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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly enjoyed this quite a bit. I think the story is just so dramatic it's almost funny. I love so many different people in the story. Somehow Shakespeare made these characters surprisingly appealing to me. I had trouble reading it of course because hello 21st century but regardless I enjoyed it.
I didn't really know much about Julius Caesar, the person and his history, before reading Julius Caesar. I feel I have a much better understanding of what happened now, though obviously embellished here and there as literature does.
Before now I had always believed that Brutus was the main conspirator. People always mention Brutus when speaking of Caesar's death. He was his best friend and his murderer.
But having read this play I now realise that Cassius was the biggest snake in the grass, not Brutus at all, really. Brutus was merely malleable. Cassius manipulated him, whispering in his ear and twisting the truth, turning Brutus against his best friend. Sure, Brutus isn't innocent in this, after all, he didn't exactly take a lot of convincing to agree to the treason.
Despite that, I'm now of the opinion that Cassius is truly the one that should be widely remembering as Caesar's murder. It was his plan, his wish, he was the one to rally the other conspirators around. Brutus was the biggest betrayal, of course, because Caesar trusted and loved him, but he is by no means the true villain in this historical story.
This was really good play. Seriously good, perhaps one of the best I've read from Shakespeare. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I think perhaps the reason I flew through it was because it was just straight forward plot. Too often in Shakespeare we piss about with side characters or joke characters and often they contribute nothing to the story except to pad it out or provide comic relief. There were no such diversions in this play; instead it moved swiftly from one scene to another, getting straight to the point.
It was easy to read and understand and every part felt important. I loved it. There's not rally much more I can say than that.
Stand out lines to me:
"These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness."
"This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, which gives men stomach to digest his words with better appetite."
"With Ate by his side come hot from hell, shall in these confines with a monarch's voice cry 'Havoc' and let slip the dogs of war."
"Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart, crying 'long live! Hail Caesar!'"
"Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat, the proof of it will turn to redder drops."
Before now I had always believed that Brutus was the main conspirator. People always mention Brutus when speaking of Caesar's death. He was his best friend and his murderer.
But having read this play I now realise that Cassius was the biggest snake in the grass, not Brutus at all, really. Brutus was merely malleable. Cassius manipulated him, whispering in his ear and twisting the truth, turning Brutus against his best friend. Sure, Brutus isn't innocent in this, after all, he didn't exactly take a lot of convincing to agree to the treason.
Despite that, I'm now of the opinion that Cassius is truly the one that should be widely remembering as Caesar's murder. It was his plan, his wish, he was the one to rally the other conspirators around. Brutus was the biggest betrayal, of course, because Caesar trusted and loved him, but he is by no means the true villain in this historical story.
This was really good play. Seriously good, perhaps one of the best I've read from Shakespeare. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I think perhaps the reason I flew through it was because it was just straight forward plot. Too often in Shakespeare we piss about with side characters or joke characters and often they contribute nothing to the story except to pad it out or provide comic relief. There were no such diversions in this play; instead it moved swiftly from one scene to another, getting straight to the point.
It was easy to read and understand and every part felt important. I loved it. There's not rally much more I can say than that.
Stand out lines to me:
"These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness."
"This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, which gives men stomach to digest his words with better appetite."
"With Ate by his side come hot from hell, shall in these confines with a monarch's voice cry 'Havoc' and let slip the dogs of war."
"Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart, crying 'long live! Hail Caesar!'"
"Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat, the proof of it will turn to redder drops."
“The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings”
This is probably my favorite Shakespeare play so far. I cant say much else because your girl needs to pay more attention in ✨English class✨
This is probably my favorite Shakespeare play so far. I cant say much else because your girl needs to pay more attention in ✨English class✨
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My professor claims the first three acts are a masterpiece. I agree. Unfortunate that the play falls apart at the end.
this is only my second Shakespeare play, but i loved it so much more than Romeo and Juliet!!
the only main issue that i had with this story, which warrants a star removal, is Portia. she attempts to be masculine and reach outside of the conformities of womanhood, which, at first, seems really progressive of Shakespeare to put in a play.
but it goes downhill. she commits suicide, which isn’t a good look for a Shakespearean woman trying to be more than her gender. i know this play is a product of its time, but Shakespeare has written so many fantastic female characters. why make Portia die because she wants to be a bit less womanly?
other than that. this is a fantastic story, and i think that it says a lot about jealousy and betrayal. truly a classic!
the only main issue that i had with this story, which warrants a star removal, is Portia. she attempts to be masculine and reach outside of the conformities of womanhood, which, at first, seems really progressive of Shakespeare to put in a play.
but it goes downhill. she commits suicide, which isn’t a good look for a Shakespearean woman trying to be more than her gender. i know this play is a product of its time, but Shakespeare has written so many fantastic female characters. why make Portia die because she wants to be a bit less womanly?
other than that. this is a fantastic story, and i think that it says a lot about jealousy and betrayal. truly a classic!