How Does Julius Caesar Change Throughout The Play

Have you ever changed the story to make it more captivating? Julius Caesar is a play by William Shakespeare about the tragic story of Caesar’s death. Shakespeare twists the truth in the drama to make it more intriguing and dramatic. Shakespeare changes Caesar’s last words, place of death, and what the soothsayer told Caesar to add dramatic effect. Shakespeare altered Caesar’s final remark in the play. Brutus is the last person to stab Caesar in Shakespeare’s version. After being stabbed by Brutus, Caesar died with the last words of “Et tu, Brute” (3.1.79). Caesar likely said nothing after his death. Many believe “Caesar was in much distress after everyone else attacked him” (O’Leary). William Shakespeare only added the line for dramatic effect and to show how Caesar felt about Brutus’s betrayal. Along with Caesar’s last words, the location of his death is another difference between the play and the historical event.

In the play, Caesar went to the capitol to get crowned. While at the capitol, the conspirators stabbed Caesar. After his stabbing, his body “now on Pompey’s basis lies along” (3.1.119). Inside the capitol was not where Caesar died. Caesar’s death was “in a place just next to the theater of Pompey, in 44 BC on the Roman ides of March” (Media). Instead of making Caesar die at the theater, Shakespeare made him die below the theater of the man he killed. As well as the location of Caesar’s death, the soothsayer’s words were also altered in the