William Shakespeare

Paul Werstine

Julius Caesar

Caesar returns from a triumphant battle to Rome, despite warning along the way, only to fall into the assassination plot set by Brutus, Cassius, and Casca.

A. R. Braunmuller

Stephen Orgel

William Montgomery

Douglas Trevor

Geoffrey Froggatt

** spoiler alert **
           “Et tu, Brute?”

A tragic story of brotherhood and betrayal. I’ve been obsessed with the Caesar and Brutus dynamic for years, and I’ve always loved it when writers use story beats and themes from this play. Despite this, I have never read the play itself or have ever read up on that point in history. Julius Caesar is a historical play and tragedy by William Shakespeare first performed in 1599. In the play, Brutus joins a conspiracy led by Cassius to assassinate Julius Caesar, to prevent him from becoming a tyrant. In fiction, I love themes of brotherhood and friendship, as such, I also love themes of betrayal and tragedy. While reading If We Were Villains earlier this year, I saw this play referenced and I told myself I would finally read it despite not being too familiar with plays and Shakespeare. One thing I never expected was how reading a classic play made me feel connected to William Shakespeare and the thousands of humans who studied and acted out his work since their creation. It's a literary colorful play with diverse complex characters and raises many questions. Questions about honour, fate, tyranny, and how to combat such tyranny. Yet, it also gives us a look into the character of Brutus and how he sways back and forth between his decisions. We can see how his conflicting choices that cover many grey areas in ethical decision-making. There's a reason why even today people debate on which side was "right" and "wrong." There's lots of depth and storytelling gold in this play. Revisiting this play deepened my understanding and appreciation of it. Seeing how this play influenced culture far ahead of its time again proves Shakespeare's timelessness.

“Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

Part of the power of Julius Caesar, of course, is contained in the power of its poetry and speech, which have the power of moving, presenting, and showing. In speech there is also coded language and the imagery of theater and presentation. Caesar's killing is imagined as an act that will lead to representation. Antony's great speech (“Friends, Romans, countrymen”), Caesar's musings on cowardice and valor in response to death, Cassius' presentation of Caesar as a Colossus, and Antony's closing eulogy for Brutus all show the way that words and speech can present perspectives on other people. It is through words that Cassius brings Brutus into the conspiracy, it is through words that Antony incites the mob and becomes a lord of chaos, and it is through words that the events are expressed and portrayed. With this play, what I'm really stunned by is how little Julius Caesar is actually present. He does have one scene but in the others his presence is more like a minor character, then it dawned on me, maybe the focus of the play is not Julius Caesar but the politics. The central thrust is of people teaming together to stop Caesar from becoming a tyrannical ruler. At one time I would not have blamed them, my understanding of Julius Caesar is he's a despot, I know from other things l've read that I might be wrong about this. Also, in the play there is no certainty that Caesar is hungry for power, all this worry comes from other characters, mainly Cassius and Brutus and company. My only gripe with this story is how I wished the focus was more on Caesar and Brutus and their brotherhood and the betrayal itself. Despite this, the play has an excellent weight and impact to the storylines. I’d love to see this acted out one day. Julius Caesar is full of intrigue, drama and spectacle. It is loaded with brilliant speeches and memorable characters. Even the most minor of characters, like the cobbler in the play's first scene deliver witticisms worth remembering. It is classic material worthy of frequent revisiting.

“Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

Bernard Lott

H. M. Hulme

Jasmine Stanway

I really enjoyed this play! It was funny and carried some interesting themes within. I had a bit of difficulty figuring out whether Brutus actually did love Caesar or if he was just trying to save face, but otherwise I followed it quite easily (with SparkNotes sitting beside me in case 👏🏻). I highly recommend reading Shakespeare plays with an audiobook/ dramatic reenactment of the dialogue, as it helps to clarify certain terms and meanings behind writing which might be difficult to understand for readers not well versed in Shakespearean language. I myself still prefer to read the play and the audiobook simultaneously as, being a play, it makes more sense when it’s being acted out.

Anastasia 

William just knows how to drag you in with his character writing 

Brutus being an idealist yet weak minded politician could've turned this entire story into something else if only he could think more of himself than lean on Ambitious men like Cassius to make the big decisions ...even after the death of Julius he was still not secure in his thoughts ( the scene at the tent)

Mark Anthony appeals to me the most in this one, his love and loyalty for Caesar sees him return Rome to a stable Republic again beside Ocatvius and Ledipus.....I still think all of this wouldn't have happened if Julius didn't ignore the obvious signs as he was too trusting of his fellow politicians in the senate 

It was a story filled with good character work ...yet another great play by the English author

with new and updated critical essays and a revised bibliography

The tragedy of Julius Caesar

elizabeth church

I don't know, this was good I guess. The play that my English class watched while reading this kinda screwed up my overall opinion of the book, just because the acting was so weird, and obviously it's Shakespeare so it wasn't the must fun read. But I liked annotating it... so there's that.

Piper Summer

After you get past the ye-olde style of writing found in William Shakespeare's play, you reveal a heartwretching story that tells a tale of a long dead emperor and his tragic death. It tells a lot about politics and the way your own self interest effects the way you see the world.

Meredith Boster

I read this book for a literature class this year, and I have to say, this was a pretty good book. I love plays, I love history, and I love learning about the history of countries and cities and things like that. I am very happy I have read this book.

dana

”Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.”

Great tragedy based on Plutarch's account of the lives of Brutus, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Evil plotting, ringing oratory, high tragedy with Shakespeare's incomparable insight, dramatic power. Explanatory footnotes.

madina

my first ever shakespeare!!! (yes i know i'm so cultured) and i'm so, so happy that it was instead of romeo and juliet. love the characters, love the sword-stabby everything that went on in the end of the play, the themes present and tbh my heart kinda clenched when caesar said et tu, brute because like... even you, brutus?

MY HEART

T. S. Dorsch

Donald

This is a strange play. There are moments that are as good as it gets, but at the end I have no idea how it all comes together or what Shakespeare was trying to say.

Still thinking about the lions and the storm...

Folger Shakespeare Library The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies Each edition includes: • Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play • Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play • Scene-by-scene plot summaries • A key to famous lines and phrases • An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language • An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play • Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books Essay by Coppélia Kahn The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs.

John-Paul Teti

I don't *love* Shakespeare, but this play is, like much of his work, interesting and worth reading.

Archer

Emily

It was probably the best one we have read so far in my Shakespeare

*emmie*

Raya 

Enter, in procession, with music, CAESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a SOOTHSAYER.CAESAR.Calphurnia.CASCA.Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.[Music ceases.]CAESAR.Calphurnia.CALPHURNIA.Here, my lord.CAESAR.Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course. Antonius.ANTONY.Caesar, my lord?CAESAR.Forget not in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.ANTONY.I shall remember.When Caesar says "Do this," it is perform'd.CAESAR.Set on; and leave no ceremony out.[Music.]SOOTHSAYER.Caesar!CAESAR.Ha! Who c

Julius Caesar

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