Similarities Between Julius Caesar And The Prince

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The intertextual perspectives between both texts portray consistent ideas about leadership and political power regardless of their differing contexts. However, both texts offer distinctive ideas towards the notion of leadership and the mannerism in which power should be obtained, which ultimately greatly enhances our understanding of intertextual perspectives of power. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (1513) utilises realpolitik advice on the maintenance of power and virtu. Contrastingly, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (1623) portrays the influence of nobility and the need for stability on leadership. Ultimately, both texts offer us an appreciation through their intertextual perspectives as we engage with their distinctive contexts and values. Both Machiavelli and Shakespeare lived and published their works during the Renaissance, a time where Christianity, once above public criticism and debate, was having its doctrine questioned. This lead …show more content…

Machiavelli does not mention much on a ruler’s physicality believing intellect to be a more valuable trait “Outwitting opponents with their cunning”. However Shakespeare’s play constantly references Caesar’s body as a way to attack his legitimacy. Whilst Cassius attempts to “wrough Brutus’ honourable mettle” he questions Caesar’s legitimacy “upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed/ That he is grown so great?” this sentence hints at Caesar’s blood thirsty appetite, hinting that Caesar’s political growth has been sustained by the consumption of his opponents. Likewise this rhetorical question conjures images of supernatural growth and further reinforces Caesar’s savagery and animal instincts. Similarly Caesar’s inability to swim after the Tiber and his infertility all serve as marks against his rule, for Shakespeare, a leader often had to embody the values of a warrior, something which Machiavelli disagrees

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