Julius Caesar

Perhaps more than any other single work, Shakespeare's Julius Caesar has popularized the image of Brutus as a ruthless and cowardly traitor, Caesar as a noble ruler and sympathetic victim, and the Ides of March as a time of danger and duplicity. On the surface, the play is comparatively simple and straightforward, and thus it has frequently served to introduce generations of students to Shakespeare's works. But the play is deceptive in its superficial simplicity, and scholars continue to probe the murky depths of its timeless tale of conspiracy. Part of the "Greenwood Guides to Shakespeare" series, this reference book is a thorough companion to the play. Included are chapters on the play's textual history and available modern editions, the historical and cultural setting of Shakespeare's England, and the sources that Shakespeare probably utilized. The volume then analyzes Shakespeare's dramatic art, including his characters, language, and imagery. It then explores the various themes that figure prominently in the play and overviews a number of different critical approaches. Finally, it examines the drama's lengthy stage history, including recent film productions.