Twin Cities Shakespeare Readers

“Julius Caesar” Discussion

Mon, Mar 30 · 6:00 PM CDT

Minneapolis Central Library, room N-202, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, mn, US

Minneapolis Central Library
(Downtown Minneapolis)
300 Nicollet Mall - Room N-202
Minneapolis, MN 55401

There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $5. Go in to the Library lobby and then in to the book stacks area. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor, then go all the way to the left.

This is a discussion about the play, not a reading or showing of it.

We will have a special guest from the U. of M.’s Rarig Theater’s production of Julius Caesar.

Beware the Ides of March.
– Soothsayer, in Julius Caesar; Act 1, Scene 2

Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
– Cassius, in Julius Caesar; Act 1, Scene 2

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look:
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
– Caesar, in Julius Caesar; Act 1, Scene 2

But, for mine own part, it was Greek to me.
– Casca, in Julius Caesar; Act 1, Scene 2

Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once.
– Caesar, in Julius Caesar; Act 2, Scene 2

Et tu, Brute?
– Caesar, in Julius Caesar; Act 3, Scene 1

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.
– Antony, in Julius Caesar; Act 3, Scene 1

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
– Brutus, in Julius Caesar; Act 3, Scene 2

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.
– Brutus, in Julius Caesar; Act 3, Scene 2

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones.
– Antony, in Julius Caesar; Act 3, Scene 2

SYNOPSIS OF PLAY (from the Folger Library)

DOWNLOAD TEXT FOR FREE

FREE VIDEOS - FULL PLAY (YOUTUBE)
• BBC Play of the Month (Starring Robert Stephens and Edward Woodward) 1969
• Commonwealth United Entertainment (Starring John Gielgud, Charlton Heston, and Jason Robards) 1970
• Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival, 2016

FREE VIDEOS - OTHER (YOUTUBE)
• Animated Shakespeare - Julius Caesar (25 minutes)
• Tim Nance: Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Discussion and Summary

KANOPY APP
Download the free app. Then link your library account to it. This will allow you free access to many Shakespeare plays. You can also watch the Shakespeare series “Upstart Crow” for free.

ARTICLES
• Wikipedia: Julius Caesar (play)
• Wikipedia: Julius Caesar (historical person)
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Overview
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Full Play Summary
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Full Play Analysis
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Themes
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Motifs
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Symbols
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Protagonist
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Antagonist
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Setting
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Genre
• SparkNotes: Julius Caesar - Point of View
• Julius Caesar Navigator
• A Modern Perspective: Julius Caesar by Coppélia Kahn
• Further Reading: Julius Caesar

PODCASTS
• Approaching Shakespeare: Julius Caesar
• Shakespeare Unlimited #98 - Paterson Joseph: Julius Caesar and Me

LOCAL LIVE PERFORMANCES OF “JULIUS CAESAR”
• Rarig Theater, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (March 27-29, 2026)
• Minnesota Shakespeare Theater, Minneapolis (May 8-17, 2026)

GENERAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
• The Folger Shakespeare Library has free and paid (includes notes) downloadable texts of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
• The Folger Library: Shakespeare Documented has copies of original documents from Shakespeare’s time.
• PlayShakespeare: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Research
• Podcast: “Approaching Shakespeare”
• Podcast: “Shakespeare Unlimited” Play by Play
• Play On Podcasts
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.] Kindle edition only $5.99!

FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His World

APP
• Shakespeare App

BEST SHAKESPEARE USED BOOK SELECTIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES
• Midway Books, St. Paul
• The Book House, Minneapolis
• James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, Minneapolis
• Magers and Quinn, Minneapolis
• Half Price Books