My Shakespeare 《Julius Caesar》

While this is no doubt only the beginning of my new journey, I felt a great sense of achievement, having finished my second Shakespeare play.

I started my self-learning journey of Shakespeare works two months ago, with my very first play,《Macbeth》, done on 6/23. Now, only 3 weeks apart, I’m done with my second - 《Julius Caesar》!

Needless to say, I'll revisit these plays later to cultivate more insights and wisdom, as so guaranteed for the countless loyal Shakespeare fans across time and space. Still, it sounds surreal because only two months ago, I had been struggling to open the 1500-page《The Complete Works of William Shakespeare》that I purchased two years ago.

To this end, I have to extend my gratitude to the renowned American writer William Faulkner, for I read his novel 《The Sound and the Fury》, which was famously inspired by the soliloquy appearing on Act V, Scene II of 《Macbeth》, and then asked myself: why don't I as well open the thick book that I bought two years ago? And then it all happened.

Though I'm only a beginner, I know this journey will be a "very long one", if not lifetime. And, as a Shakespeare fan living in this digital age, I'm much, much luckier than those of the past, for there are abundant, useful and free resources available online that I can employ to aid my self-help journey of Shakespearean literature.

As it turned out, the thick book that I bought is of ceremonial (decorative) significance mainly, and for good understanding I had to go through other media, including the comprehensive study guide "My Shakespeare", a full-text play downloaded from Open Source, an audio book of the play, and, not the least, Wikipedia, along my imaginary journey with 《Julius Caesar》(and 《Macbeth》, too.)

Without the study guide, I would not have understood fully the Shakespearean English for one thing, not to mention the allusion, metaphor, similes, ironies, satirism, philosophy and meaning of life, as well as all the twists and turns that are richly embedded throughout the play - in both dialogue and sililoguy - that Shakespeare’s works are best known for.

The audio book is instrumental, too. I can listen to it repeatedly to familiarize myself with the play before even going to the theater.

Still, the poetic text in Shakespearean English is no easy thing for my foreign, modern ears and it's where the printed full-text  script (2767 lines in 58 pages) comes into play: while listening to the audio book, I have the full text at hand, using both my ears and eyes to navigate through the play, which is, as well,  both a history and a tragedy.

Elsewhere, as usual I did some background research on Wikipedia about the societal and political setting around Julius Caesar's assassination, its impact and its legacy. Such knowledge may sound like "history ABC" for many but not so for me as a distant reader (geographically,  culturally and historically), and is crucial for attaining good understanding about the play.

《Julius Caesar》 is said to be the very first Shakespeare’s play performed in public, premiered in 1599 when Elizabeth I, the last monarch of the House of Tudor, still ruled England. The Age of Elizabeth I is also known as The Golden Age, representing the peak of English Renaissance, showcasing Shakespeare’s theaters.

It would take another 4 years before James VI and I was crowned the king of England, Ireland and Scotland, marking the beginning of the Stuart Period.  《Macbeth》, the very first play that I watched, is said to have been produced "in memory of" the ancestor of James VI and I.

What exceptional experience, wisdom and pleasure acquired by appreciating these time-tested works! I shall start my next Shakespearean episode next month, if not earlier - hopefully 《Antony and Cleopatra》, the sequel of 《Julius Caesar》.😊