William Shakespeare’s
THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
An Abridged Version of the Play Adapted for
Readers’ Theater or Classroom Performance
This version of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar generally
uses Shakespeare’s original language, with a few
words changed and a few lines moved. It has been
shortened to make it practical for production in
middle school and up. It can also be enjoyed as a
readers’ theater performance. Most of the stage
directions [the notes in brackets, like this] are not
Shakespeare’s but have been specially written for
this condensed version of the play.
To Shakespeare’s cast of characters, this script
adds six Citizens. They sometimes take part in
the action, speaking lines written by Shakespeare
for characters simply called “Plebeians” in the
original play. Mostly, however, the Citizens in our
version of the play help guide the audience. They
summarize parts of the action that have been cut
or condensed, and occasionally they clarify and
comment on the action.
The script is printed on the left-hand pages, with
some words underlined. On the right-hand pages
you will find definitions of the underlined words, as
well as occasional explanatory notes.
Introdu ct ion to t he Pl ay 42
Julius C aesar
49 The Tragedy of Ju l i u s C aes ar
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
Julius CAESAR, a powerful general and leader of Rome
CALPURNIA, his wife
Marcus BRUTUS, Roman senator who joins the conspiracy
to assassinate Caesar
PORTIA, his wife
LUCIUS, their young servant
The conspirators
Caius CASSIUS
CASCA
CINNA
DECIUS
METELLUS CIMBER
TREBONIUS
Mark ANTONY, a politician and friend of Caesar
OCTAVIUS Caesar, grand-nephew and adopted son of
Julius Caesar
LEPIDUS, a senator who briefly rules with Antony and
Octavius after Caesar’s death
FLAVIUS, a Roman official
MARULLUS, a Roman official
PUBLIUS, an old Roman senator
POPILIUS Lena, a Roman senator
50
COBBLER, a witty shoe repairman
SOOTHSAYER, a mysterious fortune-teller
CINNA, a poet (not the same as Cinna the conspirator)
PINDARUS, servant to Cassius
SERVANT to Mark Antony
Soldiers in the armies of Cassius and Brutus
TITINIUS
CLITUS
VOLUMNIUS
STRATO
CITIZENS of Rome, including six with speaking parts
51 The Tragedy of Ju l i u s C a es ar
ACT 1
SCENE 1: ROME. A STREET.
[A crowd* enters, chanting “Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!”
They continue chanting until CITIZEN 1 steps forward
and raises a hand—the crowd freezes** and goes silent.
CITIZEN 1 speaks directly to the audience, as do the
other CITIZENS that follow]
CITIZEN 1 [stepping forward]
Welcome, citizens of modern times!
CITIZEN 2 [stepping forward]
We are citizens of Rome—ancient Rome to you.
CITIZEN 3 [stepping forward]
More than two-thousand years before your time.
CITIZEN 4 [stepping forward]
And we are here to help tell the story in our play.
CITIZEN 5 [stepping forward]
Well, it’s not entirely our play.
CITIZEN 6 [stepping forward]
True! This is our version of William Shakespeare’s
tragedy of…
Act 1, S cene 1 52
* This crowd can include as many people as the production
allows, but needs to include at least the six Citizens who will
speak to the audience.
** In a play, to freeze is to suddenly become motionless.
53 The Tragedy of Ju l i u s C a es ar
ALL SIX CITIZENS
Julius Caesar!
CROWD [chanting enthusiastically]
Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!
[CITIZENS 4, 5, and 6 hush the crowd.]
CITIZEN 1
The Rome we live in is a republic, wealthy and
powerful.
CITIZEN 2
But our republic has been torn apart by civil war.
CITIZEN 3
One side was led by Pompey, the other side by…
CROWD
Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!
CITIZEN 4
As our play begins, Pompey has been killed. Caesar
has defeated Pompey’s sons, and has returned in
triumph to Rome.
CITIZEN 5
Which is why we’re parading through the streets,
celebrating Caesar’s victory.
Act 1, S cene 1 54
Pompey: pronounced POM-pee
55 The Tragedy of Ju l i u s C a es ar
CITIZEN 6
And, since it’s mid-February, we’re also celebrating a
religious festival called the Lupercal, in honor of the
god of fertility.
CITIZEN 1
Really, it’s kind of a big rowdy party.
[A short burst of happy cheering from the crowd—
”whoopee, hooray, woo-hoo,” etc. Enter two government
officials, FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, frowning.]
CITIZEN 2
But not everyone loves a party.
CITIZEN 3
And not everyone is happy that Caesar defeated
Pompey.
[All CITIZENS merge back into the crowd, which again
chants enthusiastically:]
CROWD
Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!
FLAVIUS [very annoyed, hushing the crowd]
Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home!
Is this a holiday?
Act 1, S cene 1 56
Lupercal: pronounced LOO-puhr-kul
hence: go away
idle: not working; lazy
57 The Tragedy of Ju l i u s C a es ar
MARULLUS [pointing to the COBBLER, at the front of
the crowd]
You, sir, what trade are you?
Answer me directly.
COBBLER [stepping forth, and thinking himself a very
witty fellow]
A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe
conscience, which is, indeed, sir, a mender of
bad soles.
MARULLUS
What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy
fellow?*
COBBLER
Truly, sir, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.
[The COBBLER removes a shoe and pretends to sew it.
The crowd laughs.]
FLAVIUS
Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
COBBLER
I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes—when they
are in great danger, I recover them.
[The crowd laughs. FLAVIUS gives them a cold look. They
quickly fall silent.]
Act 1, S cene 1 58
cobbler: a person who repairs shoes
trade: a job requiring certain skills
saucy: sassy; disrespectful
* Marullus thinks the cobbler has insulted him, because he hears
the cobbler’s reference to “bad soles” as “bad souls.”
59 The Tragedy of Ju l i u s C a es ar
FLAVIUS
But wherefore art not in thy shop today?
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?
COBBLER
Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into
more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday to see
Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.
MARULLUS [outraged]
Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?*
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless
things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft
Have you sat with patient expectation
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome.
And do you now strew flowers in his way
That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?
Be gone!
The crowd exits, grumbling.**
FLAVIUS [to MARULLUS]
Go you down that way towards the Capitol.
I’ll drive away the vulgar from the streets.
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
This Caesar would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.
[They exit in different directions.]
Act 1, S cene 1 60
wherefore: for what reason
* Marullus objects to any celebration because Caesar has not
conquered a foreign enemy but triumphed in a civil war of
Romans against Romans.
oft: often
strew: scatter
** When CITIZENS 1-6 exit, they take positions near the stage in
locations that allow them to be seen and heard by the
audience. From here, throughout the remainder of the play,
they will sometimes comment on the action but not take part
in it. At other times, as specified in the stage directions, the
citizens will enter and take part in the action.
Capitol: the national temple of Rome
vulgar: common people
thick: crowded together
soar: fly high
servile: fearfully obedient; submissive
