伊莉莎白女王執政後期見證了公眾對政治議題明顯提升興趣，涉及宮廷議題的文本，儘管曾禁止外流，印刷量仍逐漸增加。這時期也同時見證了社會整體對無子嗣領導者所帶來的繼任議題抱持著急迫不安。本論文主張莎士比亞的《凱薩大帝》試圖鼓勵伊莉莎白時代的觀戲者透過劇本中伊莉莎白女王與艾塞克斯伯爵的影射來思考政治時事。
本論文分為三章：第一章分析莎士比亞劇作中對於伊莉莎白女王與艾塞克斯伯爵的影射；第二章檢視莎士比亞歷史劇中的政治理論與議題；最後，第三章探討藉由於《凱薩大帝》情節中帶入伊莉莎白女王與艾塞克斯伯爵，莎士比亞可能鼓勵觀戲者去思考伊莉莎白時代英國的現況與未來。本論文強調《凱薩大帝》影射伊莉莎白時期政治情況，並著重思考歷史人物與政治議題的影射如何反映在舞台上，更藉此鼓勵觀戲者去討論與思考自身政治政體的未來可能性。

The late years of Elizabeth’s reign saw a growing public interest in political issues as evidenced by the proliferation of printed texts that were once forbidden or limited to the court. The late reign of Elizabeth also witnessed a growing sense of urgency and anxiety in response to the figure of an aging childless monarch whose succession remained unsettled. This thesis argues that Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar would have captured the public concerns of the late 1590s and had the potential to involve the Elizabethan playgoers in topical political discourse through specific allusions to Elizabeth and her ambitious Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Robert Devereux, the Second Earl of Essex.
This thesis is divided into three chapters: Chapter One investigates the presence of Elizabeth and Essex in Shakespeare’s plays; Chapter Two looks at political theories and issues in Shakespeare’s history plays; lastly, Chapter Three examines how by bringing Elizabeth and Essex into Julius Caesar, Shakespeare would have invited his audience to consider the immediacy and future of Elizabethan England. This thesis calls attention to political situations of Elizabethan contexts represented in Julius Caesar and brings into focus the correspondences of the historical figures and political actions represented onstage that would have invited the Elizabethan playgoers to discuss and think of possible future of their own polity.

Introduction 5

Chapter One
Elizabeth and Essex in Shakespeare’s Plays 13
I. Elizabeth in Shakespeare’s Plays 13
II. Essex in Shakespeare’s Plays 21
Essex’s Popularity 23

Chapter Two
Elizabethan Political Issues in Shakespeare’s Plays 30
I. The Problems of Succession and Legitimacy in Shakespeare’s Plays 31
Legitimacy 32
The King’s Two Bodies 36
II. The Justification to Overthrow a Monarch in Shakespeare’s Plays 39 Republicanism 45
A Monarch’s Divine Right to Rule 47

Chapter Three
“you may the better judge”: Elizabeth and Essex in Julius Caesar 54
I. Elizabeth in Julius Caesar 54
II. Essex in Julius Caesar 68
III. The Elizabethan Audience and Julius Caesar 77

Conclusion 90

Works Cited 94

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