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Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1.5, University of Hamburg, language: English, abstract: In 1599, when William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar1 was first performed in the New Globe Theatre, Elizabeth I was an elderly monarch with no legitimate heir. She had neither a child of her own nor a named heir. Hence, the people of England worried about succession. They were aware of the power struggles that might take place when men vied for the throne of England. What is more, people also feared the violence of civil strife. Thus, it is not surprising that the theme of Julius Caesar was relevant to their concerns, even as the content of this play drew on and adapted ancient history. In 44 BC, Rome was at the very centre of an expanding empire. The city was governed by senators; nevertheless, their politics were plagued by in-fighting. The true glory and strength, however, belonged to famous generals like Caesar andAntonius. What is more, a new group, the Tribunes, had entered the political field. After a hard-won battle, the working class of Rome, the plebeians, had elected these men as their representatives and protectors. Hence, the return of triumphant Caesar and his aim to centralize power went against the grain of the decentralizing that was taking place. Such a setting was fraught with the makings of dramatic conflict - in many respects, as we will see.
