Julius CaesarJulius Caesar英文简介英文简介 Background Information•historical tragedy•written in 1599•first performed in the Globe•sequels•Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra•based on true events from Roman history Historical events of Rome•Kingdom→Republic→Empire•governed by a senate•actually ruled by three people Caesar, Pompey and Cassius (the first triumvirate) •expansion led by Caesar •Caesar fighting against Pompey characterJulius Caesar AntonyOctavianBrutusCassius Leading role plot•ActⅠ•Caesar was warned by a soothsayer to bewere of the Ides of March.•Cassius sounds Brutus out about Caesar's growing power and persuades him joining in the conspiracy.•A fake message from the plebeians stirs Brutus up. •ActⅡ•Brutus debates with himself about Caesar's threat and finally decides to assassinate him.•On the way to Capitol, Artemidorus warns Caesar in the street but in vain. The soothsayer also fails in the second try. •Act Ⅲ•The conspirators crowd around Caesar on an pretext and stab him to death.•Antony conceals his real intentions and is left unharmed.•At Caesar's funeral, Brutus explains their deeds to the public.•Antony cleverly works on the emotions of the mob and stirs them to stand in his side, fighting against the conspirators. •Act Ⅳ•Antony, Octavian and Lepidus plan to kill their enermies.•The relationship between Brutus and Cassius go sour.•The ghost of Caesar appears and tells Brutus that he will see him again at the battlefield. •Act Ⅴ•The forces of Antony and Brutus meet at Philippi.•Fellows of Brutus are captured or die. Cassius forces his slave to kill him with the sword with which he killed Caesar. •Facing defeat, Brutus kills himself. Antony and Octavian promise to bury him in an honorable way. theme•showing struggle between the conflicting demands of honour, patriotism and friendship•reflecting the general anxiety of Elizabethan England over succession of leadership. 。