Julius Caesar (play) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julius Caesar
Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus
Written by	William Shakespeare
Characters	Julius Caesar Mark Antony Octavian Cassius Brutus
Date of premiere	21 September 1599
Place of premiere	Globe Theatre London, England
Original language	English
Subject	Conspiracy Assassination Patriotism Dictatorship Republicanism
Genre	Tragedy
Setting	Rome, 44 BC

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a famous play by William Shakespeare. It is a tragedy, which means it tells a sad story, often about a hero who faces a downfall. Shakespeare likely wrote this play in 1599. It was first printed in 1623 in a book called the First Folio, which collected many of Shakespeare's plays.

This play is based on real events from ancient Roman history. Shakespeare wrote several plays about Roman times, like Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra. Even though the play is called Julius Caesar, the character Brutus actually has more lines. The story mostly focuses on Brutus and his difficult choices between loyalty to his friends, his country, and his own sense of right and wrong.

About the Play Julius Caesar

This play tells the dramatic story of the assassination of Julius Caesar, a powerful Roman leader. A group of Roman senators, including Brutus and Cassius, worry that Caesar is becoming too powerful. They fear he might become a king and end the Roman Republic, where people had more say.

The play explores important ideas like patriotism (love for one's country) and what it means to be a good leader. It also shows the dangers of conspiracy (secret plans) and how people can be swayed by powerful speeches.

Main Characters

The play features several key characters:

• Julius Caesar: A powerful Roman general and politician.
• Brutus: A respected Roman senator and friend of Caesar. He joins the conspiracy because he believes it is for the good of Rome.
• Cassius: Another senator who helps lead the plot against Caesar.
• Mark Antony: A loyal friend of Caesar who seeks revenge after Caesar's death.
• Octavian: Caesar's adopted son, who later becomes the first Roman emperor, Augustus.

First Performances

Julius Caesar was one of the first plays performed at the Globe Theatre in London. This famous theatre had just been built. We know a traveler from Switzerland saw a play about Julius Caesar in London on September 21, 1599. This was probably Shakespeare's play.

Julius Caesar in Movies

Over the years, Julius Caesar has been made into many movies and TV shows.

• In a 1950 movie, Charlton Heston played Mark Antony.
• A 1953 movie featured James Mason as Brutus and Marlon Brando as Mark Antony.
• In a 1970 movie, Jason Robards played Brutus, Charlton Heston played Mark Antony again, and John Gielgud played Caesar.

Images for kids

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  Within the Tent of Brutus: Enter the Ghost of Caesar, Julius Caesar, Act IV, Scene III, Edwin Austin Abbey (1905)

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  Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917), as Mark Anthony in 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare, Charles A. Buchel (1914)

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  The first page of Julius Caesar, printed in the Second Folio of 1632

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  John Wilkes Booth (left), Edwin Booth and Junius Brutus Booth Jr. in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in 1864.

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  Orson Welles as Brutus in the Mercury Theatre's Caesar (1937–38)

See also

In Spanish: Julio César (Shakespeare) para niños