Julius Caesar Loyalty

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A major theme in Julius Caesar is showing one's loyalty to a friend or to a country as important and how it can inflict the personal ambition within oneself. In the book, loyalty to a friend or a country was shown in Brutus and Cassius when they killed Caesar and when Brutus and Antony shared their speeches. Personal ambition was shown throughout the book when Brustus used Portia's death as momentum to go and fight Antony and Octavius, fought Mark Antony, and when Caesar paid a visit to Brutus in the tent the night before the Battle of Philippi. On the Ides of March, when Caesar was on his way to the senator building, he ran into Artemidorus and got a letter. Artemidorus says, “O Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a suit that touches Caesar …show more content…

So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still, Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness,” (Julius Caesar 4.3.228-232). Cassius explained how if they stayed put they would be well rested and have better fighting against Antony and Octavius. He also thought it would be a waste of time and energy if they were to meet Antony in Philippi. Brutus on the other hand wanted to meet in Philippi as if they let Antony come to them, the small towns/cities that were in between Syria and Philippi would then be on Antony’s side. He thought that if they met Antony in Philippi they could take the small towns/cities in between them and put them behind them or use them for servants/slaves. In the book Brutus said this as, “Good reasons must of force give place to better.The people’twixt Philippi and this ground Do stand but in a forced affection, For they have grudged us contribution. The enemy, marching along by them, By them shall make a fuller number up, Come on refreshed, new-added, and encouraged; From which advantage we cut him off If at Philippi we do face him there, These people at our back,” (Julius Caesar

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