In 1599, when William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar1 was first performed in the New Globe Theatre, Elizabeth I was an elderly monarch with no legitimate heir. She had neither a child of her own nor a named heir. Hence, the people of England worried about succession. They were aware of the power struggles that might take place when men vied for the throne of England. What is more, people also feared the violence of civil strife. Thus, it is not surprising that the theme of Julius Caesar was relevant to their concerns, even as the content of this play drew on and adapted ancient history. In 44 BC, Rome was at the very centre of an expanding empire. The city was governed by senators; nevertheless, their politics were plagued by in-fighting. The true glory and strength, however, belonged to famous generals like Caesar and Antonius. What is more, a new group, the Tribunes, had entered the political field. After a hard-won battle, the working class of Rome, the plebeians, had elected these men as their representatives and protectors. Hence, the return of triumphant Caesar and his aim to centralize power went against the grain of the decentralizing that was taking place. Such a setting was fraught with the makings of dramatic conflict – in many respects, as we will see.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Introduction
- The Portrayals of Portia and Calphurnia in their Marriage Relationships
- The Marginal Role of Women in Julius Caesar
- Portia - Brutus
- Calphurnia - Caesar
- Summary
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte
This essay examines the function of female characters in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, focusing on the marriage relationships of Portia and Calphurnia, the wives of Brutus and Caesar, respectively. The essay aims to analyze how these characters contribute to the play's exploration of gender roles, masculinity, and the political landscape of ancient Rome.
- The marginal role of women in a male-dominated Roman society
- The portrayal of marriage as a political tool for kinship alliances
- The impact of gender characterization on the play's themes of masculinity and effeminacy
- The relationship between gender roles and political power
- The use of female characters as foils for the male characters' behavior and weaknesses
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel
The introduction sets the stage for the essay by discussing the historical context of Julius Caesar and its relevance to Elizabethan England. It highlights the play's themes of male leadership, persuasion, and the complexities of gender roles. The essay then delves into the portrayal of Portia and Calphurnia, analyzing their marginal roles as wives in a male-dominated society. The essay explores how their relationships with their husbands reflect the Roman concept of marriage as a political tool for kinship alliances. It also examines how the play critiques a masculine patrician culture that prioritizes heroic ideals and leads to political instability.
Schlüsselwörter
The key themes and keywords of this text include female characters, gender roles, masculinity, effeminacy, marriage, political power, Roman society, Julius Caesar, Portia, Calphurnia, Brutus, Caesar, Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, and historical context.
- Quote paper
- Sirinya Pakditawan (Author), 2002, The role ot female characters in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/186200
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