe the images

    If you do find them deck’d with ceremonies.

    MARULLUS: May we do so?

    You know it is the feast of Lupercal.

    FLAVIUS: It is no matter; let no images

    Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about

    And drive away the vulgar from the streets;

    So do you too, where you perceive them thick.

    These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing

    Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,

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