Comparison of Julius Caesar and Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln and Julius Caesar are undoubtedly two men who made history by and through their governance on their own nations. When making comparison of these two great men, one significant feature or mode of comparison is their assassination. Comparing Julius Caesar’s assassination to that of Abraham Lincoln shows both differences and similarities. In either case, the Roman General and the U.S. President were killed by people who were threatened by their authority and power.

The life of Julius Caesar is comparable to the life of Abraham Lincoln in a variety of ways. While unique similarities exist in the lives of these two men, distinct differences also exist. Abraham Lincoln was an orator; Julius Caesar a notable author of Latin prose. They were both leaders. Nowadays, people look up to them as heroes. They shared a significant amount of power in their respective nations. Both men were assassinated. Although a little similar, the manner of assassination of Julius Caesar was quite different from that of Abraham Lincoln. The Roman leader and the U.S. President both came from a different era; their backgrounds were also different.

Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome in July 100 BC. Rome was a Republic at this time. He was a statesman, Roman general, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. He played a significant role in the events that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire. He was a leader in a nation where the people were not involved in the government decision-making process. Thus, he had majority of the power in the Republic and was able to form a huge army. He was able to triumph, conquer new lands with the army at his grasp and command. As Caesar acquired more power over the years, som...

... middle of paper ...

...be used to compare these two men; however, their assassination by people opposed to their use of power is the ultimate method of comparison. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because of his backing for equality and end of slavery. His deed was gallant and honourable; however the nation at the time was not too keen on embracing such a change. Conversely, Julius Caesar’s assassination stemmed from his abuse of power and office.

Works Cited

Parissien, Steven. Assassinated!: Assassinations That Shook the World, from Julius Caesar to Lincoln. London: Quercus, 2008. Print.

Furtwangler, Albert. Assassin on Stage: Brutus, Hamlet, and the Death of Lincoln. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2007. Print.

Alvin B. Kernan. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009. Print.

Morse, John T. Abraham Lincoln. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 2005. Print.