Brutus Ambition In Julius Caesar

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In Julius Caesar, Cassius represents the epicurean philosophy as he delights on pleasure—or rather the pleasure of position and power. Cassius believes that the nobility of Rome is responsible for the government of Rome. As Cassius resents the fact that the Roman Republic has come to revere Caesar almost as a god, Cassius acts out of envy to stop Caesar’s growing power among the common man. Since the Roman Republic have allowed a man to gain excessive power; Cassius believes that the nobility have the responsibility to stop him from obtaining dictatorship. With Caesar's ambition, Cassius leads the conspiracy plot to assassinate Caesar. Though Cassius states that the assassination plot of Caesar is for the good of Rome, he mostly acts out of …show more content…

Cassius’s sentiments with Caesar’s growing power is expressed as he states “And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature and must bend his body, if Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (Act I, Scene II, page 13). However, Cassius tells Brutus that they can put a stop to Caesar’s growing power as he states, “Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (Act I, Scene II, page 14). Cassius resents the fact that Caesar has gained so much power and that he must bend to his authority. Cassius reminds Brutus that fate does not govern the affairs of people or even a nation; people have to make decisions. Thus, they become masters of their own destiny. Brutus is essentially tellings Brutus that it would be their own fault if they allowed Caesar to rule over them as slaves. As Cassius conveys his sentiments of Caesar, he persuades Brutus to join the conspirators against …show more content…

In a dialogue, Caesar tells Marc Antony why he is distrustful of Cassius as he states, “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous. Such men as he be never at heart’s ease Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, and therefore are they very dangerous” (Act I, Scene II, pages 16-17). With bitter criticism, Cassius tells Brutus that Caesar is just as weak as them as he describes an incident in which he had to save Caesar’s life when they went swimming. He recalls other incidents as proof of Caesar’s frailty, such as the fact that he has epileptic attack, and behaves, in his condition, like a girl and a coward (Act I, Scene II, pages 12-13). Cassius expressed his outrage to Brutus that a man as feeble as Caesar is glorified and is given the power alone to lead Rome. As Cassius points out to Brutus that Caesar is merely a mortal like them, with ordinary human weaknesses and flaws; he questions why should they have to bow down to a man like him. Caesar perceptively characterizes Cassius as he is aware of the threat Cassius poses—a shrewd man like Cassius would be able to carry out a plan to an assassination plot against

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