Julius Caesar Free Will Quotes

Mr. Shalin

Andrew Rubio

1/8/2018

PreDPELA2 P2

MYP Unit Task

PMT 3 Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar examines the theme fate vs free will. Shakespeare does this while asking his audience timeless questions. This is done through the portrayal of the tragic hero, Brutus, who struggles to participate in the conspiracy to kill Caesar.

The theme of fate vs free will is supported by the central action this being the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. The central action supports the them because it is an action that not only determines but could even be called Caesars fate. “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous” (I.ii.192-196). This quote gives further evidence that that was in fact Caesars fate. He was aware that Cassius would be a threat but only to go as far as to mention in not to take precautions.

Brutus’s point of view helps to further rationalize the central action providing a platform for the theme of fate vs free will to rest upon.

“Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, to cut the head off and then hack the limbs, like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius” (II.i.161-165). This shows that Brutus would not kill without a proper reason showing he is a right-minded man which justifies the killing of Caesar. “No, not an oath. If not the face of men, the sufferance of our souls, the time’s abuse — 115 If these be motives weak, break off betimes, And every man hence to his idle bed” (II.i.114-117). This is almost a turning point that it is obvious that the reason for the conspiracy is strong enough that it needs no oath. There should not have to be another reason as the cause should be for the fate of

man.
The theme of fate vs free will is a topic brought up throughout the play from many characters but is most heavily supported from the conversation between Cassius and Brutus. Cassius tells Brutus “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” (I.ii.134-141). This quote discusses the opinion that men must decide their own fate and not leave it up to fate alone. This quote argues that free will over powers fate unlike the quote spoken by Caesar that sides with the conclusion of one’s fate is inevitable. “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come” (II.i.31-37). This further explains that man should not be afraid of death as if they are afraid of everything then they have never really lived. Also, no matter what death will come as it is impossible to escape.
In conclusion, the theme of fate vs free will is accurately portrayed by the tragic hero, Brutus, in William Shakespeare’s Jullius Caesar. This is supported on both sides of the argument over if men should let fate take over and be fate or if matters should be taken into our own hands. This is discussed throughout the play and makes that the main theme of Julius Caesar.