The Rise And Fall In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

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“If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it,” said Julius Caesar (Julius Caesar). Ironically, this motto led Caesar to both his rise, and fall. Caesar gained power and popularity through his military might and tactics, making him a dangerous foe. He defeated everyone he faced on the battlefield. Including winning a brutal civil war between him and his once ally, Pompey. As a result, he was thrust into the position of king in Rome in all but title as Rome was still a Republic and only had temporary dictators in time of crisis (Ushistory.org). The senators and other politicians feared for their political careers and the livelihood of the Republic because Caesar was adored by the Roman public so much that they would have made him king. Additionally, the Senators had allied themselves with Pompey to ward off Julius in the civil war. However, they didn’t surrender to …show more content…

Caesar becoming dictator for life would have been the death of the Republic and the birth of the Empire. The people would have lost their power to elect senators and Caesar would have gained all the power in the Empire. The Roman people wanted Caesar to become king and dictator for life, however, the senators did not. They wanted to keep power with the people and out of one person’s hand. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar the Roman public is sadden and outraged by the death of their beloved leader and turn against the Senate, after Antony, a friend and advisor of Caesar, convinces them to (Shakespeare 136). As a result, there was a civil war between the second triumvirate, Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus, and the Senate. The second triumvirate wins and creates the Roman Empire (Julius Background). Ironically, the Senate’s intentions of keeping the Republic intact by killing Caesar only brought chaos and a crippling civil war to Rome. They killed Caesar to preserve the Roman Republic but only destroyed

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