Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar displays the tragic flaw hubris, a personality quality of excessive pride. How does Caesar’s hubris contribute to his downfall? In what ways do other characters in the play display hubris, and what are the consequences? Consider the following questions as you develop your ideas:

• How does Caesar’s hubris fuel his ambitious behavior? 
• Why the conspirators believe they must assassinate Caesar? 
• How do the conspirators use their power after killing Caesar? Do they all stay true to the ideals for which they killed him?

Teaching Suggestion: You might encourage students to reflect on the way Shakespeare uses symbols and motifs to build on his themes, especially the images he uses to portray the accoutrements of power (such as the crown offered to Caesar at the Lupercalia). Students might compare symbols of power in modern society and culture and even reflect on how hubris might be represented if the play were written or performed today.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function differences might find sorting through the entire text to find evidence daunting. You might help these students pinpoint the most relevant sections of text to limit the amount they need to review or allow students to have additional time to gather evidence.