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Cambridge
Public School Drama Collaborative • CPS •
Department of Drama and Dance
Unit Title: Introducing Shakespeare, Moloney et. al. Julius Caesar Motivators
Senators occupied an important place in Roman life. People looked up to them as leaders, yet their lives depended on making the right alliances so they could stay in power. Pretend you are a Roman Senator (like Mark Antony, Cassius, Brutus or Octavian in Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar). You have just learned that Julius Caesar has used his army to seize power and announced himself dictator for life. This causes a problem, because Rome is a republic, and a "dictator for life" has no place in a republic. You have been called to a secret senator's meeting to discuss what to do about this. You've heard that there's a plan to assassinate the new tyrant and bring back the Roman republic. It is the 15th of March, 44 B.C. The secret meeting is in one hour. If the majority choose to assassinate Caesar, the attack will take place when he comes to the senate today. Assume the character of a senator and make a decision about how you will vote. Explain your position and reasoning on the lines below. Before you do, remember that the situation is not simple.
Things to consider: 1. Being a politician, you have enemies. If you make the wrong decision and the majority of people are against you, you'll end up on the losing side and probably be put to death. 2. Many people love Caesar, and he is a successful warrior. 3. Under Caesar, the government could be stable (even though it would be a dictatorship). This may be the most important thing of all. 4. How much of a tyrant is Caesar, really? A bad enough tyrant to be put to death? 5. A stable government is more important than anything. And dictatorships are stable. 6. Should Romans kill Romans? Shouldn't every man have the right to defend himself? 7. What if the assasination attempt fails? If you're part of it, you'd surely be put to death. 8. What if the assassination attempt is successful? Caesar will be dead, but what's to guarantee that whoever seizes power next won't be just as much of a tyrant? 9. Why not defend Caesar? What ever happened to the idea of a fair trial? Shouldn't the courts settle disputes, not assassins? Explain what you will do and why:
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