There are many reasons why I think we read Shakespeare's play, "Julius Caesar," but I think the main reason is because he is an important piece of our world's history. Caesar is a figure we learn about in history, so reading the play makes sense. Shakespeare wrote the play based on actual events, so it is historically correct. Also, Julius Caesar's role in Rome is an example of what an individual could do if he/she acquires too much power.
Abuse of power is an important issue in history. Much of what we study in history classes has to do with leaders who gained too much power and made grave mistakes in their rule because of it. For example, Hitler took advantage of his power in Germany to treat the Jewish people horribly. Mussolini was another leader who abused the power given to him. Even today, this them is present with the Clinton scandal. Julius Caesar's rule over Rome was just another incident where the leader became power-hungry.
Another reason for reading Julius Caesar is because we will become more familiar with Shakespearean language. Shakespeare wrote about themes that are still present today, so the plays are interesting; they are just a little more difficult to understand. For example, greed and selfishness and themes found all over our society today, and it is present in Julius Caesar as well. The men think that Caesar is selfish and he's going to take all the power for himself. Viewers, on the other hand, may think that the men are selfish because they kill Caesar because they don't want him to become too powerful, which is due in part to jealousy. Greed is still present in society today in the form of theft and the hostile take over of companies.
I know that I used to think that life one hundred or more years ago was nothing like how we live today. After reading Julius Caesar, I realize that we have more in common with them than I thought. Technology aside, human beings have not changed at all. They are still driven by self-preservation and self-interest. It reminds me of a song lyric that goes, "And she wonders where the dreams go, 'Cause the world gets in her way, What's the point in ever trying, Nothing's changing anyway." People talk about changing the world and making everything better but they are still so focussed on themselves that nothing ever changes.