1. Introduction
William Shakespeare is the most important playwright of the English Renaissance period. His career bridged the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and James I. When the play Julius Caesar was first performed in 1599 at the Globe theatre1, Queen Elizabeth I had been on the throne for nearly 40 years. She was 66 years old at that time and she, like Caesar, did not have any children. People feared what would happen after her death. Shakespeare commented on this political situation by writing Julius Caesar. Censorship did not allow direct comments on contemporary political affairs. 2
Julius Caesar is the shortest play by William Shakespeare full of fast action and rhetoric. It takes place in ancient Rome in 44 B.C. It was a time when the empire suffered greatly from a clear division between citizens represented by the senate and the plebeian masses. The people feared that Caesar's power would lead to Roman citizens being slaves. That is why Caesar was assassinated.
This paper will deal with the commoners and their treatment by the tribunes in the opening scene of the play. It will also give an insight into the speeches of Brutus and Antony and their effects on the plebeians in the second scene of the third act.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 The tragedy of Julius Caesar
- 2. The tribunes and the commoners
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the portrayal of commoners in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, focusing on their interactions with the tribunes and their reactions to the speeches of Brutus and Antony. The study examines the use of language, particularly the pronouns "thou" and "you," to highlight social hierarchy and power dynamics. It also explores the role of puns and their effect on the audience.
- Social Hierarchy and Power Dynamics in Elizabethan England
- The Use of Language as a Tool for Humiliation and Manipulation
- The Role and Portrayal of the Common People in Shakespearean Plays
- Analysis of Rhetorical Devices, such as Puns
- The Impact of Speeches on the Crowd
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter provides context for the play Julius Caesar, highlighting its historical setting within the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the political anxieties of the time. It establishes the play's brevity and fast-paced nature, focusing on the division between the Roman senate and the plebeian masses. The chapter introduces the paper's central focus: an analysis of the commoners' portrayal in the opening scene and their response to Brutus and Antony's speeches in Act III, Scene II. The chapter also offers brief descriptions of the commoners represented, introducing the carpenter and the cobbler and their symbolic roles, while highlighting the lack of individuality and mass mentality among the later plebeians. This sets the stage for a detailed examination of language and social dynamics within the play.
1.1 The tragedy of Julius Caesar: This chapter summarizes the plot of Julius Caesar, covering the main events from the opening class conflict to the battle between the conspirators and Caesar's allies. It outlines Caesar's assassination, the speeches of Brutus and Antony, and the resulting consequences. The summary describes the evolving mood of the Roman populace, highlighting their susceptibility to manipulation. Key plot points, including Caesar's warnings, Brutus' internal conflict, Cassius's machinations, the assassination itself, and the subsequent battles are touched upon, laying the groundwork for later detailed analysis of specific scenes and character interactions. The tragic fates of Brutus, Cassius, and Portia are also noted to show the cost of the conspiracy's failure.
2. The tribunes and the commoners: This chapter delves into the opening scene of Julius Caesar, analyzing the interaction between the tribunes (Flavius and Murellus) and the commoners (a carpenter and a cobbler). It examines the language used to establish social hierarchy and power dynamics, particularly focusing on the use of "thou" and "you" as forms of address. The chapter provides a close reading of the cobbler's puns, analyzing their function in mocking the tribunes and subverting their authority. The analysis incorporates linguistic and historical contexts to explain the social implications of the language used, revealing how Shakespeare uses seemingly small details to portray social class and the power relations within Roman society. The chapter connects the opening scene's dynamics to the later manipulation of the crowd in Act III, Scene II, showing how the commoners' susceptibility to rhetoric is established early in the play.
Keywords
Julius Caesar, Shakespeare, commoners, tribunes, language, social hierarchy, power dynamics, puns, rhetoric, manipulation, mob mentality, Elizabethan England, Act III Scene II, Brutus, Antony.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
What is the overall focus of this language preview?
This preview offers a structured analysis of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, concentrating on the portrayal of commoners and their interactions with the tribunes. It examines the play's use of language to depict social hierarchy and power dynamics, particularly focusing on the impact of rhetoric and manipulation on the Roman populace.
What specific themes are explored in the preview?
Key themes explored include social hierarchy and power dynamics in Elizabethan England, the use of language for manipulation, the portrayal of common people in Shakespearean plays, analysis of rhetorical devices (like puns), and the impact of speeches on the crowd's behavior. The preview also touches upon the historical context of the play and its relevance to Elizabethan political anxieties.
What aspects of the play's language are analyzed?
The analysis delves into the use of pronouns ("thou" and "you") to signify social status and power relationships. It also closely examines the function of puns, particularly those used by the cobbler in the opening scene, as a tool for mocking authority and subverting power structures.
Which characters are central to the analysis?
The analysis focuses heavily on the commoners (specifically, a carpenter and a cobbler) and their interactions with the tribunes (Flavius and Murellus). The speeches of Brutus and Antony and their effect on the crowd are also key elements in the analysis.
How is the play summarized in the preview?
The preview provides chapter summaries outlining the plot of Julius Caesar, including Caesar's assassination, the speeches of Brutus and Antony, the changing moods of the Roman populace, and the consequences of the conspiracy. Key plot points, character motivations, and the tragic fates of central characters are briefly described.
What is the significance of the opening scene?
The opening scene, featuring the tribunes and the commoners, is analyzed in detail as it establishes the social hierarchy and power dynamics that are central to the play. The scene's examination reveals how Shakespeare utilizes language to portray class differences and the susceptibility of the commoners to manipulation.
What is the role of Act III, Scene II in the analysis?
Act III, Scene II, featuring the speeches of Brutus and Antony, is a critical point of analysis. It demonstrates how the commoners' earlier susceptibility to rhetoric, as seen in the opening scene, plays out in their reaction to the speeches and their subsequent actions.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Julius Caesar, Shakespeare, commoners, tribunes, language, social hierarchy, power dynamics, puns, rhetoric, manipulation, mob mentality, Elizabethan England, Act III Scene II, Brutus, and Antony.
- Quote paper
- Victoria Milhan (Author), 2010, The language of the commoners in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/162150
