12 Matching Annotations
  1. Jul 2019
    1. What can be avoided    Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?    Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions    Are to the world in general as to Caesar.

      Shakespeare uses this language to indicate that fate is pre-determined. If the Gods want him to die, then so be it. It refers to the Graeco-Roman Paganism that Julius Caesar followed, where he isn't scared of what is ahead, as if God had placed him on this trail. As a son of Mars, he must be feared, and look ahead no matter the odds. Shakespeare uses hamartia which foreshadows the downfall of and the eventual assassination of Caesar. This is displayed through Caesar's stature and power. His stature and power within Rome indicates how if he kept staying for those fears, then he would be portrayed as a coward. Inside Caesar's mind, we see that he thinks his reputation is far more important, than several warnings by the Gods. Even if death is waiting before him, he spurns himself to go for the better of Rome. The last line, "Are to the world in general as to Caesar", is a justification that death happens to anyone, and he explains to Calpurnia that these predictions are simply just a fallacy, based on no truth that Caesar will actually die.

    2. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.    Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,    “Help, ho! They murther Caesar!” Who’s within?

      Shakespeare uses foreshadowing to anticipate Caesar's death. The use of dramatic irony here is also strong, as it must have been painfully obvious to the viewers that with the amount of unnatural actions going on, that it must have been clear to Julius Caesar. First the Ides of March, now "nor heaven nor earth has been at peace?". Julius Caesar starts to understand that there might be something going on. The staging in this play also sets it up with the umbrella being brought in to indicate the thunder and lighting, as well as to show that it is gloomy, which also is there to emphasise the fact that something bad is going on.

    1.     ‘Tis good you know not that you are his heirs,    For if you should, O, what would come of it!

      We see that David Morrissey tries to use pathos in a different way to sway the audience to side with him. He also says these words with ethos, having an authority to say these words and be respected for this. Using Aristotle's modes of persuasion, combined with David Morrissey performance by emphasising these words, it paints a clear message to the citizens of Rome. David Morrissey also only raises his tone because he understands that this would be important for what the Roman public would want to hear. He's "painting an image" in their heads by telling that Caesar loved them so much, that he shared his wealth with the Roman public.

    2. Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.    He was my friend, faithful and just to me;    But Brutus says he was ambitious,    And Brutus is an honorable man.

      David Morrissey's performance here is just incredible. Instead of using emotion to roar up the crowd, he uses it so that the crowd can emphasise with him. He grimaces his face, to indicate that he is heartbroken, struck by the death of Caesar. Even in this monologue, we still see that he looks like he can't get over Caesar's death, that he still cannot interpret why the conspirators did this. The picking up of the microphone shows his frustration and anger, indicating that he is furious at Brutus as doing this. It is nearly in a mocking tone when he says Brutus was ambitious and an honourable man, so it isn't direct an implicitly told. It also allows for his pace in this monologue to drop, further emphasising these crucial words that indicate the relationship between Julius Caesar and Mark Antony

    3. This was the most unkindest cut of all;    For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,    Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,    Quite vanquish’d him. Then burst his mighty heart,    And, in his mantle muffling up his face,

      Shakespeare uses imagery through Mark Antony to show how Julius Caesar's death was horrifying and ghastly. It isn't a death that hurt him physically, but also mentally. The phrase "This was the most unkindest cut of all" refers to the pain afflicted by Brutus. Out of everyone, Julius Caesar never expected that Brutus would be the one to betray him, thus inflicting the most unkindest cut of all. However, as this is Mark Antony who is performing this monologue, Shakespeare uses this as another motive than to get the audience to side with Mark Antony. It also acts as a destruction of Brutus' character and honour, which Brutus holds so dearly and has pride in it. It shows to Brutus that what he did was wrong. While Caesar decided to welcome Brutus with open arms, all Brutus did was to backstab Caesar from his back? Instead of a normal monologue and speech at a funeral, where people usually stand at a single place and talk, The unique nature of an open, circular stage to just a front-to-back stage, is that David Morrissey is allowed to move around, which allows him to look like he is addressing every single person in the audience, instead of just a small amount of people.

    1. Gentlemen all- alas, what shall I say?    My credit now stands on such slippery ground,    That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,    Either a coward or a flatterer.

      David Morrissey acts out this play clearly visibly shaking from Julius Caesar's death, which is rightfully so since Caesar, one of his best friends, dies right in front of his eyes. His body language suggests how he is clearly visibly shaken from this, with him slowly looking at his hands, covered with Caesar's blood after shaking each of the conspirators hands. He tries his best to stay cool, and become calm instead of being furious at the conspirators as a result of killing Caesar. This is clear acting from the Stanislavski Model, where David uses the Magic If, to really show what Mark Antony would be feeling like. Then, he switches to being confused, where would his reputation lie. His super objective would be to try and take revenge on Caesar by killing Brutus here, but David Morrissey does very well to hide his true objective. Instead of his emotions being absolute fury, which could be portrayed here through these words, a much more weepy and sad David Morrissey is here to address these words, to make him look like he is trying to side with the conspirators.

      Furthermore, everyone else is basically frozen in this play, giving the spotlight to Antony and highlights what he wants to say to the conspirators.

    2. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,    To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear    For the repealing of my banish’d brother?

      Shakespeare uses this as a justification on the killing of Caesar, as well as a reasoning on why Metellus Cimber would join in under this plot. It is still ambiguous on why Publius was banished, but if the words of Metellus Cimber, a loyal supporter of Julius Caesar, could not sway Julius Caesar, then there is no benefit for him staying alive as he is unable to repeal Publius, his brother from coming back to Rome. Also, this indicates Caesar's power ever increasing, that Caesar basically has absolute rule over Rome and is an emperor, precisely what Metellus Cimber and the conspirators don't want.

    3. People and senators, be not affrighted,    Fly not, stand still; ambition’s debt is paid.

      Ben Whishaw here acts like he has triumphed over killing Caesar. He screams out these two lines out of the top of his lungs, trying to justify to the general public about why they have just killed Caesar. Using hand gestures, he clearly emphasises four words. "Ambition's debt is paid." Those four words make it so that killing Caesar is completely justified, as Caesar was too ambitious for his own good, and that he paid for it with his death. Before he says these lines, a sound effect plays over here to indicate that a lot of people were eyewitnesses to seeing Caesar die. It allows the conspirators to make a powerful statement to the city of Rome. Furthermore, to add onto this affect, they get the audience to move, highlighting how much of a frenzy this is after Julius Caesar's death.

    4. I must prevent thee, Cimber.    These couchings and these lowly courtesies    Might fire the blood of ordinary men    And turn preordinance and first decree    Into the law of children. Be not fond    To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood    That will be thaw’d from the true quality    With that which melteth fools- I mean sweet words,    Low-crooked court’sies, and base spaniel-fawning.    Thy brother by decree is banished.    If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,    I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

      In this production, David Calder's shows his dissatisfaction by using body language. His face shows anger, his eyebrows shot up to indicate this. Then, he leans forward to indicate in a mocking tone, that Metellus Cimber dare try to use "sweet words" to try and get Caesar to release Publius. He then uses his hands to gesture a shooing away of Metellus Cimber, to indicate that he is disappointed, and wishes not to be further questioned about this. In response, Metellus Cimber drops her head, to indicate some sort of uselessness or disappointment in her attempts to free her brother. Overall, the usage of these body languages and gestures allows the Hynter production to truly express what Caesar means, and allows the audience to follow what is going on, even if they don't understand Shakespearean language.

    5. CAESAR. Are we all ready? What is now amiss    That Caesar and his Senate must redress?  METELLUS. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,    Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat    An humble heart. Kneels.

      Instead of a fur coat, when Metellus Cimber decides to meet with Brutus and the others, she now wears a blue blazer with a white collared shirt, which indicates a much more professional look when addressing Caesar. The use of a staircase also allows us to show the difference between the status of the two members, where Metellus Cimber is of but just a noble Roman, while Caesar is a honoured, decorated, highly successful Roman where he is nearly elevated to an Emperor status. Just before this, we hear bells ringing which indicates to us that an important trial or meeting is in place. This shows that what Metellus has to say is so important, that Caesar is forced to address this issue.

    1. No, Cassius, no. Think not, thou noble Roman,    That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;    He bears too great a mind. But this same day    Must end that work the ides of March begun.

      We start seeing the worries of Cassius losing this upcoming battle creep into the play. Shakespeare wants to cast doubt in Brutus' camp if they will actually win this battle or not. However, Brutus decides to calm Cassius down, even after their insults and accusations against one another in Act 4 Scene 3, that he comes with Cassius and says that "It will be alright, and that this will all go to plan". Also, he promises that he will never be chained into Rome, because he is too smart for that to actually happen.

    1.  I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,    Than such a Roman.

      Shakespeare uses an idiom to express that he would not become a Roman that would betray Rome's honour and legacy, also that he is passionate about helping Rome succeed, and that everything he did was correct. The phrase "bay at the moon", shows how Brutus would rather waste his time and energy to do something impossible, which is justifying his cause to kill Caesar, than for gold or money. It also explains how important Brutus' honour is to him, where he explains that while Cassius has been "an itching palm", where he would not care about money, but rather he holds dearly for his own honour.