This thesis examines tyrannicide and republicanism dramatized in William Shakespeare's Roman plays, Julius Caesar and Coriolanus. Shakespeare was deeply concerned with political problems and issues of his age. The political history of Shakespeare's England shows that there were lively discussions on the proper form of polity in terms of republicanism and tyrannicide. Shakespeare explores in his works political questions such as danger of an absolute monarch, legitimacy of regicide and the quality of a good king. He also examines an alternative constitution such as an elective monarchy and mixed constitution similar to the Roman republic. In The Rape of Lucrece, Titus Andronicus and Macbeth, he investigates harms which a tyrant causes to his/her country and people's right of resistance against the tyrant. Shakespeare describes Tarquin, Saturninus and Macbeth as tyrants and they are justly dethroned or killed in the end. Their tragedy reflects Shakespeare's fear of one-man monarchy.
Shakespeare develops political issues of polity in Julius Caesar and Coriolanus in earnest. He describes Julius Caesar as a cruel, potential tyrant who might ruin Roman Republican freedom. Caesar is identified with Caesarism of supreme power. In representing Julius Caesar as a man of many physical defects, however, Shakespeare intentionally belittles the authority of Caesar. On the other hand, he positively describes Brutus as a representative Roman republican and upholder of freedom. In this way, Shakespeare expresses a positive attitude toward republicanism. In Coriolanus, Shakespeare shows the importance of the popular support and political participation of the people. Shakespeare's works certainly demonstrate an exploring interest in a variety of systems of government including elective monarchy and republican constitution as an alternative system to absolute monarchy. Besides, Shakespeare justifies people's right of resistance against the tyrant including tyrannicide.