Julius Caesar (1623)

I quite enjoyed the other Roman-era play of Shakespeare's that I saw/read (Coriolanus), but Julius Caesar doesn't quite measure up. Obviously the story of betrayal and murder for political reasons is a great theme (one revisited time and time again), but Shakespeare doesn't really do much to elevate the story past the overt political machinations that are really quite simple. Swaying the masses through saavy speeches, doing evil for the greater good, and the danger of wanting too much power in a republic-style government are pretty basic as far as political endgames go. The only subtlety that Shakespeare (likely) added was the influence of Cassius on Brutus, but that's really not more subtle than soldier bro alliances - Marc Antony and Caesar display the same form of friendship and loyalty. ( )

Just a marvelous edition - the new Arden Shakespeares really are incomparable. The editions as a whole are designed more at the serious academic, but their "Julius Caesar" will cater for people of all levels. ( )

One of Shakespeare's greatest and most accessible plays. Marc Antony's speech is one of Shakespeare's best, especially as it follows what would otherwise seem a pretty good speech by Brutus. Cutthroat politics goes back a long way.... ( )

high school ( )

H1.31.4