Character and action in Julius Caesar

Aims of the course

This course aims to:

• Help students to build a critical understanding of Julius Caesar by examining some key themes and problems of interpretation(see the Course Content section below for more detail).
• Explore how Shakespeare, in representing ancient Rome as a historically distinct culture, raises wider questions as to whether human character and action are culturally determined.
• Consider what light is on thrown onto Shakespeare’s play by reading it alongside the classical historical sources and philosophical texts which inform his rendition of the story.

Content

Can we judge our own character, or the significance of our own actions? Or is the true nature both of who we are, and of what we do, impossible for us to determine? In Julius Caesar, some of the most famous characters and actions in all of history come under Shakespeare’s tragic scrutiny.

Since Aristotle, the relationship between character and action has been considered essential to tragedy; but in Julius Caesar, this relationship has a special importance in the minds of the tragic characters themselves. For the ancient Romans of the republican era, moral character was an essential idea, as was the idea that a character must express itself in action, especially in political action aiming at the public good. Shakespeare, despite famously having been criticised for making his Romans “not sufficiently Roman”, in Julius Caesar has clearly absorbed from his sources a sense of this importance for the Romans of moral character and action, and makes his Roman characters act with these concerns squarely in mind.

But are these characters, who think and act according to a different set of cultural norms, capable of judging truly who they are and what they do, or are they blinded by the very ideas which they rely on to guide them? Does their acute sense of being ‘Roman’ blind them to their common humanity? And does their awareness of their own historical importance help them to see themselves and their deeds more clearly, or can the real significance of momentous actions only ever come to light in retrospect, such that the deeds themselves must take place in tragic ignorance and hubris? In raising such questions, Shakespeare makes the imagining of cultural difference a basis on which to explore wider questions of identity, self-knowledge, and destiny.

Presentation of the course

The course will be taught as a seminar, using a flexible mix of class discussion, lecture-style presentation, and tutor-led collaborative reading of key scenes and passages from the play.

The course will involve extensive close reading of the set text, so you must bring a copy to every class, and should also become as familiar as possible with the play in advance.

Class sessions

1. Julius Caesar, Act One
2. Julius Caesar, Act Two
3. Julius Caesar, Act Three
4. Julius Caesar, Act Four
5. Julius Caesar, Act Five

Learning outcomes

The specific learning outcomes for this course are:
1. To understand the importance in Julius Caesar of the concepts of character and action.
2. To appreciate the ways in which Shakespeare used and transformed his sources to produce a distinctive rendition of the story embodying a distinctive tragic vision.
3. To consider the ways in which Shakespeare represents ancient Rome as a distinct culture, and raises questions as to whether human character and action are culturally determined.

Required reading

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Ed. Marvin Spevak. 3rd ed. New Cambridge Shakespeare, Cambridge University Press, 2017.
This edition is strongly recommended, as it contains substantial extracts from Shakespeare’s main source, North’s translation of Plutarch’s Lives. Please bring your copy to class every day.

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.