Topic > The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

In today's society, the will of the people is corrupted by government power and policy. This is also evident in William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare was born in 1564, about one hundred miles from London, in a market town called Stratford-Upon-Avon. By 1585, Shakespeare had begun his career as an actor and playwright in London. Shakespeare joined a theater company, Lord Chamberlain's Men, in 1594. Because Shakespeare had a share in the theater company and the theaters in which they performed, he became a wealthy man and bought a house in Stratford for his family. However, due to his work, he lived in London for most of the year. Shakespeare's acting company had built the Globe, an open-air theater, in 1599. The Globe held 3,000 people in its circular space. The costumes used in the Globe's stage performances were very realistic, which helped make up for the loss of scenery. Women were not allowed to perform, so the boys used their high-pitched voices and girlish costumes to create the illusion that the women were performing. Shakespeare's play is based on the transition of the Roman Empire during the time of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare opens his play in 44 BC, a time in Roman society when it seemed that if Caesar took power, the republic might fall. Caesar took over after the death of the wealthy politician Crassus in 53 BC Caesar also had to defeat Pompey, another Roman military general, in Egypt. At this point, Caesar was crowned dictator for life, and this is where the comedy begins. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by Shakespeare, the wills of the characters clash between power and politics due to surprises, will instead of reason and spirit. To begin with, Shakespeare uses surprises to demonstrate the c...... middle of paper......heights play a vital role because they show the inconsistent side of mankind. Also, instead of reason, it will be a key theme because it shows how someone's willingness to do something is different from why they do it. Finally, spirits are important because they show change in one's mind and body. In today's society, after reading the work, you will be able to understand why some people agree and fight with others. Works Cited Honigmann, EAJ “A Clash of Wills: Politics and Power in Julius Caesar.” Bloom's modern critical interpretations: William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2009. 112-123. Print.Shakespeare, William. “The tragedy of Julius Caesar”. The New Folger Shakespeare Library: Julius Caesar. Ed. Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. New York: WashingtonSquare Press, 1992. 3-213. Press.