The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (First Folio title: The Tragedie of Ivlivs Cæsar), often shortened to Julius Caesar, is a historical tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written and first performed in 1599. The play portrays the political conspiracy that led to the assassination of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar and Rome’s subsequent civil war. Drawing primarily (with deviations in various aspects) from Sir Thomas North’s 1579 translation of Parallel Lives by Plutarch, Shakespeare presents a dramatised account of Caesar’s growing power, his murder by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus, and the defeat of the conspirators by the forces of Mark Antony and Octavius at the Battle of Philippi. Although named after Caesar, the play focuses largely on Brutus, whose moral and political dilemmas have often led critics to regard him as its tragic hero.
First Appearance Historical figure (b. 83 BCE – d. 30 BCE)
First Publisher ○
Appearance List Literature: Commentarii de Bello Gallico (c. 58–50 BCE) by Julius Caesar; Commentarii de Bello Civili (c. 49–48 BCE) by Julius Caesar; Plutarch’s Lives: Life of Caesar (c. 100 CE) by Plutarch, The Twelve Caesars (c. 121 CE) by Suetonius; Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (1623) by William Shakespeare — First appearance in print of Julius Caesar in the First Folio (play had not previously appeared in quarto); Julius Cæsar: A Tragedy. As it is now acted at the Theatre Royal (1684) by William Shakespeare — first separate quarto printing (Restoration-era reissue as a standalone play); Julius Caesar. : A tragedy (1691) by William Shakespeare — later quarto reissue; The Ides of March (1948) by Thornton Wilder. Film: Julius Caesar (1953) directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz — feature film adaptation with Brando as Mark Antony; Julius Caesar (1970) directed by Stuart Burge — feature film adaptation with Heston, Robards, and Gielgud; Julius Caesar (1979) directed by Herbert Wise — BBC TV adaptation. Comics: Adventures into the Unknown #78, Amazing Man Comics #14, Blue Bolt #6, Hit Comics #30, Hopalong Cassidy #53, Jackpot Comics #6, Jumbo Comics #41, Master Comics #74, National Comics #54, Star Comics vol. 2 #7, Whiz Comics #21, X-Mas Comics #2.
Sample Read Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [Internet Archive]
Description The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (First Folio title: The Tragedie of Ivlivs Cæsar), often shortened to Julius Caesar, is a historical tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written and first performed in 1599. The play portrays the political conspiracy that led to the assassination of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar and Rome’s subsequent civil war. Drawing primarily (with deviations in various aspects) from Sir Thomas North’s 1579 translation of Parallel Lives by Plutarch, Shakespeare presents a dramatised account of Caesar’s growing power, his murder by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus, and the defeat of the conspirators by the forces of Mark Antony and Octavius at the Battle of Philippi. Although named after Caesar, the play focuses largely on Brutus, whose moral and political dilemmas have often led critics to regard him as its tragic hero.
