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Julius caesar as a typical tragedy by shakespeare
Julius caesar as a typical tragedy by shakespeare
Essay on dramatic monologues
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The significance of the passage I chose to analyze is often overlooked. It is a monologue from Portia, Brutus’s wife, taking place in Rome, at Brutus’s Orchard during the first scene of act II. Brutus is convincing himself that the plot against Caesar is a righteous decision, by speculating that Caesar´s nature would change upon being crowned, resulting in a tyrant. He then receives the false letters Cassius wrote, intended to deceive him into thinking they are the words of anonymous citizens testifying Caesar’s alleged inappropriate ambition, he is partially convinced to proceed with the conspiracy. Shortly after, the conspirators enter the scene and discuss the terms: Who will be involved and how the murder will be carried out.
After this, everyone but Brutus exits. Portia concerned, arrives and attempts to make Brutus confess what causes his grief and keeps him restless. Brutus casually replies that he is “Not well in health”. However, Portia, not convinced by this, refutes his claim. II, I (lines 890-905)
Portia implied that Brutus had something far from illness concerning him. And this claim relies on his contradicting behaviour, much as the late hours in which the “six or seven who did hide their faces” resorted to him. She frantically implored him to reveal the motives of those unusual actions as she suspected something
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Whether Brutus’s claims of love for Caesar were sincere or not, it is undeniable that his heart was at unease. This scene is an essential contribution to the play, intended to make the readers view Brutus as a noble character, and further on, see how Brutus’s nobility and loyalty are taken advantage of by the infamous Cassius. I also believe that this passage was one of the first to reflect his irrational desire for righteousness in the
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...
Brutus is arguably one of the most complex characters in Julius Caesar, both mentally and physically. One of the first examples of this is shown when Cassius asks Brutus what is bothering him because he seems “less good-natured and affectionate” towards him than usual. Brutus responds by saying that if he seems secretive, it is only because he is uneasy with himself. He also says that he has been overwhelmed lately with private thoughts and inner conflicts, which have affected his
Brutus’ ignorance creates an expectation that develops a path which leads him awry. When Brutus mentions,“ I would not Cassius; yet I love him well” (1.2.81-88 ), he portrays his internal conflict. Brutus depicts the rendering struggle between Cassius’ acquisitions and Caesar’s actions. His oblivion toward the truth and goodwill concerning the greater health of Rome prompt him astray. He acts with the innocence of a child, deceive and swindle by Cassius, Brutus is an
“Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2.24) This quote reflects the motive of Brutus for the assassination of his friend, Caesar. I believe Brutus killed him not out of disrespect, but in a selfless act to protect Rome from the decree of Caesar yet to come. I also believe that he did this out of force from the manipulation from his “friend” Cassius. In Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar”, Brutus’ two most significant characteristics are virtue and unconscious hypocrisy. In order to fully understand these characteristics, it is necessary to analyze all other contributing characteristics, the manipulation of friendship that Cassius uses against him, and the motivations for
As a “speculative man of high motives and refined sensibility”(Catherine C. Dominic) Brutus does have his confusion of motives. Act I, scene ii, is the first we see his weakness, “his concern with reputation and appearance, his subtle vanity and pride”(Gayle Green). Yet the main bases of Brutus’s bewilderment of motives takes place in Act II, scene I, with his famous soliloquy beginning with “It must be by his death”. This speech may be the turning point in which Brutus feels better about the assassination of his once called friend.
In conclusion, Brutus’ mistakes and flaws are overshadowed by his honorable intentions and genuine motives. In a society littered with dishonorable, deceitful people like Antony, Brutus, with his sense of honor and integrity, contrast them all. Brutus’ greatest weakness is his tendency to believe people who script words to purposely lie or misguide him. Due to his actions, he ends up dying an honorable death of a self-suicide. Having genuine compassion and sympathy towards others is not a bad thing. However, decisions should not be so heavily influenced by the opinions of others. The significance of planning things out before doing them is clearly illustrated, as it is a way to foresee possible complications or problems that may arise. Ironically, the conspirators’ cause is for naught as Antony becomes the tyrant that they fear Caesar would have become.
Brutus has a naive view of the world. He is unable to see through the roles being played by Cassius, Casca, and Antony. He does not even recognize the fake letters were sent from Cassius. Then Brutus says,“You shall not blame us Antony, in your funeral speech, but speak all the good you can of Caesar.
Brutus has several tragic flaws. One of these tragic flaws is how he trusts people a lot. Brutus says that he “know[s] that we shall have [Antony] well to a friend” (1140). He trusts Antony will be a friend of the conspirators, yet he seems to not realize that Antony is obliviously against them, because they killed his friend. Brutus trusts Antony so much, that he lets Antony speak to the public alone. Antony turns the people against Brutus and the conspirators, leading to the wars where Brutus takes his own life. Brutus also receives letters, supposedly from the people of Rome. As he reads the letter out loud, Brutus remarks “‘Speak, strike, redress!’ Am I entreated to speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, if thy redress will follow, thy receivest thy full petition at the hand of Brutus” (1118).
She points out that through their marriage, they became two halves of one whole and that they share everything with each other, even their deepest, darkest secrets. She then questions him by saying, “Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, / Is it excepted I should know no secrets / That appertain to you? Am I yourself / But, as it were, in sort or limitation, / To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, / And talk to you sometimes?” (Act II, Scene 1, lines 283-288). Here she asks Brutus where she fits into his life, or if she even does fit into it at all. By this time, Portia is begging for Brutus to tell her what happened and what is causing him to push her away. Portia wants to know why Brutus has removed himself from her and their marriage and wants to know why she is just laying in the suburbs of his life, there but not
Winston Churchill once said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Throughout William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Portia Catonis, Brutus’s wife, acts as a supporting character who also brings conflict into the side plot of their marriage. She not only stands up to Brutus, but also inflicts self-harm and commits suicide, which mark her life. William Shakespeare pays close heed to Portia’s historical figure in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, including her marriage to Brutus, her outstanding courage, and her other characteristics.
Steve Maraboli once said, “Don't let someone’s words blind you from their behavior.” this quote is trying to warn people from getting blind by the manipulators and not paying attention to what they are doing. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Cassius comes up with ways to blind Brutus out of what is the actual reason to kill Caesar. Although some people may believe that humans are too smart to be manipulated, Shakespeare illustrates Cassius using words that drive Brutus into doing what he wants to persuade that words and languages can be powerful weapons to manipulate others.
This scene takes place after Brutus had left Portia to hide from the Mark Antony. This, of course, drove her to her breaking point. Up to this part in the book Portia had been portrayed as a strong minded person of high intellect. Once the third encounter happens the reader would realize that the cause of her death was her love for Brutus. In this scene Cassius questions "Upon what sickness?" to which Brutus replies "Impatient of my absence". Through this line it is shown that he is the reason for her death. As Brutus left Rome so quickly Portia believed he had died, and that was too much for her to bear. The extent of her strength did not go that far and thus she perished. A few lines later in the passage Brutus casually dicusses the exact way that his wife killed herself, to this Cassius replied "And died so?". Brutus replied "Even so". As there are no directions from the author for sadness to be displayed it can be inferred that Brutus was talking about this event in a calm unemotionally tone. Through this Brutus clearly shows the reader that he did not love her nearly as much as she did him. One might argue that he was unemotionally due to the presence of his fellow conspirator. This though argument holds no ground due to the fact that if Brutus truly loved his wife to the extent that she loved him then he would have been completely overcome with emotions.
To support my thesis is Brutus is deciding if he should join the conspiracy against
“It is not for your health thus to commit/ Your weak condition to the raw, cold morning” (2.1.243-244). Brutus does not want to trouble Portia with his problems so early in the morning; thus leading to Portia’s response.
In scene 3, shortly after Caesar dies, Antony says, “That’s all I seek, and am moreover suitor, that I may produce his body to the market-place, and in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, speak in the order of his funeral.[III, i, L 243-248]” And Brutus obliges, but also adds that in Antony’s speech, he “shall not in your funeral speech blame us, but speak all good you can devise of Caesar, and say you do it by our permission. [III, i, L 264-266]” Brutus’ mistake is believing that Antony will stay true to his word and his honour. Brutus thinks too highly of others. But, as revealed later in the scene, Antony won’t stay true to his word, and will betray Caesar by using his persuasive voice to sway the crowd against the conspirators. This choice that Brutus makes ultimately leads to his downfall, because Antony changes the public view and make Brutus co-conspirators the villains. This vital mistake almost ensures Brutus’ downfall, and it was caused by Brutus himself. This again proves that Brutus is the tragic hero of the play, the honourable protagonist brought down by his own