beef Ce CNZ Preparing to Read The Tragedy of Julius Caesar William Shakespeare wrote masterpieces of drama and Poetry during an extraordinary era in English history. Historical Background: Elizabethan England _ A Golden Age Queen tlizabeth | came to the throne following a tumultuous period in English history. During the reign of her father, King Henry Vl, thousands of people had been executed. Warfare had been frequent, and the royal treasury was drained. The brief reigns of Elizabeth's half and half-sister Mary were equally stormy. Elizabeth, by contrast, pr Strong and successful ruler, frugal with money and popular with her p long reign (1558-1603) is often seen as a golden age in English hist stability that Elizabeth created allowed commerce and culture to thrive. other Et The Renaissance Elizabeth ruled toward the end of a flowering of Europ learning known as the Renaissance (ren’ @ sans’). The Renaissance began in Florence and other Italian city-states around 1350, and then spread throughout Europe. The word “renaissance” means “rebirth,” and the era saw renewed interest in the arts and sciences that hearkened back to ancient Greece and Rome. The cultural Pursuit of art and learning had diminished in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Influenced by the achievements of the ancients, Renaissance v and architects created new forms and designs that emphasized individual human expression. Painters and sculptors studied ancient Greek and Roman art to explore a new focus on the human form. Philosophers and religious reformers challenged old ideas, as did scientists who strove to unlock the hidden secrets of the natural world, With new knowledge of the skies, navigators sailed the globe, expanding trade and exploring distant lands. - ie Sixteenth-Century 4 ye Ee eae Ra rs King Henry Vill ruled from 1509 to 1547 1547 to 1553Pe Chain of Being qn vepeate Alive, Joseph Papp, founder of the Met sh cakespeare Festival, and his co-author ort and explain how Shokespeare and hi pte wed rate and society’ ° oe nly kingdom . . . several levels fe eee angels spread downwards ie og pe, ond each level knew is place Gets et was 0 hierarchy too, ond each planet 12 vos ‘assigned to a specific position... 78 01h world was another very strafed soci Me ‘which each species had its king: the eagle ws the king of birds, the whale wos the king of ish; and the lion, of course, was king of beasts The Great Chain of Being, stretching from the lowii est creature in the natural world all the way up to God, connected these worlds to each other, ond the hierarchy of one was mirrored in the others Since all living things were linked by the Great Chain of Being, violations of order in society were thought to set off violent disturbances in the heav- ‘ens or the world of nature. . . .In Julius Caesar [Act |, Scene iii], strange and terrible goingson are reported in Rome as the conspirators hatch ‘an assassination plot against the emperor. english Renaissance Elizabeth | encouraged commercial enterprise and e efforts of English navigators, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, who tried to establish i virginia, and Sir Francis Drake, who sailed around the globe. Profiting a oe cuatty from the wool trade, a strong merchant class developed in England, wing the gap between rich and poor. London, with nearly 200,000 people, ‘ane europe’ largest city It was a bustling if dirty cultural and political capital angtattracted newcomers from overseas as well as from the English countryside. In 1588, the English army defeated the Spanish Armada, a fleet of warships sent by «oa Philip I of Spain to invade England. The victory contributed to Elizabeth's legend y1asto the country’s sense of national pride. It also set England firmly on the sue sah to becoming ruler of the seas. ieature, however, was written for slaywights Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and—greatest of them all—William Shakespeare The Concern for Stability Elizabeth’s father, King Henry uted two others, including Elizabeth's If-sister, infuriated the nation od her soon afterward. Perhaps because fhe worried about sharing power, when Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of d many were concerned about the fnoed in several of Shakespeare's tes. He divorced three of his wives and exec ‘ther, Anne Boleyn. Queen Mary, Elizabeth's hal by wedding Phillip I of Spain, who abandone’ of these examples, or perhaps because sI Eeabeth | never married. By the late 15905, i Ceesay, she was quite advanced in years, ts ' stability after her death. That concern is ec including Julius Caesar. seths reign was not only remarkable for its commercial and miltary successes deed, her court was a center for musicians and artists, both Continental and native ‘orn, The philosopher Sir Francis Bacon, who pioneered the informal essay as 2 ‘eayy form, became an unofficial member of the queen's group of advisers. Sir Philip sere a popular courtier and diplomat, wrote a series of love sonnets that were ‘uch imitated. The poet Edmund Spenser wrote an adventure-packed epic called the Foerie Queene that he dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. The greatest Elizabethan 1 the stage. The greatest of these voices were the A sonnet, from the Italian for “little song,” isa fourteertine poem originally developed in Italy. Sidney's sonnets ushered in a sonnetwriting craze: Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, and just about every other Elizabethan poet produced a sonnet sequence, or series. Vill, had married six PART 2. © Extended Study: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar 537Theater in Elizabethan England London theaters drew crowds that are large even by today’s standards. % Elizabethan era, the religious plays of the Middle Ages Sve Way tO English tragedies and comedies modeled on those jcrent Greece and Rome. Scholars at Oxtord and Cambridge universities studied and translated the ancient plays into English first great ethan playwrights attended those universities, ‘S why they are sometimes called the University Wits. The Most prominent of the Wits, Chnstopher Marlowe, pioneered the whee Se of blank verse in drama. (For more on blank verse, see p. 568.) Fora time, Elizabethan acting companies still traveled the countryside as t eit Medieval counterparts had done. They ned at festivals, inns, and castles. Gradually, however, the acting companies acquired noble patrons, oF sponsors, and 131N private performances in the'r patrons’ homes, They From the Theatre to the Globe England first public theater "1576. Known simply as the Theatre, it was built by the actor James Burbage, whose company would later attract the young Willam Shakespeare. Since the performance of plays was banned 1 London proper, Burbage built the Theatre just outside the city walls, When ts lease expired, Richard Burbage, who took charge of the company after his fr's death, decided to move operations to Southwark (suth’ ark), just south & This image from thew sixteenth century sh the Globe theater ast: audience arrives fora cross the River Thames (temz) from London. He built a new theater, called the performance Globe, which opened in 1599. Shakespeare's first play to be performed there was probably The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Theater Structure Englands first theaters were two- to three-story uctures with a central space open to the sky. The open space was surrounded by enclosed seating in two or three tiers, or galleries, that faced inward. On the ground floor, a stage projected into an area called the pit. Audience members called groundings paid a small fee to stand in the pit and watch the play. Wealthier audience members, including aristocrats, occupied the more expensive sheltered gallery seats. Since artifical light was not used, performances generally took place in the afternoon, Audien cheering and booing loudly. Most theaters could hold uy drew the largest crowds on holidays. ices were boisterous, iP to 3,000 people and 538 UNIT 4 * To what extent does experience determine what we perceive?EXTENDED STUDY | The Tragedy of Julius Caesar The portion of stagecraft Of the building bs ater 19 behind the st ne tthe production This area included dressing rooms, ae was used ‘4 . r00/ mae from which actors could enter and exit the stage Te ie 19008 actly above the stage served as a perfor second-level '9 Was not considered proper for bout eleven or twelve, before their a's stagecraft, the productions were 'ey were also fast-paced, colorful, and wot en female rles Were played by boys ofa “ ies changed. Given the constraints of the er aegcby modern standards, However, th nity entertaining the Blackfriars In 1609, Shakespeare's company, the King’s Men began sq lays at an indoor theater called the Blackfriars, They stil used the Globe aqning the summer months. The Blackfriars was one of the first English theaters spindude artificial lighting, which enabled nighttime performances, Designed tpappeal to wealthy patrons only, the Blackfriars did not have inexpensive seats axaspace set aside for groundlings. Indoor theaters of this sort, attracting a ‘asianable crowd, would become the norm in centuries to come: The upper stage could be used for particular scenes, or to stage a scene with actors on two levels. It was also the seating ‘area for musicians, an important part of many productions. Several of Shakespeare's plays, particularly the comedies, contain songs. V Shakespeare's Globe, a reconstruction of the original theater, was completed in 1997 near the site of the original building, The modern convenience of artif- icial lighting allows for nighttime performances, such as the one shown in the photo.Wreet the Author William Shakespeare isear6%6 Unlike other famed writers of his time, William ees was neither a lofty aristocrat nor a university scholar. Nevertheless, he is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. "What's Past Is Prologue” Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a ) 09 the Avon River about seventy-five miles northwest of London. His 4 successful glove maker who served for a time as town mayor. ) Arden, was the daughter of a wealthy farmer who owned bom N the land on which John Shakespeare’ father lived. Although the records have been S delleved that Shakespeare attended the Stratford Grammar School, where © MOLL have studied logic, history, Latin grammar, some Greek, and works by the doets Ovid, Horace, and Virgil and Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence. ® left school, he would thus have had a solid foundation in classical literature. “All the World's a Stage” In 1582, when he was eighteen, Shakespeare 3 woman named Anne Hathaway, who was twenty-six. The couple had a nna, 9 1583 and twins, Judith and Hamnet, two years later. No one Shakespeare did for the next several years, but in the early 1590s his to appear in the world of the London theater. Working first a an jakespeare soon began whiting plays. By 1594, he was part owner and playwnght of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the acting company run ‘ages As the leading actor in most of Shakespeare's plays, Richard © becoming famous. Soon he decided to move the company fe" district in Southwark. There, Burbage oversaw the ‘onstruction of the Globe theater, which was larger than the company’s old home in bigger audiences, profits increased for cn Burbage, Shakespeare, and all the other co-owners. “a © Lore! Chamberlain's Men was named for its sponsors, first at Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon, and then his son George. Both men ERE 1S served he high government post of Lord Chamberlain. After DARKNESS Queen Elizabeth | died in 1603, her successor, James |, became the ‘eur company’s patron. In his honor, the company changed its n. “Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow” in 1609, the King’s Men ‘ began to perform year-round, using the Globe theater in summer and tg! the Blackiniars during the colder months. Profits increased even more, I , and about a year later Shakespeare was able to retire. He returned to os fA his chiidhood home of Stratford, where he bought the second-largest house in town, invested in land, and continued to write, Shakespeare ied in 1616, leaving the bulk of his estate to his elder daughter, Susanna, and a smaller sum to Judith, (Hamnet had died in 1596.) 540 UNIT 4 * To what extent does experience determine what we ——— 7 ~~ _£yr pakespeare’s Influence _ pundred years after his death, William. ret ne world Flmmakers, painters, novels, and one ese Nosh ened stisip no daly comeanion Verteae oo yes Shakespeare wrthout even knowing it Here are ita fe ‘i ressions made famous in his plays ea of er EXTENDED STUDY | The Tragedy of Julius Caesar 5 scorer wo fe Tempe) (Hamlet) spewed ga sage. (AS You like It = athe soul of wit gonyotesouls olivs Caesar) [ped oti Joe sinned against than sin “(phere borrower nora lender be. (Hamlet) ing (King lecr) “peing itch sweet sorrow. (Romeo ‘and Juliet) | qegebedilows (The Tompes) wow cold water on it. [The Merry Wives of Windsor) ] “pe much af @ good thing (As You Like I) | ‘Wha poutis prologue. (The Tempes) The Authorship Question Aecouse the documentary evidence of Shakespeare's eis slim ond his roots foirly humble, some hove Gesioned whether he really wrote the plays with which he is credited. Shakespeare scholars believe torte surviving tents of the plays were edited and tata few lote plays even had co-uthors, but ‘early all dismiss the notion that Shakespeare ld not write them, Nevertheless, the theories persist. Sevecal suggest that Will Shakespeare, actor and ¢ business partner, served as a front for some PART highborn person [he Earl of Oxford, the Countess of Pembroke, and 50 on}. Some theories center around philosopher and essayist Sir Francis Bacon as the true avthor—ignoring the fact that Bacon's writing style is completely dierent from Shakespeare's. The most interesting theories surround the playwright Christopher Marlowe, who was killed in @ tavern brawl in 1593. According to these theories, Marlowe used Shakespeare as a front after faking his own death to escape retribution for blasphemous writings ‘or his coreer as a government spy. 2. © Extended Study: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar 541Background for the Phy A NOBLE ROMAN Wer Shakespeare may be the m. ever to write in England, but Julius Caesa and statesman, was one of the first ever his account of his military exploits in Gaul and Belgium), Caesar describes the islan inhabitants. Caesar invaded the island t. 8.C., but he did not remain there long, however, the Romans returned to make {hat we now call England an outpost oftheir empire The ed remained in Roman hands until about A.D. 400, when he empire was collapsing and Roman troops were called hone defend their capital. As part of English history, lulus Cece and ancient Rome were of particular interest to Engish res and audiences 10st famous poran Roman gener to write abouts I (modern-day Fat 1d Of Britain andi ice, in 55 andy About a century la, ce the area of Britain Rome in Caesar's Day Since about 509 B.C, Rome had been a republic, a society ruled by a democratically elected government. Two Public officials called consuls shaed ‘overning authority with the Senate and the Assemblies. Members of the Senate were high-born Romans called Patricians, while members of the Assemblies were lobo Romans called plebeians (pla bé* ‘anz). By the era of Juius ; Caesar (100-44 B.C.), Rome controlled a great ee e military expansion. However, the popularity of miltyEXTENDED STUDY | The Tragedy of Julius Caesar the balance of power, and civil war became common. When a general ey tried to make himself sole consul, another popular general, Julius nea rom names ted him. As Shakespeare's pl one defeat ' play opens, all of Rome wond a9 appoint himself emperor, thus ending the republe. ee jut rch, Shakespeare's Source aesoea® source for The Tragedy of Julius Caesar was The Lives of the Noble sears and romans, St Thomas North’s 1579 English translation of a book pe Greek philosopher Plutarch (pIO0' tark). Written late in the first century, tc ies included eran sketches of ls Caesar, Marcus Brutus, and rs Antris (Mark Antony), who had lied jst over a century eat. Putarch 4 his information carefully, although he focused less on historical facts personalities of his subjects. Shakespeare based his plot on the events ribes, but he condensed the timeline and added dramatic elements. Plutarch writes that Antonius gave a funeral oration that stired the ple to compassion and rage; Shakespeare did not know what Mark ily said, but he gives us the speech as he imagined it. anon the slutarch desc forexample, common peo} patony actual The Play Through the Centuries Often cited os Shokespeare's first great agedy, The Tragedy of Julius Coosa has been drawing crowds ever since its premiere at the Globe Treore in 1599. In 1916, to commemorate the three-hundredth anniversary af Shokespeare’s death, a famous outdoor production was staged inthe Fallrood hills, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sx, and Tyrone Power. Students from orea high schools reenacted the bottle scenes. Just before World Wir I, Orson Welles produced o controversial adoptation that likened Costar fo lelian dictator Benito Mussolini. In 2005, 0 prodvction starring Denzel Washington was mounted on Broadway. Ironically, this play about ‘ossassination is also one of the few in which Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wiles Booth, performed. In an 1864 production, Booth played the role of Mark Antony. From the name Caesar ‘come the German word kaiser and the Russian word czar, both meaning emperor.” From Julivs Caesar's first name comes July, ove word for the month named in Julius Caesor's honor. PART 2 © Extended Study: The Tragedy of Julius Caesor 543