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    Julius Caesar
    Julius Caesar
    Julius Caesar
    Ebook115 pages53 minutes

    Julius Caesar

    By William Shakespeare

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" is the first of three Roman history plays that Shakespeare would write. Closely based on actual events as chronicled in Plutarch's "Lives", it is the story of the tragic downfall of Julius Caesar and of those who conspire against him. At the beginning of the play it is feared that Julius Caesar wishes to make himself the King and thus dictator of Rome. From this fear a plan to kill him is hatched. Some of Shakespeare's most memorable lines can be found here in what is considered by many to be one of the greatest tragedies ever written.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDigireads.com Publishing
    Release dateJan 1, 2010
    ISBN9781596254763
    Author

    William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright the world has seen. He produced an astonishing amount of work; 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. He died on 23rd April 1616, aged 52, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.

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    Reviews for Julius Caesar

    3.5/5

    2,156 ratings38 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 3/5
      When I initially attempted to read this, I couldn't understand what was going on, but after careful study and rereading, I was very proud to see I could comprehend it. I found it exciting and dramatic!
    • 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.
    • 4/5
      Good story.
    • 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.
    • 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?
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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
      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.
    • 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
      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
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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
      Summary:This book was about the comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances about Ancient Heroes, bloody wars, and magical creatures. This was a book of power and drama. The theme was set in black and white.Personal Reaction:My personal reaction to this story was that how could one man rule the way Caesar did in Rome and lead his army to countless victories.Classroom Extension:I would use this book in my class to teach children on the power that one individual can have over others.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 3/5
      My favourite part of this play is the "Antony is an honest man" speech. Excellent.
    • 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.
    • 4/5
      did an adaptation of a scene of this! love it!
    • 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
      '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
      Enh I don't know what I can tell you about this. Antony's funeral oration is fairly amusing.
    • 5/5
      This was great fun, although it was quite hard keeping all the characters straight in my mind because so many of them had unfamiliar Roman/Latin names.

    Book preview

    Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare

    JULIUS CAESAR

    By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

    A Digireads.com Book

    Digireads.com Publishing

    Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-2615-6

    Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-59625-476-3

    This edition copyright © 2012

    Please visit www.digireads.com

    CONTENTS

    DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

    ACT I.

    SCENE I. Rome. A street.

    SCENE II. A public place.

    SCENE III. The same. A street.

    ACT II.

    SCENE I. Rome. BRUTUS's orchard.

    SCENE II. CAESAR's house.

    SCENE III. A street near the Capitol.

    SCENE IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.

    ACT III.

    SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.

    SCENE II. The Forum.

    SCENE III. A street.

    ACT IV.

    SCENE I. A house in Rome.

    SCENE II. Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS's tent.

    SCENE III. BRUTUS's tent.

    ACT V.

    SCENE I. The plains of Philippi.

    SCENE II. The same. The field of battle.

    SCENE III. Another part of the field.

    SCENE IV. Another part of the field.

    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

    PUBLIUS, senator

    POPILLIUS LAENA, senator

    FLAVIUS, tribune

    MARELLUS, tribune

    CATO, supporter of Brutus

    LUCILLIUS, supporter of Brutus

    TITINIUS, supporter of Brutus

    MESSALA, supporter of Brutus

    VOLUMNIUS, supporter of Brutus

    ARTEMIDORUS, a teacher of rhetoric

    CINNA, a poet

    VARRUS, 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, A Cobbler, A Carpenter, Citizens, Soldiers, Commoners, Messengers, and Servants

    ACT I.

    SCENE I. Rome. A street.

    [Enter FLAVIUS, MARELLUS, 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 labouring day without the sign

    Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?

    CARPENTER. Why, sir, a carpenter.

    MARELLUS. 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.

    MARELLUS. But what trade art thou? answer me directly.

    COBBLER. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.

    MARELLUS. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?

    COBBLER. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.

    MARELLUS. What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow!

    COBBLER. Why, sir, cobble you.

    FLAVIUS. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?

    COBBLER. 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?

    COBBLER. 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.

    MARELLUS. 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 the 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.

    MARELLUS. 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,

    Who else would soar above the view of men

    And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

    [Exeunt.]

    SCENE II. A public place.

    [Music. Enter CAESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.]

    CAESAR. Calpurnia!

    CASCA. Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.

    [Music ceases.]

    CAESAR. Calpurnia!

    CALPURNIA. Here, my lord.

    CAESAR. Stand you directly in Antonius's way,

    When he doth run his course. Antonius!

    ANTONY. Caesar, my lord?

    CAESAR. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,

    To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,

    The barren, touched in this holy chase,

    Shake off their sterile curse.

    ANTONY. I shall remember:

    When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.

    CAESAR. Set on; and leave no ceremony out.

    [Music.]

    SOOTHSAYER. Caesar!

    CAESAR. Ha! who

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