Last weekend, we went to a performance of Julius Caesar by the Nevada Shakespeare festival. As to be expected from other productions, it was a raucous dark tragedy.
It highlighted the conundrum of Brutus, a man in power confronted with the inequality of his time. The elites had it great, but the masses were restless, ready to give away their freedom to Julius Caesar.
Do you just roll over and join the crowd? Would killing that would-be tyrant fix the broken dynamic? Brutus chose the dagger and found the structural failure was bigger than one great man.
He should have followed Lao Tze into the wild west.
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time
Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 2
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Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2
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After the first showing, I blasted out the first version of this piece in time for the second showing. Knowing the flow of the play, I enjoyed the second performance even more than the night before.
After the show, I gave a copy of this piece to Rebecca, who had played Brutus. In an online world, it’s a joy to attend live performances and to share work directly.
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