Please help me with Shakespeare's Caesar

[BrotherCadfael]

The Branaugh Much Ado About Nothing would, I think, be well received by teenagers…

[mmm.forbidden_doughnut]

*Originally posted by foolsguinea *

Emphasize this: Ancient Roman politics was the ancestor & forerunner not only of European feudalism (or, as I call it, “when kid gangs ruled the world”) but of the Mafia. This is violent power politics with a veneer of republican rules. If they aren’t taking to it in isolation, relate it to general political truths.

Updating it might help. Will they go for a Mafia story? :dubious: A modern-politics gloss? Don’t forget that Shak’speare did all his plays in modern dress. Even the ancient Romans were in doublets. **

We have talked quite alot about ends vs. means and in light of current events in the Middle East it actually works pretty well. Although I’m not sure Caesar was quite the beast Saddam is (was?), and Bush is hardly a close friend (like Brutus), it seems to work OK. Better than nothing, I suppose. Actually, now that I think of it, the US was a pretty good ally of SH’s at one time so it does work pretty well. So, I’ve used WMD and their potential use against the US as an analogy to Caesar’s power-hunger and his desire to be a god over the Romans. It’s lead to some pretty interesting discussions. :eek:

[mmm.forbidden_doughnut]

*Originally posted by foolsguinea *

Emphasize this: Ancient Roman politics was the ancestor & forerunner not only of European feudalism (or, as I call it, “when kid gangs ruled the world”) but of the Mafia. This is violent power politics with a veneer of republican rules. If they aren’t taking to it in isolation, relate it to general political truths.

Updating it might help. Will they go for a Mafia story? :dubious: A modern-politics gloss? Don’t forget that Shak’speare did all his plays in modern dress. Even the ancient Romans were in doublets. **

We have talked quite alot about ends vs. means and in light of current events in the Middle East it actually works pretty well. Although I’m not sure Caesar was quite the beast Saddam is (was?), and Bush is hardly a close friend (like Brutus), it seems to work OK. Better than nothing, I suppose. Actually, now that I think of it, the US was a pretty good ally of SH’s at one time so it does work pretty well. So, I’ve used WMD and their potential use against the US as an analogy to Caesar’s power-hunger and his desire to be a god over the Romans. It’s lead to some pretty interesting discussions. :eek:

[gex_gex]

If at all possible try and get them to see a great theatre performance of it. I’ve never read the play, but I did see it done well, and I love it. They had all the characters in modern dress, there were reporters and cameramen all over Rome and they even included contemporary political references. Cassius as an arty scholar in a scruffy suit made it seem so much more relevant. Combine these elements with a great set and some great performances, and I fell in love with the play.

If this isn’t possible, get them to act it. Shakespeare is always improved by acting it yourself - it really is written to be performed.

*originally posted by BrotherCadfael
Give them A Mid-Summer’s Night Eve, an Elizabethan Beverly Hills 90201. Or perhaps Romeo and Juliet, with its universal themes of tragic young love. Or the hillarious Comedy of Errors, with it’s bawdy double entendres. Or Prince Hal in Henry V, hanging with lowlifes just to piss off Dad.

In line with these, I think Macbeth works as a really strong first encounter with Shakespeare. It’s kind of like a horror film, the language is really strong and all the supernatural elements and images are really striking - the witches, the ghosts, being steep’d in blood so far that it’s just as hard to go back as it is to keep going. And all the Banquo’s with the mirror.