Caligula: structure

Caligula is a four-act play, with each act exploring a significant phase in the progression of Caligula’s reign.
The structure adheres to the classical unities of place, time, and action, that is, there’s a single location, a compressed timeline, and a linear progression of events.

Act I introduces the main characters and sets up the political backdrop against which the actions unfold.
Act II portrays Caligula’s descent into madness and tyranny, revealing his obsession with power and death.
Act III facilitates a deeper exploration of Caligula’s existential crisis through his philosophical discourses.
Act IV culminates in the inevitable fall and death of Caligula, drawing upon the themes of revenge and redemption.

The structure follows the arc of Caligula’s psyche, beginning with a seemingly sane ruler evolving into a mad tyrant.
Starting from a place of loss and despair (due to Drusilla’s death), Caligula descends into chaos and power-crazed brutality, finally meeting his doom, symbolising a moral and philosophical resolution.

The structure’s strict adherence to the classical unities enhances the intensity and focus of the audience’s experience.
The progression of the play’s four acts allows for a gradual build-up of tension, leading to a pathos-filled climax, eliciting strong emotional responses from the audience.
Caligula’s evolving character, seen through the acts, keeps the audience engaged and invested in the protagonist’s psychological experiences.