1. Introduction
William Shakespeare is the most important playwright of the English Renaissance period. His career bridged the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and James I. When the play Julius Caesar was first performed in 1599 at the Globe theatre1, Queen Elizabeth I had been on the throne for nearly 40 years. She was 66 years old at that time and she, like Caesar, did not have any children. People feared what would happen after her death. Shakespeare commented on this political situation by writing Julius Caesar. Censorship did not allow direct comments on contemporary political affairs. 2
Julius Caesar is the shortest play by William Shakespeare full of fast action and rhetoric. It takes place in ancient Rome in 44 B.C. It was a time when the empire suffered greatly from a clear division between citizens represented by the senate and the plebeian masses. The people feared that Caesar's power would lead to Roman citizens being slaves. That is why Caesar was assassinated.
This paper will deal with the commoners and their treatment by the tribunes in the opening scene of the play. It will also give an insight into the speeches of Brutus and Antony and their effects on the plebeians in the second scene of the third act.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 The tragedy of Julius Caesar
2. The tribunes and the commoners
3. The eulogies and their effect on the commoners
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the representation of commoners in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," specifically analyzing their interaction with the tribunes in the opening scene and their susceptibility to rhetorical manipulation during the funeral orations of Brutus and Antony.
- The social conflict between the Roman nobility and the plebeian masses.
- Linguistic analysis of address forms ('you' vs. 'thou') and the function of puns.
- The contrast between Brutus's logical, restrained rhetoric and Antony's emotional, manipulative appeal.
- The psychological phenomenon of "mob mentality" within the play's crowd.
- The dramatic function of prose versus verse in character portrayal.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The tribunes and the commoners
This opening scene introduces the central conflict of the play. It furthermore presents the 'mob' and introduces the theme of not knowing one's right place. Flavius and Murellus, two tribunes, meet commoners in the streets of Rome. These common people, the cobbler and the carpenter, are celebrating Caesar's victory as well as the feast of Lupercal instead of working in their shops much to the discontent of Flavius and Murellus: “ Hence: home you idle Creatures, get you home: Is this a holiday?”4 'Creatures' implies contempt as it can be understood as 'wretch' 5. Flavius' contempt and negative attitude towards the commoners implies “their inferiority as base and vulgar.”6 The tribunes demand to know why they are not working and why they are not wearing the sign of their profession which was a symbol of their trade. It was actually Elizabethan law to wear the clothes and carry the tools associated with the profession.
Flavius asks the carpenter to “Speake, what Trade art thou?”7 In order to understand why this is an insulting question and a contemptuous form of address, it is necessary to define 'thou' first. 'Thou' is a
Pronoun of the second person, singular number, denoting the person spoken to; used in contrast with
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the political context of the play and introduces the core focus on the common people and the rhetorical strategies used in the speeches of Brutus and Antony.
1.1 The tragedy of Julius Caesar: Offers a concise narrative summary of the play's plot, from the initial unrest and the conspiracy to the final battle and the death of the conspirators.
2. The tribunes and the commoners: Analyzes the opening scene, focusing on the social hierarchy, the use of language—specifically pronouns and puns—to express contempt, and the Elizabethan concept of order.
3. The eulogies and their effect on the commoners: Explores the rhetorical contrast between Brutus's logical approach and Antony's emotional manipulation, explaining how the latter successfully turns the crowd against the conspirators.
Keywords
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare, commoners, plebeians, tribunes, rhetoric, manipulation, mob mentality, Brutus, Antony, puns, Elizabethan era, social hierarchy, eulogy, political discourse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the representation of the common people in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and analyzes how they are treated by authority figures and influenced by rhetoric.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include social conflict, the power of rhetoric, mob mentality, manipulation, and the contrast between logic and emotion in public oratory.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study investigates how Antony succeeds in winning over the crowd while Brutus fails, and how the plebeians react to the distinct rhetorical styles of the two speakers.
Which scientific methods are applied in this analysis?
The author utilizes literary analysis, specifically examining rhetorical devices, linguistic forms of address (thou/you), and historical context regarding the Elizabethan period.
What is the focus of the main body of the paper?
The main body examines the interaction between the tribunes and commoners in the opening scene, followed by a detailed analysis of the funeral speeches held by Brutus and Antony in the third act.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The paper is characterized by terms such as Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, rhetoric, mob mentality, plebeians, manipulation, and social hierarchy.
Why does the author argue that the cobbler is the most important commoner?
The cobbler is identified as the most individualized commoner who uses witty puns and verbal irony to challenge the authority of the tribunes, showcasing a unique personality not found in the other plebeians.
How does the author define the difference between the speeches of Brutus and Antony?
Brutus's speech is defined as "ductus simplex," relying on logic and cold reason, while Antony's speech is described as "ductus subtilis," appealing to the emotions, greed, and impulsive nature of the crowd.
How do pronouns like 'thou' and 'you' function in the opening scene?
The tribunes use these pronouns to establish social distance and display contempt, with 'you' often used in a scornful manner to address those they consider socially inferior.
- Quote paper
- Victoria Milhan (Author), 2010, The language of the commoners in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/162150
