The Success of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

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Recommended: Shakespeare's influence during the Elizabethan Era

“I came, I saw, I conquered.” (Julius Caesar, brainyquotes.com) Much like these famous words spoken by Julius Caesar, Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, came, saw, and conquered the minds of many. Around 1599, when Julius Caesar was written, a legendary play was born. Julius Caesar is the shortest play written by Shakespeare, was first performed on September 11, 1599, in the Globe Theater. This theater was shaped like a polygon and open in the middle. Actors were privileged to perform in this newly re-built theater, since Julius Caesar was the first play in the theater, after it had been rebuilt. The actors wore elaborate costumes, and when they stepped out on stage, they had no idea that their play would ignite with fame and be carried on throughout history. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar rose to fame because of its prompting of questions towards the time’s political concerns, the sudden change in Shakespeare’s writing, and the attractive themes involved from scene to scene. When Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar, Queen Elizabeth I was 66 years old, and had not yet announced an heir to her throne. The queen’s lack in decision caused the citizens of England to become concerned about their country’s future. People began to fear that a civil war might return and chaos might collapse over England if Queen Elizabeth died without naming an heir. The political concern of the country reminded Shakespeare of Rome, when Julius Caesar was unexpectedly murdered. When Caesar was assassinated, he had no heir to the throne, and the people of Rome were confused, and full of grief. A parallel could be seen between how Rome felt when Caesar died and how the people of England saw England in the future, when Queen E...

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...ple in England, at the time it was written. Shakespeare’s new genre of plays, “great tragedy”, sparked the interest of many. Finally, the variety of themes and presence of drama throughout Julius Caesar ignited the play’s popularity among viewers. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar definitely came, saw, and conquered the minds of people everywhere with its political concern, being one of the first genres of its type by Shakespeare, and having a variety of themes, and continues on its legendary path even today.

Works Cited

Julius Caesar: About the Play.” Bard.org. n.p.,n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

“Julius Caesar: Performance History.” Internetshakespeare.com. Cox, John D., n.d. Web. 15. Nov. 2013.

“Julius Caesar Quotes.” Brainyquote.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013

"Julius Caesar." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 19 Nov. 2013

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