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Bringing
History to Life
Speech No. 5 in the
Toastmasters "Storytelling" Manual
The objectives of this
speech were:
- To understand the purpose of stories about historical
events or persons
- To use the storytelling skills developed in the
preceeding projects to tell a story about a historical event or person
Time 7 to 9 minutes.
Beware the Ides of March
Once, when I told someone my
birthdate, They said, "Good grief! Don't tell me that when Caesar was
burned, they raised you!"
For I was born on the Ides
of March. The middle day of the month. It is the day that Julius Caesar
was warned against 2000 years ago. He was celebrating his victory over
his adversary Pompey, when a stranger pushed through the crowd, pointed
at Caesar and warned, "Beware the Ides of March."
So what happened on the Ides
of March? It is a tale of treachery and
intrigue. Of false friends who would pat your back in front of your
face,
and slit your throat behind your back. Let me take you back in time ….
Foreboding
The year is 44 BC. The 15th
day or the Ides of March is ushered in by a violent electrical storm.
The superstitious citizens of Ancient Rome fear that the storm is an
omen of impending doom.
Julius Caesar, ruler and
dictator of Rome, is preparing to leave for a
Senate meeting, where it has been rumored he is likely to be proclaimed
as
king.
His wife pleads with him,
"You mustn't leave the house today. I've had a
dream. Something terrible is going to happen."
Caesar scoffs as he fastens
his purple toga.
"Don't go," begs his wife.
"It's the Ides of March. Remember, the soothsayer
warned you, "Beware of the Ides of March."
"A lot of nonsense," laughs
Caesar, but he feels uneasy and calls on his priests to make a
sacrifice to foretell his fate.
When they examine the
entrails of the sacrificed creature and find its heart
is missing. This is very bad omen.
"Call Antony," orders Caesar.
"Tell him to dismiss the Senate."
The Plot
Meanwhile, a treacherous plot
is afoot.
Cassius, who has a history of
jealous malicious acts, has spent the stormy
night persuading Caesar's friend Brutus to take part in an
assassination
plot. Brutus agrees that for the good of Rome, Caesar must not be
allowed to
rule.
They send a messenger to
ensure that Caesar goes ahead with the senate
meeting. The messenger talks Caesar out of his fears. "What will your
enemies say," he asks, "if you postpone the senate until your wife has
better dreams? You should at least appear and adjourn the Senate in
person."
Caesar feels reassured until
on the way to the Senate, he meets the
soothsayer - the very one who had warned him, "Beware the Ides of
March."
As he passes, Caesar calls in
jest, "Well, the Ides of March are come."
"Yes, they are come," says
the soothsayer, "but they are not past."
At the Senate
The Senate is held in the
theatre of Pompey. As he crosses the marble
courtyard, Caesar glances at the imposing statue of Pompey. He and
Pompey
had ruled Rome together, until Caesar defeated Pompey and caused his
death.
The Senate rises to show
respect for Caesar. His most trusted senators -
those, who have taken oaths to protect him with their lives, stand
around
the chair where he is seated. The folds of their robes conceal the
daggers
they grasp in their hands.
Someone comes forward with a
petition. Caesar impatiently waves him away,
but the man boldly approaches, takes hold of Caesar's shoulder, and
rips his
robe away from his neck.
"This is violence!" shouts
Caesar.
The Attack
Another man slips behind
Caesar and with a sweep of his dagger, stabs him
just below the throat.
"What does this mean?" shouts
Caesar. He grasps the blade in both hands.
Another dagger pierces his breast.
He is enclosed on every side.
- whichever way he turns he sees daggers
levelled at his face, his eyes, his throat. Blood splatters the
frescoed
walls. Even his attackers are wounded as they all lunge at him with
their
daggers.
Caesar resists and fights
with all his might. He calls for help and dodges
to avoid the blows.
Then he sees Brutus - his old
friend - with dagger drawn and a look of evil
intent in his eyes.
"You too, Brutus?" cries
Caesar. He covers his face with his robe and falls
into the spreading pool of blood at the foot of Pompey's statue.
Chaos
Brutus turns in triumph to
address the Senate, but the crowd has fled in
panic.
Throughout the city, people
are running. Some run away. Others run to see
the spectacle then run back again to report the news. Shops are hastily
closed and houses shut up. Caesar's friends go into hiding.
The entire city of Rome is in
shock.
The Funeral
But when Caesar's will is
read out, it is found that a considerable legacy
had been left to each Roman citizen. This galvanises the city into
action.
Caesar must be given a hero's funeral.
They heap together a pile of
benches, bars, tables - whatever they can get
hold of - They build a funeral pyre three stories high. They place the
body
of Caesar on top and set it on fire.
Then the mob takes burning
torches from the fire and burns the houses of the
conspirators. Some run up and down the streets trying to find these men
so
they can tear them into pieces. But they are all in hiding.
It is a tale of treachery and
treason. It is also a tale of retribution.
Later, after a defeat in battle, Cassius commits suicide with the same
dagger he used to stab Caesar, and Brutus kills himself with his own
sword
after seeing Caesar's ghost.
"Beware the Ides of March."
The phrase is now used as a warning against
impending calamity.
But no one was warned when I
came into the world.
COMMENTS
There was plenty of
scope for vocal variety and body language in this story and it was very
successful.
MAMALADE
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