Informative Essay on Julius Caesar – Free Essay Example

Shakespeare is a renowned play writer and poet who is one of the most influential individuals in history and known for shaping the basic aspects of English and literature seen today. Most would assume his success was due to the complexity of ideas and original concepts he encompassed within his literature that attracted an audience in Elizabethan society. However, he owes much of his popularity and legacy to his incorporation of different conventions and themes that appealed to different classes and sections of society. This was so effective as it allowed for a larger audience to understand and enjoy his plays which form his fame and success seen both today and in Elizabethan times. Julius Caesar is a play written by Shakespeare in 1599 and is based off of real events that occurred in 44-46 BC in Rome and are influenced by the politics of the Elizabethan era. It regards the famous commander/ruler Julius Caesar and the story of his assassination involving one of his most loyal and trusted friends, Brutus. Within the play, imagery and violent scenes as well as humor appealed to lower-class citizens who may not understand the composite structure and themes that the upper class would have. Furthermore, attracts the monarch of England herself through the portrayal of strong female characters which are based on Queen Elizabeth I herself as well as the inclusion of genres such as drama and romance.

Shakespeare incorporated ideas and dramatic conventions that would appeal to the lower-class citizens within his play, he accomplished this through his use of dirty humor and puns as well as action scenes and imagery. Punning was considered a high form of wit during the 1600s, mostly frequent among lower-class citizens. Almost instantaneously this use of humor is seen in the opening scene of the play. As conservation between two Roman tribunes (Flavius and Marullus) and commoner Romans who joke at the tribune’s expense;

“A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, / which is true, sir, a mender of bad soles” (1.1.13-14).

This line of dialogue indicates the cobbler joking regarding the different interpretations and meanings of the word ‘sole’ which could be interpreted as ‘soul’ as he teases Marullus, who is trying to figure out his occupation. Shakespeare evidently used this humor within his play to supply a genuine source of amusement to the Elizabethan audience.

Gory imagery and violent scenes are consistent throughout as most lower-class citizens would not be educated to understand themes and concepts that the upper class would have and rather rely on movement and action. The famous scene of the conspirators including Caesar’s best friend, Brutus, stabbing Caesar to death as well as the dramatic suicide of Brutus who runs onto his sword, supplies a violent and dramatic scene that engages and captivated the audience. Additionally, Shakespeare was able to portray particular meanings and specific concepts through the use of imagery within the characters’ dialogue. This is seen within Antony’s speech;

“O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth” (3.1.254).

This is a simple and easy way for Shakespeare to communicate with the lower-class citizens, they may not have immediately understood Antony’s guilt for shaking the conspirator’s bloody hands and begging for Caesar’s forgiveness. This also suggests that Caesar’s power has fallen from the sky and or the heavens to the earth where he no longer has power. Shakespeare was able to incorporate violent action scenes with lots of drama as well as lower-class diction and language which allowed for the play to be considered exciting regardless of the fact that some Elizabethan citizens couldn’t read or write.

Shakespeare appealed to his plays to the upper class through the carefully structured plots and politically influenced themes used. This includes the ideology that everything on Earth is divided among hierarchal and that creation is determined based on ‘the great chain of being’ which was a renowned Elizabethan worldview. In the Great Chain of Being, the ruler represents a vital link between God and the Earth, If the monarch was to be challenged it would then mean that God would also be challenged. The rhetorical speeches given by both Brutus and then Antony after Caesars’ death also rattle the Great Chain of Being. Brutus’ speech attempting to calm the plebeians is shown through Plebeian 4 as he says;

‘Shall be crowned in Brutus.’ (3.2.45).

This can be contrasted to Antony’s speech which riles the mob up with anger towards the conspirators, Plebeian 4 states that;

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‘They (the conspirators) were traitors. Honorable men!’ (3.2.144).

Indicating the inner chaos and unrest within Roman society as Romans were confused and astonished by the actions of the conspirators, majorly Brutus. Furthermore, the war that occurs between Antony, Octavius, and the majority of the Roman army against the conspirators and Brutus illustrates the anarchy and uncontrol that occurs when hierarchy is challenged. Shakespeare then uses the civil wars within Rome as an event that also depicts the civil unrest between Catholics and Protestants within the Elizabethan era, allowing the upper-class audience to understand the deeper meaning of disorder within their society.

Within the play, Shakespeare evidently reflects this Elizabethan belief by expressing the impact of challenging the hierarchy. This is seen as Brutus and the conspirators overstepping their hierarchy by taking it upon themselves to determine that Caesar is not fit as a monarch. Shakespeare portrays the consequences of violating the Great Chain of Being through the deaths of the conspirators who killed him. Brutus’ last words are;

‘Farewell, good Strato. (runs on his sword) /Caesar, you can rest now. /I didn’t kill you half as willingly. (he dies)’ (5.5.55)

This not only indicates the significance of complying with hierarchy but also reveals another Elizabethan view, the divinely ordained. By implementing this within the play, Shakespeare allows the upper-class Elizabethan audience to feel intrigued as they are exposed to their own values within the play. They can then further relate to the play as they observe where these principles are seen in famous historical events which evokes curiosity within the audience. On the other end of the spectrum for audiences who were well-privileged and understood nuances of language were able to understand the deeper meanings of Shakespeare’s play, which included political statements comparing both the Roman and Elizabethan era as well as could connect similar beliefs between the time periods.

Shakespeare further demonstrates his outside thinking regarding the types of the audience through the inclusion of various conflicts and genres that would satisfy the monarch within the audience who enjoyed attending his plays. Shakespeare satisfies female members as well as the Queen herself as he mastered the subtle but strong female qualities within his plays. These characters were very shocking to Shakespeare’s audience, as the women were both intelligent and outspoken which are qualities undermined in most women. This introduction of such characters to the theatre was revolutionary and generated greater respect for women. Portia who was Brutus’ wife possessed these characteristics, she demonstrates this as she confesses her opinion to Lucius are she states;

‘I have a man’s mind but a woman’s might.’ (2.4.8)

This indicates her belief of she is just as capable as a man, this would have intrigued females within the audience as to the change in behavior of the typical domestic wife. This further then relates to the monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, as Portia’s dialogue is similar to the Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. It was not unusual for the female characters within this play to acquire the qualities of Queen Elizabeth herself. Furthermore, the dramatic death of Portia not only emphasizes her strength as a character but provides the females with the much-desired drama within Shakespeare’s play. Brutus reveals Portia’s death when confesses to Cassius;

‘-for with her death/That tiding cams. With this she fell distracted/ And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.’ (4.3.154-156)

This suggests to the audience the noble suicide of Portia, indicating her strength as an individual. The female members of the audience are interested as they observe the impact of the romance between Brutus and Portia causing drama. Shakespeare suggests that the scene in which Brutus was arguing with Cassius was due to the grief he is experiencing from his wife’s death. The female audience develops sympathy for Brutus as he is humanized. This is as Brutus’ reaction to Portia’s death indicates a new feminist side to Brutus as he displays emotions. By doing this Shakespeare is successfully able to attract the monarch of England as well as satisfy his female patrons as he incorporates captivating female characters and genres such as drama and romance.

Shakespeare’s plays were incredibly popular both in his own time and also in the present, this is not only due to his genius writing skill but also to the fact that his plays appeal to different audiences on different levels. Shakespeare was able to make his plays appeal to both the upper and lower classes as well as the reigning monarch of his time. He accomplished this through his use of humor and puns as well as violent scenes and imagery to appeal to the lower class. He attracted the upper class through the carefully structured plots and the themes he used including the Great Chain of Being. Queen Elizabeth, I enjoyed much of Shakespeare’s plays throughout her reign due to the drama and Romance they involved, however, she particularly enjoyed Julius Caesar due to the construction of female characters who resembled herself. William Shakespeare was a man of great talent for writing. His plays captured the resemblance of human nature so well that even after centuries of his death thousands of people still read his works; some for enjoyment, some in an attempt to deduce who Shakespeare really was as a person, and others for insights into humanity.