Commentary and Criticism
On Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Compiled by director Brian B. Crowe

"The part played by Shakespeare himself in creating our notions of the ancient Romans should not be forgotten… we are all in the power of Shakespeare's imagination, a power which has been exercised for several generations and from which it is scarcely possible to extricate ourselves."
—T.J.B. Spencer, Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Romans

"The battle in Caesar's time did not really involve liberty in our modern sense. On the one hand was a time-honored but distorted and corrupt senatorial government, inefficient and dying. On the other was the one-man dictatorship of Julius Caesar, intent on fundamental reform and a centralized government."
—Isaac Asimov, Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare

Shown in the foreground are (left ro right): Jessica Ires Morris as Calpurnia, William Metzo as Julius Caesar Robert Cuccioli as Brutus, Geddeth Smith as Cicero, Gregory Derelian as Mark Antony and Michael Littig as Racer. In the background are (L to R) Leon Addison Brown as Casca, Tristan Colton as Cinna and Patrick Toon as the Soothsayer. Photo © Gerry Goodstein.

"Shakespeare had to emphasize politics in Julius Caesar, for otherwise Brutus' fate would be meaningless. Brutus himself never sees his mistake in murdering his best friend and the leader of his country. His fate is dramatically satisfactory only in light of the impact of his action on Roman society as a whole, that is, in its political consequences. His error stems from an unconscious desire for a political world in which evil is impossible. Thus his political blindness has a psychological element, reflecting Shakespeare's progress towards the psychological portraiture of the great tragedies.

"…the importance of Caesar's leadership — first resented and then absent — remains evident. Both Brutus and Caesar have great leadership qualities, and being certain of his virtues, each is susceptible to flattery and manipulation by lesser men. In murdering Caesar, Brutus follows the Caesar-like course of attempting to change society in accordance with his views. Similarly, in the war that follows the assassination, Brutus behaves as imperiously as Caesar did…
"Brutus' moralizing has been useless; Antony will inevitably triumph. The would-be saviour of Rome has produced only a morally chaotic situation in which final victory goes, not to the high-minded assassin, nor to the hot-blooded avenger, but to the cool opportunist Octavius.

"Because civil disorder and violence are tragic for the entire society, their avoidance is a higher moral obligation than the pursuit or control of power, even for apparently just or moral purposes. Therefore, for Shakespeare, the preservation of the political status quo is a primary good."
—Charles Boyce, Shakespeare A to Z

Julius Caesar is "a great favorite for school use, because it is so well made, so apparently direct, and so relatively simple. The more often I reread and teach it, or attend a performance, however, the subtler and more ambiguous it seems, not in plot but in character.

"The play's authentic victims are Brutus and Cassius, not Caesar, just as its victors are not Mark Antony and Octavius, tuning up for their cosmological contest in Antony and Cleopatra. Caesar and Shakespeare are the winners…"
—Harold Bloom, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human

"Julius Caesar's stage history in this (the twentieth) century is the tale of an heroic play adrift in an anti-heroic age."
—John Ripley

Important Dates

In creating Julius Caesar, Shakespeare primarily used North's translations of Plutarch's Lives (including Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus, Marcus Antonius, and Cicero). To heighten the dramatic action of the play, however, he compressed the flow of time. Below is a list of some commonly accepted approximate* dates relating to the rise and fall of Julius Caesar.

509 b.c. Lucius Junius Brutus (legendary ancestor of Marcus Brutus) leads a revolt to overthrow the tyrannical King Tarquin, and founds the Roman Republic. Tarquin's cruelty to the people of Rome was so vicious that the title of "king" was hated for centuries to follow.

100 b.c. Gaius Julius Caesar is born.

85 b.c. Marcus Junius Brutus is born. It is later rumored that, due to a brief affair between Julius and Brutus' mother, that Brutus is the bastard son of Julius Caesar.

60 b.c. Following unrest between the Senate and one of Rome's most formidable generals, Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey), the First Triumvirate is established; allying Pompey, Licinius Crassus (the wealthiest man in Rome) and a charismatic orator named Julius Caesar.

56 b.c. Julius Caesar goes to battle for the first time (at age 44). All are astounded by his natural flair in battle and his seemingly easy victory.

53 b.c. Crassus dies in battle, marking the end of the First Triumvirate and the decline of the Pompey-Caesar Alliance. Over the next few years, the Senate supports Pompey, who they see as less dangerous than Caesar.

49 b.c. Civil war erupts when Julius Caesar, called back to Rome by the Senate, returns to the capitol with his army through the assistance of Marcus Antonius (Antony). To the surprise of Pompey, the citizens of Rome back Caesar. Pompey, along with numerous Senators, flees the city.

48 b.c. Julius Caesar conquers Pompey's army. Pompey flees to Egypt. Egypt, fearing retribution from the mighty Julius Caesar, execute Pompey upon his arrival.

47 b.c. Julius Caesar triumphs over the Senatorial Armies.

45 b.c. October
Julius Caesar conquers forces led by one of Pompey's sons and returns to Rome in an unprecedented fifth triumph (a celebration honoring a victorious general in conquest over the enemies of Rome). Upon his return, Caesar is named "Dictator for Life," and makes his will, appointing his grand-nephew, Gaius Octavianus (Octavius), as his heir.

44 b.c. February 15
The Feast of Lupercal: an ancient fertility and cleansing rite.

March 15
The Ides of March. Julius Caesar is assassinated. Brutus and the other conspirators take power. Antony has Caesar's will ratified by the Senate after attempting to eliminate the provision naming Octavius as Caesar's heir.

Late March
Antony speaks at Julius Caesar's funeral and reads the will to the citizens of Rome. Riots erupt in Rome, and forces are launched against the conspirators.

43 b.c. November
The Second Triumvirate is formed; allying Gaius Octavianus Julius Caesar (Octavius) —he slyly adopted his great-uncle's name — Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, an honored Roman general. The Triumvirate has many high standing citizens of Rome (including senators) executed to seize their properties and monies to fund the conquest against the remaining conspirators.

42 b.c. October
Octavius and Antony meet the allied forces of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi. The conspirators possess the tactical advantage of higher ground when the battle begins. Brutus' forces easily overtake Octavius'. Antony's forces are superior to Cassius', and Cassius dies. There is some historical debate as to the cause of Cassius' death. The day ends in a draw, however Brutus continues to hold the higher ground. Over the next weeks, Brutus also gains control of the coast, preventing Antony and Octavius' forces from receiving reinforcements and supplies.

October/November
Twenty days following the first battle at Philippi, Brutus launches another attack against the Roman forces. He is unsuccessful, however, and before sunset he kills himself.

*Please note that numerous sources disagree on specific dates relating to this period. Most of the information compiled for this timeline is cited in Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare.