The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a play by William Shakespeare, & believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against the Roman dictator Julius Caesar, his assassination & the defeat of the conspirators at the Battle of Philippi. It is one of several Roman plays that Shakespeare wrote, based on true events from Roman history, which also include Coriolanus, Antony, & Cleopatra.



Despite its title, Caesar is not the central character. He appears in only 3 scenes, & is killed at the beginning of Act 3. The protagonist is Marcus Brutus, & the central psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting demands of honor, patriotism, & friendship.



The play reflected the general anxiety of England over succession of leadership. At the time of its creation and 1st performance, Queen Elizabeth, a strong ruler, was elderly & had refused to name a successor leading to worries that a civil war similar to that of Rome might occur after her death.