Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar vrs. The Historical CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was born in 100 BC, and assassinated 56 years later. In that time, he was captured by, and slew the offending, pirates, became questor, ponifex maximus, propretor, a member of the First Triumvirate, Consul, and diatator. He defeated the Helvetii, invaded Britain, and fought the Gauls. He crossed the river Rubicon and started the 49 BC Civil War. A year later, he defeated the great Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus. He also reformed the calendar.Why then, was he hated by his own people? Why was he cruelly assassinated so shortly after his crowning? How does the historical man compare and contrast to Shakespeare’s version? All of these questions will be answered here.When we first begin Julius Caesar, the man himself is entering Rome, returning from battle. He has defeated Pompey, and the crowd is joyful. However, not all citizens are happy. Already there is conspiracy in the air. Marullus and Flavius chide the commoners, for did they not recently cheer for Pompey in the manner that they now cheer Caesar? Marullus angrily yells: “O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climb’d up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat the livelong day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome... And do you now strew flowers in his way, That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood? Be gone!” (I: i)Pompey’s defeat is crucial to Caesar’s rise to power. Many men volunteered to fight, unpaid, under the general Caesar. There was not a single deserter during the Civil War. The commanding Julius halted the few episodes of insubordination.He was a firm, yet fair leader. His troops were never addressed as “My soldiers”, but as “Comrades”. His attitude differed grea...
