AII of you might have heard the phrase, ‘you too Brutus?’ But did you know that Shakespeare wrote this line for his famous play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar? It is one among several plays written by Shakespeare based on true events from Roman history, such as Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra.
The play is based on the translation of Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, originally written in French. It chronicles the events that happen after Caesar’s return to Rome. Cassius forms a conspiracy among Roman republicans against Caesar, fearing his ambition. He persuades a reluctant Brutus, Caesar’s trusted friend, to join them.
Though Caesar possessed great leadership skills, he had many flaws as well. He believed that he was as eternal as the North Star. It was because of this baseless belief that he ignored bad omens and threats against his life. As a result, he was slain in the Senate on the Ides of March.
His friend Mark Antony gives a stirring funeral speech that inspires the crowd to turn against the conspirators. Octavius, Caesar’s great-nephew, forms a triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus. In the turn of events, Brutus and his friend Cassius are eventually defeated at the Battle of Philippi, where they kill themselves to avoid further dishonor.
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