Julius Caesar background Slides

Julius Caesar & Ancient Rome

Social Classes of Ancient Rome

• Roman Social Classes

  • Patricians

  • Plebeians

  • Slaves and Freedmen

Patricians

• Patricians: The aristocratic class of ancient Rome, holding most of the political power and land. (basically the rich people)

• Similar to aristocrats or nobles

• Wealthy and held most of the power

• Controlled the government

• Owned most of the land

• Held high positions in society, and held most of the influence; people looked up to them

• Nobility was based on birth

• Served in the senate

Plebeians

Plebians: were the common people of Rome, often struggling for rights and representation in the government. (middle/working class)

• Majority of the population

• Poor, working-class citizens

• Given parcels of land outside of the city walls

• Often had to borrow money at high interest rates

• Faced harsh punishments for defaulting on a loan, including slavery

Tribunes, Consuls, and Dictators

Tribunes

• An official chosen by the plebeians to protect the rights of ordinary citizens

• Had the power to veto decisions made by the senate and consuls. (local representative)

Consuls

• Highest-ranking officials in ancient Rome (not chosen/voted by the plebians)They were elected by the citizens of Rome and held significant military and administrative authority, serving a term of one year.

• Senate: A political institution in ancient Rome made up of patricians who advised the consuls and held significant power over legislation and governance.

• Tribunes: Elected representatives who protected the interests of the plebeians, possessing the power to veto legislation passed by the Senate and consuls, thereby serving as a check on the power of the elite.

• Praetors: Judicial officials in ancient Rome responsible for overseeing legal matters, including the administration of justice and the management of public affairs, often acting as a substitute for consuls in their absence.

• Two consuls were elected each year for a one-year term

• Could veto each other’s decisions (would this cause conflict?)

• Commanded the army and presided over the senate, consulting it on major decisions

Dictators

• Could be appointed in times of crisis with almost absolute power, but only for six months

• This role was meant for emergencies to help Rome

Triumvirates

• A triumvirate was a political alliance or power-sharing agreement between three leaders.

• First Triumvirate (60 BCE)

  • Informal alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Crassus

  • Aimed to gain political power and control Rome without being an official government structure

• Second Triumvirate (43 BCE)

  • Formal alliance between Octavian (Augustus), Mark Antony, and Lepidus

  • Created to defeat the assassins of Julius Caesar and divide control of the Republic

  • Fell apart due to power struggles, leading to Octavian’s rise as sole ruler.

Julius Caesar: History or Tragedy?

Shakespearean Plays

• Typically divided into three categories:

  • Histories: Focus on historical events and political conflict

  • Tragedies: Themes of betrayal, loss, and death

  • Comedies: Lighthearted with happy endings

Julius Caesar as a Tragedy

• Based on historical events yet Shakespeare took liberties with details and characterizations

• Focuses on personal tragedy, especially of Brutus and his tragic flaws

• Explores themes of honor, betrayal, and fate more akin to Shakespeare's tragedies than histories

Prose vs. Verse

• Prose: Ordinary language often used for lower-class characters or informal situations

• Verse: Uses blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) for formal or elevated speech, typically among nobility

Iambic Pentameter

• Definition: A rhythmic pattern in English poetry consisting of five metrical feet, each an "iamb"

• Meter: Refers to the rhythmic structure of verse

Iamb Explained

• An iamb consists of two syllables; one short (unstressed) followed by one long (stressed)

• Pent: Comes from the Greek word for five

• Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"

Iambic Pentameter in Julius Caesar

• Noble characters like Brutus, Cassius, and Caesar commonly speak in blank verse

  • Example from Cassius:

    • "Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world / Like a Colossus, and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs and peep about / To find ourselves dishonorable graves" (1.2.135-138)

  • Reflects the seriousness of the argument and high stakes in discussing Caesar’s power.

Prose in Julius Caesar

• Commoners often speak in prose, particularly evident in the opening scene with tribunes Flavius and Marullus

  • Example from the Cobbler:

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

  • The pun highlights the cobbler’s wit and differentiates the social status and tone from the tribunes, who switch to verse.

Prose and Verse in Julius Caesar

• Characters adapt language to reflect their audience and dynamics

  • Ex: Cassius' manipulation of Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2

    • Tailors speech to appeal to Brutus’ honor and fears:

      • "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings" (1.2.139-140)

  • This choice of language reflects power structures and strategies of persuasion.