THEMES AND ISSUES - Questions & Answers

1. True/False

• 1. The play begins with the entire Roman society fully supporting Caesar becoming the king.

  False. The play opens with a sharp division between the supporters of Caesar and the senators who support republican principles.

• 2. Brutus chooses to murder Caesar because Caesar is already ruling as a ruthless dictator.

  False. Brutus feels Caesar is personally harmless, but he presumptuously fears that if Caesar is crowned king, he would become a ruthless dictator in the future.

• 3. Shakespeare strictly followed Aristotle's Unity of Time by keeping the entire dramatic action of the play within a single day.

  False. Shakespeare adapted the rule; while historical events span three years, the dramatic action takes place over six days separated by intervals.

• 4. The assassination of Caesar is portrayed not just as a political murder, but as a sin that causes cosmic disorder and nature to revolt.

  True. Roman society viewed it as a betrayal of loyalty and a sin against gods, leading to human suffering and natural chaos.

2. Fill in the Blanks

• 1. In a Shakespearean tragedy, the tragic heroes fall because of a fault in their character; Caesar's tragic flaw is his ambition, pride and arrogance, while Brutus's flaw is his one-sided ideology.

• 2. Brutus is not only a victim of the deception practiced on him by Cassius, but he is also a victim of his own illusions and delusions.

• 3. The supernatural happenings in the play, such as Calpurnia's dream and the dreadful storm, give rise to a sense of Fate in the minds of human beings.

• 4. According to the Unity of Action, there must be only one story or plot, and no introduction of secondary or 'minor' plots.

3. Short Answer Questions

• 1. Why does Brutus deceive himself into visualising Caesar's murder as a "sacrificial rite"?

  Brutus has a psychological need for self-delusion to find relief from the horror of the deed he has committed. Because of his pride in his noble ancestors who stood for Roman liberty, this delusion allows him to persuade himself that killing Caesar is an honourable act done for the good of Rome.

• 2. How do the supernatural elements in the play affect the main characters?

  Supernatural elements like storms, dreams, ghosts, and omens create a mysterious atmosphere and influence the tragic heroes to make wrong decisions. They also show that important events are pre-determined by Fate, marking Caesar as a victim unable to defend himself against his destiny.

• 3. How does Shakespeare apply the "Unity of Place" in Julius Caesar?

  Shakespeare observes the Unity of Place by confining the scenes to Rome (streets, the Capitol, and the houses of Caesar and Brutus) and later moving the action to Sardis and the Battlefield of Philippi, which are geographically connected and close to Rome.

4. Longer Answer Questions

• 1. Describe the conflict between Monarchy and Republicanism as presented in the play.

  The play opens with a sharp division between those who support Caesar as a monarch and the senators who uphold republican principles of freedom. This political conflict drives the entire narrative. The republicans believe that killing Caesar will save the republic, but instead, the murder of the monarch plunges Rome into devastating civil war and chaos. Ultimately, the republican ideal fails, and peace is only restored when a new monarchical rule is established by the three 'Caesars': Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Aemilius Lepidus.

• 2. Explain how Julius Caesar functions as a typical Shakespearean Tragedy.

  Julius Caesar fits the mold of a Shakespearean tragedy because it focuses on the suffering, death, and destruction of great human beings. The heroes, Caesar and Brutus, march toward their doom due to a specific "tragic flaw" in their characters—Caesar's ambition and arrogance, and Brutus's rigid ideology. The play involves mystery, supernatural elements influencing poor decisions, and the suffering of innocent people. Finally, before they die, both heroes experience a moment of clarity: Caesar realizes he cannot trust his friends, and Brutus realizes murdering Caesar was a terrible mistake. Through their massive downfall, the audience experiences a sense of relief regarding their own smaller, everyday struggles.

• 3. Discuss the three principles of drama drawn up by Aristotle and how Shakespeare adapts the "Unity of Action" specifically in this play.

  Aristotle's three principles for drama are the Unity of Time (action should not exceed one day), the Unity of Place (the scene should not change), and the Unity of Action (there should be only one main plot without minor sub-plots). Shakespeare faithfully adapts the Unity of Action in Julius Caesar by ensuring there are no digressions or sub-plots. The entire movement of the play is swift and straightforward. The first half focuses entirely on the development of the conspiracy and the central murder of Caesar, while the second half deals strictly with the direct consequences of that murder—the Civil War and the final defeat of the conspirators.