Julius Caesar is one of the best-known plays written and dramatized by William Shakespeare. This book’s historical accuracy, along with it’s Old English play-writing style and symbolisms, gives a beautiful, vivid description of the assassination of Julius Caesar and the power struggle that occurred afterwards. Every scene of this play shows Shakespeare’s mastery in storytelling and play writing. The dialogue is intelligent and convincing, leading me to give it a great recommendation for any teen or adult.
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The play begins in about 32 BC as Caesar returns from battle and the people prepare to crown him. Marcus Brutus and Cassius, the two conspirators for Caesar’s death, are jealous and do not want Caesar to become king. However, Caesar denies the crown himself and spares them the trouble, showing his humble attitude. Brutus and Cassius still believe that he is too “ambitious” and join in a band with several other senators, aiming to assassinate Caesar. The group assassinates Caesar on the “Ides of March” (March 15).
After the assassination, those loyal to Caesar mourn while the conspirators rejoice. Brutus tells Mark Antony, a dear friend of Caesar, to give the funeral speech, which he does, and his passionate speech causes the crowd to be sorrowful at Brutus and Cassius’ actions. The Roman people become mutinous, and although Mark Antony constantly honored and protected Brutus with his words, they form an army and prepare to attack the murderers. Brutus and Cassius form an army too, but Shakespeare again greatly emphasizes the cowardly murdering party as opposed to the invigorated army of Mark Antony. Although his men were apprehensive, Brutus kept a determination to defeat Antony, believing this to be the only way to keep up what he had started on the Ides of March. Both sides attacked and Mark Antony and his men prevailed over the others. The tragedy ends when Brutus commits suicide as the attacking army comes upon them.
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Throughout this story, the writer shows the character of every star. Caesar is portrayed to be humble and kind, while his friend Mark Antony is respectful to his enemies in the entire play. Cassius is the sour grape of the bunch, lacking courage and causing problems. Brutus is much like Mark Antony, respectful and humble, and during the book the reader grows to like him and Antony more than the other characters. The play also has an abundant supply of supporting characters, dramatizing their lives as much as the main characters. At the end of the book every important person on Brutus’ side commits suicide, showing their inward timorousness.
Although the rich vocabulary makes the book lively, it is helpful to have a key that explains difficult Old English terms. Without a sidebar of terms, I would have comprehended much less of the story. This also makes it a bit annoying, though, having to look at the side whenever a hard term comes up, which happens on every single page.
In conclusion, this tragedy demonstrates the suffering that results when a person lets pride, jealousy, and deceit take over his ways.
