Julius Caesar | Julius Caesar Summary | William Shakespeare | English Lecture

Key Facts of the tragedy Julius Caesar
Author: William Shakespeare (life duration: 1564-1616)
Full Title: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Composing date: 1599
Published date: 1623
Literary Period: Renaissance
Genre: Tragic drama; history play or political play
Time setting: 44 B.C.E.
Place setting: Rome and environs
Climax: Brutus’s suicide
Antagonist: Cassius
Historical Context
Gaius Julius Caesar, a historical figure, lived from 100 B.C.E. to March 15, 44 B.C.E. In 60 B.C.E., he formed a political alliance known as the First Triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey. Caesar's leadership in various wars expanded Rome's territory, reaching as far as Britain, ultimately sparking a civil war. His triumph resulted in being declared dictator for life, leading to his assassination and the subsequent rise of the Roman Empire.
During Shakespeare's era, government censorship compelled writers to indirectly address contemporary politics. In 1599, Queen Elizabeth, aging and without heirs, raised concerns about potential political unrest or even civil war upon her death. It is likely that Shakespeare crafted Julius Caesar as a cautionary tale for ambitious British nobles who might seek power following Elizabeth's demise.