Julius Caesar Flaws Essay

464 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Role of women in julius caesar essay

In Shakespeare’s play the Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Caesar’s personal flaws lead him to his own destruction. There are three major flaws that shape Julius Caesar complete obliteration his pride, arrogance and determination. For instance, Caesar’s pride is one of his most seen flaws from the start of the play to the end of the play. In Act 2 Scene 2 line 65-107, “Caesars wife, Calpurnia begs Caesar not to go to the capitol because of a dream that she had which she fears that something bad will happen to Caesar if he goes. Calpurnia tells Caser to tell Decius that he is sick and that’s why he cannot go to the capitol. Although, Caesar takes what Calpurnia said into thought but that is quick lived and lastly he says the following “How foolish …show more content…

Arrogance although both his arrogance and pride work together in Julius Caesar downfall. The first hint of his arrogance occurs very early in the play. When the soothsayer speaks out doing the rally to warn Caesar of the Ides of March (15th). Caesar just looks at him for before saying, “He is a dreamer. Let us leave him: pass.” (1.2.24). When the soothsayer warns him, Caesar immediately disregards what the man had to say, revealing his arrogance. This scene was put in place to illustrate Caesar relationship with the common people and how he reacts towards the common people. This later proves that he is arrogant and that if he would have taken this waring more serious; Caesar could have prevented his death. In addition, to the soothsayer waring showing his arrogance was Caesar discussion with Antony. For example, in Act 1 Scene 2 line 208-213, Caesar having a discussion with Antony “Such men as he be never at heart's ease Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, And therefore are they very dangerous. I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar (1.2 208-213).” We can see how bluntly arrogant Caesar is doing the discussion with Antony even stating “Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar. That Caesar fears are not relevant because what he fears are not really fears because he is Julius Caesar. While what we see is arrogance, he sees as a right given to him for

Show More
Related

  • The Enlightenment of the Great Julius Caesar

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julius Caesar, even though he is considered great, turns out to contain many flaws. He believes himself to be untouchable, and has a confidence that he cannot be harmed, even though that is not the case. He says so when he says, “Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me ne’er looked but on ...

    Read More

  • Honesty Fairness In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar And Butus

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both Caesar and Brutus have a tragic flaw. In the beginning of the play a soothsayer is telling Caesar to beware the ides of march Caesar Responds “He is a dreamer; Brutus leave him. Pass” (shakespeare page??? line????) When Caesar tells the soothsayer this it shows that he does not believe that he could be harmed. Just like caesar, Brutus suffered a tragic flaw, his being trusting everyone. After Caesar is dead Antony wants to say a speech at Caesar 's funeral, after making the crowd violent says “Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, take thou the course thou wilt.”(shakespeare3.2.266-264). Brutus trusted Antony to say some nice words about Caesar, instead he turn the crowd violent. Caesar and Brutus love the roman people and would sacrifice anything for them. after Caesar dies Antony reads “ to every roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas”( page lines title). Caesar loved the romans so much he gave them all a bit of his money after he died. Even though he was prideful he loved the romans as much as Brutus. Brutus saw that under Caesar 's rule romans were suffering and says” Not that i love Caesar less, but that I loved/Rome more”(?) He Explains why he felt

    Read More

  • Machiavellian Ministry

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Caesar’s lack of somewhat savage Machiavellian traits foreshadows his downfall a multitude of times. From the beginning, the soothsayer warns him to watch out for the Ides of March. There are also bad signs; men in fire walks up and down the streets, and a lioness gives birth on the streets. Likewise, before he heads to the Senate House to receive the crown, Calphurnia tells him that she has had a nightmare, and pleads him to stay home. However, he ignores all the premonitions and moves toward where the Senators are, with no one to protect him when he is in danger. This action of Caesar contradicts the teachings of Machiavelli, “Before all else, be armed” (The Prince). As a result of his carelessness, the conspirators see that he has no chance of circumventing, and assassinates him. Similarly, he is unsuccessful in recognizing the outrage of Cassius and a few others; he isn’t doubtful enough of their secretive deeds and eventually loses the reigns to eliminate the defiance. "The same thing occurs in affairs o...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Argumentative Essay

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julius Caesar was one of the most important political and military leaders in the history of Rome, with many major achievements. Caesar is known to have never lost a single war. His most honorable conquests include the capture of Gaul that extended the Rome boundaries to the Atlantic Ocean; and the Roman invasion of Britain. Julius was also a historian and an incredible orator. He authored many comprehensive journals, named Commentaries that provided the details of his military campaign. Caesar is also said to have produced Acta Diurna, which is the first newspaper that let the public know about the actions of the Assembly and the Senate. He was a successful statesman and changed several laws for the wellbeing if the public. He was the one who fixed the calendar because the days weren’t in pace with the seasons and suggested the science behind it. He was clearly one of the most important political and military leaders in the history of Rome

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar: The Quintessence of a Tragic Hero

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    Julius Caesar is shown to have many reprehensible character flaws over the course of the drama. Namely, he is illustrated as having a belligerent sense of arrogance. Initially, the great majority of the Roman public adores and esteems Caesar. However, this adoration inflates his sense of self-pride and arrogance. For example, in the play’s introduction Caesar is given warning about a plot to extirpate him from the throne. A soothsayer warns him to “beware the ides of March” (890). Rather than to obviate the attempt, Caesar blows off the Soothsayer, stating “he is a dreamer, let us leave him” (890). Later in Act II, Caesar has been informed of dead men walking, a lioness giving birth in the street...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", Caesar is displayed as a powerful and dynamic figure in Rome because of his many accomplishments in previous wars as well as battles. When Caesar returns to Rome from a recent victorious defeat in battle, he receives a warm welcome by all the citizens of Rome. They consider and see Caesar as a hero and a strong individual, which is why they attempt to crown him King three times. A group of generals in Caesar's army are jealous and concerned with the amount of power Caesar has; they make arrangements to kill him. "Power is said to be a man's greatest desire he'll do whatever it takes to achieve his goal, even to kill." In comparison to Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" and the film Julius Caesar, we see many similarities. Furthermore, I will discuss these similarities in great depth.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Manipulation Essay

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a story full of manipulation and jealousy that changes the way people think. Ancient Rome had umpteen different ways of handling situations that, in today’s world, would be considered unethical; such as battles that were very much horrifying and vivid. However, these battles were not important with the development of the plot. Shakespeare uses various ways of the idea of manipulation and betrayal to lead readers into the rest of the narrative.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar A Tyrant Analysis

    461 Words  | 1 Pages

    In a well functioning republic, the leaders must listen to all that the people say and not do whatever he wishes. This part of the play displays Caesar’s sexism but also his lack of thought for others concerns that is similar to a tyrant view. Lastly, Caesar shows arrogance subtly through his words to make himself feel powerful. When Calpurnia warns Caesar of her visions, Caesar starts speaking in third person that personally seems like the zenith of someone being supercilious. “Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me/Ne’er looked but on my back; when they shall see/ The face of Caesar, they are vanishéd.” (II.ii.10-11). Caesar basically says that because he is so great and powerful he will never be defeated. He also talks in third person which is quite arrogant of a leader to do. Whenever people feel too anxious for leadership they may let it all go to their head, another reason why he turned into a tyrant. People need to watch for tyrannical or corrupt politicians as they can get too power hungry and cannot be

    Read More

  • How Is Julius Caesar Corrupt

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ambition, pride, and arrogance-- these traits are often found in great rulers and leaders, yet they are also the most prominent flaws in most villains. In the case of Julius Caesar, he was both. The lines of the soliloquy that Caesar states are crucial to our understanding of this, as they starts to define another facet of Caesar’s personality that we have only heard of until now; namely, he is corrupt. As the emergence of Caesar’s ignoble side becomes more clear, the audience start to sympathize with Cassius’ and Brutus’ fear. When the lines are examined more closely, the we can discern the following two underlying themes: the private vs. public images of Caesar, and his ambition and arrogance. While Caesar is careful to project the strong, fearless, and steadfast leader he presents himself as, privately, he is unstable, manipulative, and egotistical. As these less likable attributes show, the conspirators are able to

    Read More

  • Theme Of Arrogance In Julius Caesar

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    In addition, “Might fire the blood of ordinary men/ To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood” (III.i.41&44). This quote demonstrates Caesar’s arrogance because he is implying that he is not a commoner, but a more powerful figure. “I rather tell thee what is to be feared/Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar” (I.ii.221-222). This quote demonstrates that Caesar is arrogant because he would never admit to the words he says due to the fact that it is the shameful truth. Also, “Help ho, they murder Caesar” (II.ii.3). This quote shows Caesar’s arrogance because he calls himself from the third person. This can demonstrate his tragic flaw because every commoner refers to themselves using first person nouns and since Caesar is more superior then others, he will act differently around the commoners. In addition to that, “Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly/ What is the fellow mad” (III.i.9-10). This quote demonstrates Caesar’s arrogance because he does not listen to Artemidorus’ warning that during the Ides of March, the conspirators (Metellus, Brutus, Cassius, Cinna, Decius, and Casca) will kill him. The reason he does not listen to his warnings because “Danger knows full well/ That Caesar is

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Flaws

    673 Words  | 2 Pages

    For starters, throughout the play Caesar displays extreme cockiness, and while confidence is a great trait to have, cockiness isn’t. It is shown when Caesar is speaking to Antony about fear. Antony ensures him that he shouldn’t fear Cassius, at which Caesar responds with “I rather tell thee what is to be feared Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar” (I.ii.212-13). He explains that although men like Cassius are worthy of fear, they are not worthy of his. And he goes on by saying that he is Caesar, as if it was obvious that he does not distress over anyone.

    Read More

  • Who Was Responsible For Julius Caesar's Downfall

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unlike other good leaders, Caesar is very arrogant, and thinks of himself as a very superior, courageous, and a powerful man. His stubbornness is highlighted when he ignores calpurnia’s dream until she begged him worse than a beggar. Good leaders are strong on their words and are not susceptible to flattering, however, Caesar easily falls for compliments. He is very deceptive to flattering when Decius Brutus flatters Caesar to attend the senate for his assassination. Also, Caesar ignoring his fate expands upon the same idea.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Arrogance In Julius Caesar

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    The root of arrogance is said to be of insecurity and Caesar suffered from epilepsy. He hid this from other people because they could use his weakness to defeat him. He broke others to build himself but that road towards (success) is not the morally correct one. When he became too full of himself, he misinterpreted or ignored all of his bad omens. The first sign he ignored was when a soothsayer warned him of the ides of March.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Presentation of Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra

    1619 Words  | 4 Pages

    Shakespeare shows Caesar to be, what you could say, a contradiction. The audience see how Caesar respects Antony's soldier-ship yet still fights him; they see how he clearly loves his sister, but uses her unscrupulously as a political device; and they are shown how he is very rational and dull, yet he surprisingly tells his soldiers, as well as some Egyptians about how he would parade the defeated Cleopatra. He wants to do this because he feels that 'her life in Rome would be eternal in our triumph.' This shows the reader how Caesar has strong emotional outcries, which contrasts his initial characteristics.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar - Tragic Hero

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    	Shakespeare illustrated Caesar as a tragic hero by showing that he was a noble man of high rank. Every Roman followed his leadership and Caesar also defeated the great Pompey. First of all, At the Feast of Lupercal Caesar manipulated the commoners and made himself look noble to the commoners. Casca said, "Why there was a crown offered to him;...people fell a-shouting" (I,ii,221-223). Next, To show how noble and great Caesar was, the Romans would stand along the street sides to watch him pass by. "Madam not yet, I go to take my stand; /To see him pass on to the Capitol," said the soothsayer (II,iv,25-26). Finally, Caesar had the greatest rank possible as he would have been crowned king if it wasn’t for the conspiracy’s plot. As Casca said, "Indeed they say senators tomorrow; /Mean to establish Caesar as king..." (I,iii,87-88).

    Read More

More about Julius Caesar Flaws Essay

Open Document