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Julius caesar life story
Julius caesar life story
Julius caesar life story
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Brutus and Cassius overreacted in their assumption that Caesar would become a tyrant. Caesar hadn’t done anything to show he was going to mistreat his power. Cassius wants to be king so bad that he has tricked Brutus into thinking Caesar would be the downfall of Rome. Caesar turned down the crown three times, he was still human like everyone else, and he loved the Roman people and country. These three reasons help show that Brutus and Cassius overreacted. In Act 3, Scene 2 it is noted that Caesar turned down the crown. If someone wanted a lot of power, why would the turn down the crown repeatedly? It is said by Casca that “Ah, marry, was’t, and he put it by thrice…,” (Act 3, Scene 2, line 229) which in today’s words mean that he pushed the crown away three times. If Caesar were a tyrant like they said or was going to become one, he would’ve accepted the crown on the first offer from Antony. Brutus and Cassius aren’t sure how to take this news because to them why wouldn’t someone like Caesar take the crown. It shows that Caesar wouldn’t become a tyrant and that Brutus and Cassius had overreacted in their assumptions. …show more content…
Another time that shows they overreacted in their assumptions was when he fainted at the celebration.
Cassius said that he too weak to be able to lead the country and that he lacks the qualifications to make him a good leader. How does one lack the qualifications to make a good leader? Cassius had talked to Brutus about how although everyone treated Caesar as a god, he was still one of them, a human. That he still got sick and with him fainting at the celebration in front of everyone it helped prove he was still human. Caesar being human and not a god is a good thing. It means that he will show emotion and be capable of seeing things from other people’s view. If anything Cassius helped shows that they overreacted when he talks about Caesar being too weak human incapable of leading a
country. Another reason that helps show that Cassius and Brutus overreacted and sticks out the most are at the end. After they had Caesar killed, Antony asked Brutus if he could speak at the funeral and Brutus agreed. When he got up to talk, he said he wouldn’t tell what is said in Caesar’s will because they shouldn’t know how much Caesar cared for them. When the crowd finally talked him into it, he said this, “Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal, to every Roman Citizen he gives-- To every several man--seventy-five drachmas,” (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 232-234). Why would someone who is supposed to be a tyrant leave every Roman citizen seventy-five drachmas? They wouldn’t, and that shows that Brutus and Cassius overreacted in their assumptions about Caesar. Brutus and Cassius overreacted when they assumed that Caesar would become a tyrant and be the downfall of the Roman citizens. Cassius knew that Brutus loved the citizens and would do anything to keep them safe, so he talked Brutus into believing Caesar would be a tyrant. Caesar would not become a tyrant because he turned down the crown three times which shows he is humble. Caesar was still human like everyone else which shows he will be able to show emotion for his people still, and he loved the Roman people and country which proves he would do anything to help keep them healthy, wealthy, and safe.
In the beginning of the Book Cassius uses anecdotes of Caesar’s weakness and faults, argumentum ad antiquatum, and ethos on Brutus to persuade him to join the conspiracy to kill Caesar, this works on Brutus and shows that anyone, even people as stoic as Brutus, can be persuaded by appealing to their motivations. Cassius, a very suspicious character thru ought the play tells Brutus to “be not jealous on me” (827), in the quote he tells Brutus to not be suspicious of him because he is just a friend who genuinely cares. Cassius does this to put himself on Brutus’ side and not seem like a distant person, this allows him to criticize Caesar and suggest that he is a bad influence on Rome which appeals to Brutus’ desire to keeping Rome safe. After setting himself up as a friend to Brutus, Cassius uses harsh anecdotes on the weakness of Caesar to show that he isn’t fit to rule Rome. Cassius recollects on a time when he and Caesar went swimming in the river Tiber and Caesar screamed “Help me, Cassius or I sink” (828) to de...
Cassius truly believes Caesar has a frail state of mind and is unfit to have any form of authority in Rome. At first glance, his words and ideology seem to strive for the end of tyranny and become the savior of Romans, but it is clear he puts more emphasis on his rank rather than the well-being of others. When he states that their ranks were not their fault and should be taken into their own hands he intends to take his place by force with no regards for the Roman people or government. Additionally, Cassius shouldn’t be commended for saving Caesar from drowning because he remembrances on that deed to convince others that Caesar is feeble than most, yet he is treated like a god. Cassius’s greed for power motivates his murderous motivations but his ability to manipulate others to his will is also evident in his words. He refers to Caesar’s overwhelming power similar to a Colossus while he and the others “…walk under his huge legs… ” or are hidden in his glory. In reality though, the senators are more esteemed than despised. Another way Cassius misleads others is by faking Caesar’s fascist behaviors toward the commoners. He does so by forging negative letters about “Caesar’s Ambition” for Brutus to be pressured into joining his cause. Consumed by envy, he convinces Brutus to assassinate Caesar for the righteousness of the people but his incentive has
When Brutus says, “Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires” (1.2.35) it is clear that Cassius has swayed Brutus to believe in his cause.... ... middle of paper ... ... Caesar passed up power, was generous, and was naive, which led to him to be killed by his best friend, Brutus, thus making Caesar an ineffective leader. In Julius Caesar, Machiavellian traits are manifested through multiple characters. Those characters who obeyed Machiavelli’s guidance were successful in achieving their goals; those who did not conform to the recommendations failed.
Brutus thinks that killing Caesar is a noble act because it is for the good of Rome. However would Brutus have thought this if Cassius had not tricked him into believing it? It could be argued that Brutus manipulated himself into thinking what he did was honorable when really it was not and he was just following what Cassius wanted him to do. Brutus even says in the beginning of the play that he does not have it in him to kill Caesar. “Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius/ That you would have me seek into myself/ For that which is not in me?” (1.2.60-71) It seems that Brutus’s thoughts on the subject change completely after assuring himself that it is for the good of Rome. Cassius does the same thing. He convinces himself that Caesar is corrupt when really he is just jealous of his power. Caesar is also guilty of this. For example, he is superstitious only when it is convenient for him. He does not believe the soothsayer when he tells him to “beware the ides of March,”(citation?) but he believes Decius when he says that Calpurnia’s dream means he will be a good ruler. Caesar does not want to accept that he could be in danger. He trains himself to only believe in good omens.
Cassius is a sly, deceitful and an untrustworthy character. Caesar described him best. He said (act1, scene 2, line 195), “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous”. Cassius is very superstitious. This is shown when he says (act 5, scene 1, line 75) “ you know I held Epicurus strong, and his opinion. Now I change my mind, and partly credit things that do presage…”. He believes in omen and signs that foretell events to come. Cassius is conceded. This is shown when he says to Brutus (act1, scene 2, line 116), “ And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is now a wretched creature, and must bend his body if Caesar careless but nod on him…”. Cassius continues on saying about times when he saved Caesar from drowning and when he saw Caesar with a fever and he started to shake. All this tells us that Cassius thinks he is just as good or even better than Caesar.
In the play, Julius Caesar ,many of the leading characters such as Caesar, Brutus, and Mark Antony have encountered many difficult situations, which are described in the book. Just as everyone has their own way of taking care of their issues, well so did these three characters in this dramatic piece. The first character, Julius Caesar, faces many obstacles in the play. One of the most important obstacles he faced was the decision on whether he should attend his coronation or not considering that there might be people who are waiting to assassinate him.
Even though Brutus loves Caesar and knows that Caesar is a good man, he lets Cassius talk him into looking deeper and see that Rome can't have a tyrant as a leader. He tells Cassius "Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself, for that which is not in me?" 1.2.65-67. The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary Brutus knows that killing his best friend is not something he wants to do, but he's ready to commit such crime because it's for the good of the Rome and the people of Rome.
What Cassius says and how he says it reveals him as a character. In Act I, Cassius is attempting to lead Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die. “I have heard where many of the best respect in Rome (except immortal Caesar), speaking of Brutus And groaning underneath this age’s yoke, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes” (17). In this quote, Cassius is attempting to manipulate Brutus into believing that Roman citizens want him to lead them instead of Caesar, and that they are “groaning underneath this age’s yoke”, in which he is stating that the Roman people are tired of the way Caesar rules. Brutus replies, “Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me” (19). Brutus is stating that he doesn’t believe what Cassius is telling him, asking him what
He is so motivated by ambition that he decides to kill Caesar, the leader of Rome. Although dedication can be a good quality, in Cassius, it blinds him to all other things and makes him ruthless in his quest to rule Rome. Cassius’s desire for power is evident when 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" (1.2.146-148). Cassius’ ambition leads him to go as far as to convince a dear friend with manipulation and false notes to help him plot to kill Caesar. His ambition makes him power hungry and he lacks the honor to back up his overzealous behavior. Cassius envies Caesar and because of this he resorts to bribery, assassinations, and imposing taxes for personal
Honor and power is what drives the conspirators to assassinate Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. Caesar is now the single leader of Rome, and members of the Senate have concerns that he will abuse his sole power. Therefore, they plot and accomplish the assassination of Caesar in an attempt to rebuild the balance of Rome. Rome falls into chaos with an unknown future with no central leader for the people to follow. In Act I, Scene 2, Cassius, a member of the Senate, explains to his friend, Brutus, that Caesar is not the god he makes himself out to be. Instead, he argues both he and Brutus are equal to Caesar and are just as deserving of the throne. Cassius’ speech to Brutus diminishes Caesar’s godly demeanor through
The Roman civilians celebrate Caesar’s victory over Pompey in the streets (1.1.64-65). Caesar's arrogance led his ambition for control over Rome. This is Caesar’s great mistake, it makes the conspirators fearful of his ambition and will make them consider what atrocities Caesar would be willing to commit for power. He turned on a member of the triumvirate so every other politician in Rome has the right to be fearful of him and seek to eliminate him. Casca describes Antony’s attempt to give Caesar the crown three times, but he pushes it away more reluctantly each time (1.2.254-276). Brutus observes that he only refused the crown to please the crowd. However, he also saw how reluctant he was to push it away, revealing his ambitions and making him think of what he might do for the crown. He also knows that Caesar is only humility to advance himself, but after he has reached the pinnacle of power, Caesar will turn back on his supporters. This prompts the motive of assassination for the conspirators because they would have to live in fear if Caesar became king. After Calpurnia hears the prophecies about her husband’s assassination, “You shall not stir out of your house today” (2.2.9). Caesar’s arrogance leads him to ignore all warnings and thinks he will be safe at the Senate. His pride would diminish if his peers humiliate him because he listened to a woman. Little did he know that if he did
In addition, he prevails his weaknesses by say this in that he shows that he realizes anyone with power could easily kick him off the throne; this is the reason that he is trying to take complete control of Rome and deplete everyone else of any power. Obviously, this is a terrible mentality to have as a leader and always leads to a corrupt government that takes away all the rights of its citizens and this mentality that Caesar had justifies his
Both Cassius and Brutus conspire against Caesar, yet Shakespeare depicts Brutus as doing a noble job compared to Cassius as doing a greedy and envious task. Cassius believes that he is stronger than Caesar. Therefore, Cassius does not understand why Caesar is in power and he is not. Cassius is also envious of Caesar. In Act I Scene II, Cassius describes to Brutus the time he had to save Caesar in a swimming race. Since then, Cassius feels superior to Caesar. In Cassius’ mind, kings’ right to rule should be based off of strength, not intelligence or virtue. On the other hand, Brutus knows that although a king should be strong, he must also be virtuous. Brutus always elaborates on the topic of honor. In fact, his first priority is to keep his own honor intact and Brutus fears that Caesar will change when he is crowned. Brutus says, “He would be crowned: How that might change his nature, there’s the question.” (Act II, Scene I, Page 49, lines 12-14) He senses Caesar’s greed for power, and ...
Shakespeare’s portrayal of Cassius is based on Plutarch’s historical description as a “choleric man” who “even from his cradle could not abide any manner of tyrant (“Sources” 115).” It is not through divine power that men begin to conspire against Caesar, but it is through Cassius’ decision to use the power of rhetoric in order to persuade men, especially Brutus, to conspire against Caesar. According to Cassius in the play, “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 (1.2.139-141).” Through careful and strategic planning is Cassius able to persuade Brutus, a man who “for his virtue and valiantness, was wellbeloved of the people (“Sources” 120),” into conspiring and acting upon the death of Caesar. Caesar also believes that men control their own fate by stating, in response to the omens and portents, “Danger knows full well / That Caesar is more dangerous than he (2.2.44-45).” Through this quote, Caesar presents his belief that he has the ability to overcome a superstitious fate. Therefore, he ignores all the signs and omens and thus determines his fate through an action that would seal his death. Unlike Calphurnia 's beliefs, Shakespeare makes it clear that it is the free will of these men alone that shaped history into the tragedy which it became. It was not
Cassius, already aware of Brutus’s vanity, employed subtle techniques of flattery to manipulate him against Caesar, first by hinting that he was more honorable and respected than he believed himself to be, and offering to be a “human mirror” to show Brutus his own worthiness (I.ii.60-65). By saying this, he boosted Brutus’s ego by mentioning that he was not only righteous and well-liked, but also humble. He then reminded Brutus of his ancestor who “would have brooked/ Th’ eternal devil to keep his state in Rome/ As easily as a king.” (I.ii.168-170), thus enforcing the idea that joining him against Caesar is the right thing to do. Consistently throughout his monologues, Cassius talked about the justice and virtue of killing Caesar, appealing to Brutus’s hamartia. Brutus was so caught up with the idea of saving Rome from a tyrant that he overlooked the fact that he would be murdering his friend who was not even a king