More handpicked essays just for you.
The downfall of Julius Caesar
Compare and contrast king julius caesar and shakespeare's julius caesar
Analysis of fate in julius Caesar
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Summary opinion: Cassius is guilty with extenuating circumstances. He is overwhelmingly jealous of Caesar’s popularity and believes he must stop it by convincing Brutus to join his side. He does so by sending fake letters and speaking about the dictatorship of Caesar. His actions play the most prominent role for the cause of Caesar’s death. Facts: “Ye gods, it doth amaze me a man of such feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world and bear the palm alone.”(1.2.131-133) “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonourable graves.” (1.2.136-139) "I will this night, in several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several 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
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...
contrast the God of Epictetus, and the God of Augustine, and in the end, my stand will
A character from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Cassius, exhibits Machiavellian attributes by manipulation and a drive to accomplish his goal of assassinating Julius Caesar by any means. Cassius was able to successfully manipulate both Brutus and the fellow conspirators. Cassius was able to influence Brutus enough to make Brutus believe that killing Julius Caesar, Brutus’ best friend, was the right action. Initially, Brutus was wary of Cassius when Brutus said, “Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius?” (1.2.69) Subsequently, Brutus is persuaded as he states, “...what you have said / I will consider” (1.2.176-177). Cassius is willing to control any person who stands in his way. Cassius successfully turned Brutus against his best friend in order to achieve what Cassius believes to be best for Rome. 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. In Julius Caesar, we do not see Cassius as the main leader of the cons...
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.
"O, that this too sailed flesh would meld/or that the everlasting had not fixed/his cannon against self-slaughter" (I.ii.129-132).
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.
...rying out twice, "You young gods have ridden roughshod over/ the ancient ways,/ wrenched them from our grasp./ We are dishonored and dejected,/ and our anger rises..." (lines 778-781 and 808-811).
“the gods have made you mad. They have that power, putting lunacy into the clearest head around or setting a half-wit on the path of sense. They unhinged you, and you were once so sane. Why do you mock me? – haven’t I wept enough?” (23.12-16)
Cassius is the leader of the conspirators. He is jealous of the power that Caesar holds and wants for himself. Caesar says that Cassius"...Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks to much. Such men are dangerous.", meaning that he looks sneaky and is not to be trusted. The whole idea to kill Caesar begins with Cassius, he convinces the other Senators to do as he wishes. Cassius commits suicide because he is afraid of what will happen to him if Mark Antony and Octavius find him. Another reason for his suicide is because he believes that his men have lost the battle and he does not want to face the consequences.
'So, Pentheus listen to me. Do not mistake the rule of force for true power. Men are not shaped by force. Nor should you boast of wisdom, when everyone but you can see how sick your thoughts are. Instead, welcome this God to Thebes. Exalt him with wine, garland your head and join the Bacchic revels'(19).
In lines 57-78, Cassius makes Brutus feel that he is a great man and that if he were to see his inner qualities that he would believe it too. Joseph J Romm in his Book “Language Intelligence” states, “Getting noticed and getting “in” have been the twin tasks for rhetoric for over two thousand years” (1). Cassius is slowly getting in and getting noticed by building Brutus up so that he can feel that is a great person and later that Caesar is not. Cassius later attempts to make himself look trustworthy by saying “Were I a common laughter, or did use/ to stale with ordinary oaths my love to every new protestor... then hold me dangerous” (I.ii.72-74 & 78). He is acting as if he is not a deceiving person by basically saying that if you don’t believe that I do not deceive people then let it be that way. By doing this, he seems like he is giving up on Brutus so it seems that Cassius doesn’t care what...
... middle of paper ... ... Cassius commits the murder because of his jealousy of Caesar's elevated power and mounting dominance over everyone, even his friends.
In the first place, Cassius deeply dislikes Caesar and he has and evil plan to fool Brutus to kill Caesar. He wanted to find a way to convince Brutus that Caesar is bad, and they should kill him to save Rome. The thing Caesar did was he wrote fake letters talking about Caesars death and he sends it to Brutus to fool him to convince him to come with him to kill Caesar. It states on the passage on page 10 act 1, scene 2 "Good bye Brutus. Oh, I am glad that he is gone! I must get Brutus to help me, for Caesar loves and trusts Brutus, and without him,
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
“Into what dangers would you led me, Cassius that you would have me seek into myself-For that which is not to me?”