• ISBN13: 9788171565146
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: English Literature
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Atlantic
• Publication Date: June 26, 2007
• Pages: 292
• Original Price: INR 225.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 160 grams

Julius Caesar is one of the most popular plays of William Shakespeare, read, annotated and played in schools and colleges in India. In India, the first edition of Julius Caesar was written by Sir Mark Hunter, in 1900, from Madras and Hugh Macmillan, writing the Preface to the Arden Julius Caesar (1902), acknowledged his debt to the very exhaustive and able edition prepared for Indian colleges by Sir Mark Hunter. Since then, many eminent Indians have written on Julius Caesar and the Indian market, these days, is flooded with newer editions, some genuinely researched and some genuinely and unashamedly copied, badly mutilated. Dr. S.S. Agarwalla has undoubtedly burrowed into not only the English editions but also Indian editions of the play but what distinguishes him from others is that his approach, his style, his presentation, and his analysis is refreshing, useful and at times, radical and sweeping. They are intended to be no more than provocative and stimulating. Julius Caesar is as much relevant today as it was during the Elizabethan Age because moral and political realism, the backbone of the play, remains the same in the contemporary world, India being no exception. Treachery, jealousy, conspiracy, assassination and battle, in the name of ‘ism’ is no less intense in our world than it was in the world of Julius Caesar. Therein lies the universality of Shakespeare.

Dr. S.S. Agarwalla, Principal, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia College, Ranchi, graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi with Honours, obtained his Post-graduate degree in English Literature from Ranchi University, and Ph.D. from Patna University. He has taught at St. Xavier’s College and Marwari College, Ranchi and authored and edited many books of Shakespeare, Graham Greene, Bernard Shaw and George Eliot, etc.

• PART I

• A. Introduction
• 1. Life and Works of William Shakespeare
• 2. Critical Estimate of William Shakespeare as a Poet and Dramatist.
• 3. The Evolution of the English Drama upto the Days of Shakespeare
• 4. The Elizabethan Theatre
• 5. The Elizabethan World Picture
• 6. Shakespeare Criticism through the Ages
• 7. Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragedy
• B. The Play
• 1. Shakespeare’s Treatment of the Source
• 2. Date of Composition
• 3. The Story of the Play
• 4. The Supernatural in Julius Caesar
• 5. Julius Caesar
• A Political Play
• 6. Role of Irony in Julius Caesar
• 7. Destiny in Julius Caesar
• 8. The Funeral Orations
• 9. The Quarrel Scene between Brutus and Cassius
• 10. Julius Caesar and Hamlet
• C. The Characters
• 1. Julius Caesar
• 2. Marcus Brutus
• 3. Mark Antony
• 4. Caius Cassius
• 5. Casca
• 6. Cicero
• 7. Portia
• 8. Calpurnia
• 9. The Roman Citizens
• D. Discussion of Important Critical Opinions
• 1. Edward Dowden
• 2. AC. Bradley
• 3. David Daiches
• 4. Irving Ribner
• 5. Tucker Brooke
• 6. G.Wilson Knight
• 7. Brents Stirling
• 8. Martin S. Day
• 9. J.C. Maxwell

• Part II

• 1. Text of Julius Caesar
• 2. Detailed Summary
• 3. Notes

• Part III

• 1. Passages for Explanation with Reference to Context
• 2. Questions and Answers