Examples Of Perception In Julius Caesar

Good or bad? Happy or angry? These are ways people can view themselves or other people in the world. When looking at viewing life in different ways it can affect everyday decisions or even life threatening decisions like the one Brutus made. Brutus and the other conspirators feel that they have done good, because of how they saw Caesar and themselves, by committing an awful crime. Caesar’s ego gets in the way of his safety when Decius Brutus tells him that the people love him instead of hate him. Lastly, the reader learns that the townspeople can easily be persuaded into looking at events in different ways. In Julius Caesar the author, Shakespeare, utilizes perception as a way for the characters to go about their lives.

Perception is

a key component in Julius Caesar because it plays an important role of how Caesar sees himself. Throughout the story the reader is told that Caesar is ambitious in a bad way and he will destroy Rome. However, Caesar has a big ego and sees himself as a wonderful person that can change Rome for the good. One night Caesar’s wife, Calphurnia, has a dream about what is going to happen to Caesar the next day, the ides of March. She told him that she saw his statue and it “did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans came smiling and did bathe their hands in it” (II.ii.83-84). She foreshadowed his death by telling Caesar and the reader exactly what would happen. On the other hand, Decius Brutus enters and utilizes pathos to convince Caesar it was a misunderstanding. He knew that if he nudged at Caesar’s ego he could get him to come to the Senate. He states that the blood pouring out from the statue “signifies that from you [Caesar] great Rome shall suck reviving blood” ( II.ii.92-93). He is telling Ceasar how great he is and how Rome will benefit from his power. This in turn, leads to Caesar believing and seeing himself as a great hero for Rome and his journey to the Senate.
Within the book there are many characters, however the most noticeably indecisive characters are the townspeople.

When many different events take place they always switching their opinions about other characters. For instance, When Mark Antony was giving his speech after Caesar’s death, he was talking about how great Brutus and the others were. In is speech he proclaims “But Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man” (III.ii.95-96). At this point in the speech the crowd had listened to Brutus about the event felt the same way as Mark Antony did, one person said “ Give him a statue with his ancestors”(III.ii.52). However, just moments later they are swayed into thinking he and the other conspirators are terrible people. Mark Antony uses ethos and turns the crowd against Brutus and the others when he states he can’t not read the will because “ I fear I wrong the honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar”(III.ii.163-164). At this moment the crowd showed how fickle they are and they switch sides, one person says “They were traitors. Honorable men?” (III.ii.165). With Mark Antony’s power and trust with the townspeople, he shows them where they stand in this battle and how the choices they make will affect Rome in the future. Shakespeare writes this moment into Julius Caesar because he is teaching his audience that the split second decisions that a person can make, like the townspeople, will affect the rest of the events to

follow.
Views on the conspirators and Brutus range from worthy to dishonorable in a matter of minutes among the people of Rome. On the other hand, this small group of killers feel they are the saving graces and by killing Caesar they committed a noble act. The plan to kill Caesar developed during the first few acts of the play and came together when Brutus finally agreed to help the others with their crime. When Caesar arrived to the Senate, even though he was warned not to by many people, the conspirators gather around him and plead for Cassius’s brother be set free. After, they all rose and continuously stabbed Caesar. They did this because they were under the impression that Caesar was ambitious and when the deed was done they shouted: “ Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!”(III.ii.86). They had thought that they just did they best thing they could have for Rome and proceeded to see themselves as heroes for killing Caesar. The townspeople thought this way too, they shouted “ Live, Brutus, live, live!”(III.ii.50) and “This Caesar was tyrant”(III.ii.76). This lasted only a brief moment, until they heard Mark Antony speak. The conspirators were very happy with the outcome and felt like they were on top of the world. Later in Act Five they all realize that they have made a very grave mistake and then they saw themselves as unworthy and ready to die. The outlook the conspirators had on themselves, as big powerful men, caused them do a very rash decision that did not end well. People in the everyday world can face this very important ideas come to mind and Shakespeare was conveying that people should not always act on the first instinct.
During the world today many different people can look at the same thing and take it all different ways. The way a person can take something into consideration can have repercussions that can affect everyone or just themselves. Shakespeare used Brutus as an example of this by killing caesar it not only affected himself but everyone in Rome. Brutus saw his act as great therefore he saw himself as great. The townspeople are a very fickle bunch and can take anybody’s word and join their side. Many characters take advantage of this because they see that the townspeople are an easy target for allies. In the end Caesar’s death was partially his own fault. He agreed with Decious that he was going to be a great leader and made the choice to leave his house. Shakespeare uses these examples and many others to show that opportunities can be put into action too quickly and eventually can end in some bad outcomes. When reading this book the author wants the reader to take into consideration about the view they have on their life and how it may need to change in the future.