Subtext: Conversations about Classic Books and Films

The Character of Authority in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”

Jan 20, 2026

The hosts dive into the complex dynamics of authority in Shakespeare’s play, examining Brutus’s self-deception and his problematic morality. They discuss the powerful rhetoric of both Brutus and Antony, revealing how words shape political reality. The parallels between Brutus and Caesar highlight their shared authoritarian traits, while the fickleness of the crowd raises questions about popular leadership. Also explored are the omens that foreshadow chaos, underscoring the play's focus on misinterpretation and the nature of power.

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INSIGHT

Authority Can Be Personal Or Institutional

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar probes how political authority is tied to personal will and character.
The play asks whether legitimacy comes from institutions or from charismatic individuals and their self-conceptions.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Cats Named Caesar And Cleopatra

Erin O’Luanaigh recounts naming two cats Caesar and Cleopatra at age 13 and the neighbor's aggressive cat Brutus attacking Caesar.
The coincidence made everyone joke she named her cat after Shakespeare's Caesar because Brutus lived next door.

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ADVICE

Teach Rhetoric With Brutus And Antony

Use Julius Caesar to teach rhetorical appeals through Brutus's and Antony's speeches.
Compare ethos, pathos, and logos to show how different appeals sway audiences differently.

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Where Julius Caesar Ranks and First Impressions

02:14 • 3min

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Brutus: Why Erin Dislikes Him

04:50 • 56sec

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Teaching the Play: Rhetoric and Performance

05:46 • 1min

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Power, Rhetoric, and Character Corruption

07:16 • 2min

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Brutus's Self-Knowledge Problem

08:52 • 2min

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Is Brutus Truly Honorable?

10:38 • 3min

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Brutus as Imbalanced Rationalist

13:10 • 2min

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Flaws, Motives, and Cassius's Envy

14:53 • 3min

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Brutus and Caesar as Mirrors

17:27 • 9min

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Popularity, Leadership, and the Plebs

26:52 • 1min

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Casca, Cobblers, and Class Snobbery

28:14 • 1min

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Omen Reading and Interpretive Disagreement

29:41 • 8min

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Caesar's Commanding Presence

37:38 • 4min

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Making a Case for Caesar

41:58 • 4min

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Caesar as Idea and Brutus as Protagonist

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Dante

#1111

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

The play, written in 1599, explores themes of political power, honor, and fate versus free will. It centers around the conspiracy led by Brutus and Cassius to assassinate Julius Caesar, fearing his rise to power could lead to tyranny. The play delves into the moral dilemmas faced by its characters and the consequences of their actions, culminating in a civil war. The characters, including Brutus, Cassius, and Mark Antony, represent different facets of political ideology and personal conviction. The play is known for its iconic lines and its enduring relevance in examining the dynamics of power and political decisions.

#82861

Antony and Cleopatra

The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra

William Shakespeare

'Antony and Cleopatra' is a tragedy that explores the complex relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra, set against the backdrop of Roman politics.

#463

• Mentioned in 60 episodes

Macbeth

Imdad Hussain

William Shakespeare

Macbeth is a tragedy that explores themes of power, ambition, and the consequences of sin. The play follows Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, and his wife Lady Macbeth as they navigate a complex web of prophecy, murder, and political intrigue. The witches' prophecy sets off a chain of events that leads to the downfall of Macbeth and the restoration of order in Scotland. The play is known for its dark and haunting atmosphere, its exploration of the human psyche, and its commentary on the nature of tragedy and the human condition.

#3608

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Much ado about nothing

William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, is a comedy that explores themes of love, deception, and mistaken identity. The play features a compelling narrative, where two pairs of lovers navigate the complexities of courtship and marriage. Much Ado About Nothing's witty dialogue and clever plot twists have entertained audiences for centuries. The play's use of humor and irony creates a sense of lightheartedness and amusement. Much Ado About Nothing's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes and engaging storytelling.

#516

• Mentioned in 54 episodes

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play that tells the story of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who fall in love despite the long-standing feud between their families. The play explores themes of love, hate, fate, and the destructive nature of the families' vendetta. After secretly marrying, the lovers face numerous challenges, including the death of Romeo's friend Mercutio and his subsequent banishment. A failed plan to reunite the lovers leads to their tragic deaths, ultimately bringing peace between their families. The play is renowned for its poetic language, passionate romance, and violent conflict, making it one of the world's most beloved and enduring stories.

#797

• Mentioned in 40 episodes

Plutarch's Lives

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives, also known as Parallel Lives, is a collection of 48 biographies of notable men from ancient Greece and Rome. The work is structured in pairs, with one Greek and one Roman figure of similar destiny, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, or Demosthenes and Cicero. Plutarch's primary concern was not to write strict historical accounts but to explore the moral virtues and failings of his subjects, aiming to provide examples of conduct to imitate or avoid. The biographies are significant not only for their insight into the individuals but also for their historical value, offering a glimpse into the times in which they lived.

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• Mentioned in 133 episodes

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius. Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge. The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others.

Brutus is an honorable man, but Caesar is Caesar: at the beginning of Shakespeare’s play, his name is near the point of becoming synonymous with dictatorial power, and his every wish, as Mark Antony points out, has the substance of a command. For the rebels who oppose him, this identification of political authority with personal will is a perversion of republican institutions, and a form of corruption that justifies any means of putting an end to it, even if that means killing a friend. Yet Brutus’s conception of himself as unflaggingly virtuous is one he in fact shares with Caesar, and perhaps reflects the same authoritarian tendency, in grounding the legitimacy of political action in the character of a particular actor. Then again, it is not clear that democratic institutions will always forestall authoritarian tendencies, rather than enable the masses to sanction absolute power in a charismatic leader. Wes & Erin discuss Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” and its sustained reflection on how political power is constructed, located, and legitimated.

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