How Does Julius Caesar Affect Society

The Effect of Internal Strife on Society

In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, there are many instances in which characters portray themselves in a different way than who they actually are. Julius Caesar describes the assassination of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar and the civil war that resulted in the fall of Rome. Throughout the play, there is a thirst for control over others. Many individuals display false personas to persuade others to help them attain power. However, those selfish purposes tore Rome apart and provoked the war. By describing the gap between the way characters project themselves and the way they are perceived , Shakespeare suggests that one’s internal strife results in general disorder and the fall of society.
Cassius

revealed his contradicting personalities when he told Brutus that he would make a better ruler than Caesar. In the beginning of the story, Cassius comments on Brutus’s lack of “gentleness and show of love” that he is accustomed to seeing (I.2.35-36). He offers to help Brutus “modestly discover” himself by acting as his reflection (I.2.71). Brutus confesses to Cassius that he is unwilling to accept Caesar as a ruler, and Cassius immediately takes advantage of him. He asks Brutus, “what should be in that ‘Caesar’? Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” and prompts Brutus into believing that he can rule as well as Caesar (I.2.143-144). He also falsely convinces Brutus that all the people want him, not Caesar, to rule Rome. Later that day, he throws “writings, all tending to the great opinion that Rome holds of his [Brutus] name” in Brutus’s window (I.3.218-219). In Cassius’s conversation with Brutus, he appears as if he truly cares for Brutus’s well being and wants him to be a leader. However, Cassius only praised Brutus to gain his trust, turn him against Caesar, and later, assassinate him. Although Cassius succeeded in killing Caesar, his actions resulted in a civil war. Rome was divided, and Cassius was forced to commit suicide. By writing about Cassius, Shakespeare suggests that conflicting personas cannot coexist and ultimately result in the destruction of a society.
Julius Caesar displays a false personality in order to gain power.

He put on a false impression of invincibility and power to gain public support. After he defeated Pompey, the previous leader, the people greatly admired him and wanted him to lead Rome. However, few knew that he was not as invincible as he seemed. Brutus claimed that Caesar “had a fever when he was in Spain and when the fit was on him, I did mark how he did shake. ‘Tis true, this god did shake” (I.2.121-123). Not only was Caesar extremely susceptible to disease, but he also cried like “a sick girl” (I.2.130). Cassius also tells a story about Caesar’s weaknesses. Caesar once dared Cassius to swim in the Tiber River with him, yet Caesar almost drowned and cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!” (I.2.113). Although Caesar is clearly seen as weak and vulnerable, he portrays himself as powerful and invincible to the general public to gain their support. Although the people elected him as their ruler, he was assassinated shortly afterwards by the people who knew his true self. His assassination tore Rome apart and resulted in a civil war. By writing about Caesar’s contrasting personalities, Shakespeare implies that one’s internal strife will lead to general

disarray.
At Caesar’s funeral, Antony stated that Brutus and the conspirators were noble men, but implied the opposite.

The conspirators forbade Antony from criticizing their actions, and he said that he meant to “bury Caesar, not to praise him” (III.2.74). However, in his speech, Antony honored Caesar. He mentioned that Caesar’s will bequeathed a “rich legacy” to the Romans, and that he was not ambitious; for he “thrice refused” the crown offered to him (III.2.136,97). He thus implied that the conspirators’ actions against Caesar were unjustified, yet he did not speak anything against them. Antony repeatedly described the conspirators as honorable and claimed that he did not intend to “disprove what Brutus spoke”, yet he stated that Caesar was not an ambitious man (III.2.100). Throughout his speech, Antony rallied the Romans against the conspirators, even though he did not directly criticize them. After listening to Antony’s speech, the Romans were moved and they began to bring chaos to the city. Later, the citizens fought in a civil war, and Rome was in complete disarray. By masking his true intentions and by swaying the people with his contradicting statements, Antony was able to initiate the fall of Rome. Shakespeare suggests that one’s contrasting intentions result in chaos, as seen through Antony’s eulogy for

Caesar.
In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, many characters display false personalities for their personal gain, which ultimately results in the fall of Roman society. Cassius heavily praised Brutus to convince him to assassinate Caesar, which resulted in a civil war. Caesar put on a false air of domination in order to become a dictator, ensuing in his death and the falling apart of Rome. Antony used kind words to instigate a rebellion against the senators, which led to the civil war. Shakespeare includes many instances of dishonest personalities to prove that one’s different personalities cannot coexist and ultimately results in chaos.