Julius Caesar
Caesar: The Man of Myth
Born on July 12, 100 BCE in Rome, Italy, Julius Caesar led a life of success, brutality, and greed. Throughout his life, Caesar was a general for the Roman Republic. Julius Caesar greatly expanded the Roman Republic’s borders through the many wars he led. As his life progressed, Caesar eventually became dictator for life and began shaping Rome into what it would become in later years. During his reign as dictator, Caesar began having a personal relationship with Cleopatra of Egypt and had a son with her. This was not seen as an affair because Caesar was allegedly doing it for the good of Rome. Unlike in Shakespeare’s play, Caesar’s assassination was known by many more people. At least 60 people were present for the stabbing. The plan to kill Caesar initially started out to take place during a Senate meeting on the Ides of March when Caesar would be totally unprotected. In actuality, he was murdered on his way to the Senate meeting. Furthermore, after Caesar’s death, it was five days before the funeral took place. This differs from Shakespeare’s version in which it was less than an hour later. Caesar’s death was the kickstart for Rome’s transition into an Empire, for it was after his murder that Antony and Octavius began their battle. If Antony had won that battle, Rome most likely would not have become an Empire. Because Octavius won, he eventually turned Rome into the height of its reign. He would eventually go on to become Rome’s first emperor.
The Play
In the two different versions of the history regarding Julius Caesar, differing ideas create a platform for writers. William Shakespeare uses both of these versions in writing his play entitled "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar." In combining two versions of history, Shakespeare was able to recreate the tragic story of how Caesar’s life played out in Rome. Alas, these differing histories create a unique sense of style that not only affect the events of the play, but also the characters.
Opening Scene
In Act I Scene I of “Julius Caesar," Shakespeare begins with commoners celebrating. At first, it was unclear to what they were celebrating, but as the scene progressed, it was revealed that the people were celebrating the return of Julius Caesar. To open a place about a powerful man of Rome, a scene of commoners is unexpected. One might suggest that a play of such importance would begin with people of importance as well, however, Shakespeare chooses to begin with simple shop owners. Starting with these people foreshadows one of Shakespeare’s main themes that the man in power is not always the man of importance.
Speech
Analyses
Closing Scene
At the end of the play, Antony and Octavius are in the midst of reality. Each one knows that they must kill the other in order to be in power seat of Italy. The conflict appears as both characters realize that they can no longer blame Brutus and the Conspirators for killing Caesar because they too are about to kill each other. The Conspirators made a plan to kill Caesar because they knew he might be a potential threat one day. By getting rid of Caesar, Brutus knew he had the chance of taking Caesar’s role in politics. In similarity, Antony needed to kill Octavius in order to gain the power and Octavius must do the same to Antony. This causes a paradoxical moment when Antony and Octavius realize that they cannot be fighting Brutus over what he did because they are about to do the same. Shakespeare manipulates this scene to counteract the logic behind Antony and Octavius. This causes the two to fully take in what they are about to do, which in turn, brings forgiveness to Brutus for he did exactly what they must do; all three must do it for the betterment of Rome.
Speech Battle
Brutus versus Antony
After Caesar’s murder, Antony is brought before the Conspirators to face his fate. To the audience, it appears as though Antony is about to be murdered as well, however, Brutus chooses not to kill him. If only Brutus knew that that decision would decide his fate. During this meeting of Antony and the Conspirators, it was decided that Antony could speak at Caesar’s funeral if he followed some guidelines set by Brutus: he may only speak after Brutus, he mustn't blame the conspirators for killing Caesar, and he must only speak of the good qualities of Julius, nothing bad. At last, the Conspirators plan was complete. Caesar was dead, but what now? This tiny detail of unknown would turn out to be the hook that brings the demise of Brutus and the rise of Antony, for Antony had a plan on what to do. Antony’s plan was to rally the citizens of Rome against the Conspirators and cause mass havoc in Italy. To do this, Antony would have to be extremely careful not to break any of the rules, while all the time turning the people against Brutus.
The time had come. Caesar’s funeral had begun and it was time for Brutus to give the citizens a speech. In his speech, Brutus only talked about how much he loved Caesar and how what he did was justified out of his love for Caesar and Rome. At first, the audience seems to buy in to what he was saying and begin to calm down a little bit. After Brutus finished, he told the people that he was heading home and that Antony was about to speak. One thing wrong with this is the fact that with no supervision, Antony could have easily broken Brutus’ rules. Furthermore, Brutus gave a speak soaked heavily in emotions. No logical explanation nor ethical for why Caesar must die. By having an unbalanced argument, the people could easily be swayed another direction if Antony delivers a better message.
Now it was time for Antony to speak. To begin, Antony shows the body of Caesar wrapped in clothes. This brings realization to the audience of what has recently occurred; a murder. He continues by describing what Caesar meant to him: a friend, faithful, and just. Another thing that Antony had going for him was the fantastic fake crying skills he portrayed. Periodically throughout his speech, Antony would pause for a moment to wallow in his sorrows while the people watched him. Intentionally, Antony was pulling at the emotions of the citizens. To put the icing on the cake, Antony pulls one final trick and shows the audience a paper sealed with Caesar’s seal. He claimed that the paper was Caesar’s will. As a reader, it is clear that the paper was fake and nothing could have been written on it due to the time frame of the murder. But as smart as Romans can be, the can be equally as arrogant. Buying into his tricks, the people beg for Antony to read it. After denying multiple times, he “reluctantly” decides to read. The paper claimed that Caesar had left something for each Roman to have. Not only has Antony won the crowd over with sympathetic attachment, but he has also won their morals over as well.
All in all, Antony’s speech was the most successful. Not only was he able to stay within Brutus’ boundaries, but he was also able to manipulate the crowd in his favor. Brutus, on the other hand, only won over the crowd with his constant plea that he murdered out of love. When presented with a speech that only incorporated one reason and a speech that incorporated multiple incites, the citizens choose to follow in the footsteps of Antony. In present day times, two opposing sides must be prepared with equally balanced speeches to ensure their best chances at swaying the audience onto their side.
Brutus
In “Julius Caesar,” Shakespeare portrays Brutus as a changing character who starts with being withholding, but develops into a man of boldness. Throughout the play, Brutus is seen changing from his more withholding lifestyle, to one with courage and boldness that helps him to overcome one of his greatest obstacles: Caesar.
In the first act of the play, Brutus is portrayed as the character that holds information from other people. Even when his best friend, Cassius, asks him what is troubling him, Brutus, at first, refuses to share: “Vexed am I / Of late with passions of some difference, / Conceptions only proper to myself [...]” (I.I). Brutus claims himself “vexed,” which means problematic. By telling Cassius that he is full of problems that are different from normal, Brutus arouses question in the mind of his friend. Wanting to help, Cassius begins to manipulate Brutus, however, his efforts do not begin to take effect until later in the play. As “Julius Caesar” progresses, the plan that Brutus has to kill Caesar is revealed. In this, it shows the boldness present in his personality and actions. In the scene where Cassius and others enter Brutus’ home, Brutus explains to The Conspirators how Caesar is to be killed: “Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; / Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods [...]” (II.I). By killing Caesar with purpose and not fully anger, Brutus hopes to maintain the worthiness of the kill to the gods. With his plans now explained, a new side of boldness appears within him as it seems that he fears nothing. Brutus uses this boldness to lead The Conspirators to Caesar for the murder. As “Julius Caesar” nears its end, one can see yet another change in Brutus. As times became tougher during battle, Brutus understood that it was his time to depart from his troops. Instead of maintaining his fearlessness, he opens up with true courage as he ends his own life. This was an act not of selfishness, rather of honor. Realizing what outcome was to be of this fight, Brutus, instead of trying to alter his fate, accepts it with honor and allows the battle to continue as needed.
All in all, Brutus begins in the story as a mysterious man that withholds information from even the closest of friends. Once his boldness is uncovered, however, a true look at the character shows his wit and courage to defeat the main power over his land. In today’s world, one might hide their best skills from others in order to make strategic power moves, much like Brutus did. By revealing one’s strength moments before a plan of action occurs, it leaves little to no time for enemies to counteract.
Character
Analyses
Cassius
Throughout “Julius Caesar,” Cassius continually presents himself as a weak character who wants to make big changes. After completing his main goal of killing Caesar, Cassius is portrayed as the weak character that cannot live without guidance. When Cassius appears in Brutus’ home with the Conspirators, he has a desire to kill Caesar, however, he knows that he needs a few more people to join him. The Conspirators originally began under the head of Cassius, but once Brutus was invited in, Cassius was trampled over by Brutus’ authoritative traits. Instead of trying to get back in control, Cassius watches baffled as Brutus begins to run the show. Every once and awhile, he would make suggestions such as “Let Antony and Caesar fall together” (Shakespeare II.i). As quickly as he could suggest it, Brutus was already shooting it down: “And for Mark Antony, think not of him” (Shakespeare II.i). With Cassius’ plans overridden by Brutus, the plot to kill Caesar was carried out, but what is next for Cassius? Seen later in the production, he splits from Brutus and begins to struggle. After much hardship, he seeks out Brutus for guidance once more due to his lack of strength as a character. As the play neared its end, all hope appeared lost in the eyes of Cassius. Too weak to even look out to see what was happening for the battlefield and without the guidance of Brutus, Cassius ended up taking his own life out of fear of what the outcome of the war was to be. All in all, Cassius appears throughout the entire play with having a constant need of guidance and strength. When the moment came for him to act upon his own, he failed.
Caesar
Throughout the portion of the play when he is alive, Caesar constantly tries to maintain his outward appearance while all the time ignoring his inward emotions. This flaw in Caesar would eventually bring his demise on the Ides of March. The day of his murder, Calpurnia begs of Caesar not to leave their house, for she has had a vision of Caesar being stabbed. Reluctantly, Caesar agrees to honor his wife’s wishes until Decius Brutus confronts him: “[...] the senate have concluded /To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. / If you shall send them word you will not come, / Their minds may change. [...] / If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper / ‘'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?” (Shakespeare II.ii). Due to Caesar’s egotistical view on life, he is easily swayed in a discussion that attacks his outwards view. By Decius telling Caesar that people might see him as afraid, Caesar feels it is necessary to show his face in order to prove he is not weak. Because of Decius’ insight, Caesar immediately changes his mind of staying home: “How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! / I am ashamed I did yield to them. / Give me my robe, for I will go” (Shakespeare II.ii). Disregarding his previous commitment to Calpurnia, Caesar begins to scold his wife claiming that he was “ashamed” that he even listened to her. All in all, Caesar’s commitment to outward appearance over relations with his own wife reveal a weakness not told by Decius. This weakness would, in the end, be Caesar’s demise.
Antony
In “Julius Caesar,” Antony is portrayed as Caesar’s pet that would do anything he was asked to do. One might say that Antony’s relationship to Caesar is such that of a servant to his master: “When Caesar says 'do this,' it is performed” (Shakespeare I.ii). With Antony at Caesar’s will constantly, a high respect existed towards Caesar. This respect would fuel Antony’s fury as he transformed into the vicious character who attacked Brutus. A fatal flaw in Antony’s motive revealed itself to him after Brutus had fallen: Antony had been trying to kill the Conspirators for what the did to Caesar, but he was about to kill Octavius for the same reason. The paradoxical truth caused Antony to no longer blame Brutus for what he had done. All in all, Antony is an evolving character that started out as a servant to his master Caesar but eventually led a life of vengeance and forgiveness.
Connecting History
John Wilkes Booth
153 years ago, Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth president, was assassinated in the Ford Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. Ironically, only a few months before the murder, Booth had performed “Julius Caesar” in the same theater. It is very likely that this performance was misunderstood by Booth and this influenced him to kill Lincoln. In the play, Brutus kills Caesar because he feels Caesar might be a threat in the future. Booth, seeing Lincoln as his Caesar, feels that Lincoln is threatening. In order to rid his life of a threat, Booth followed in the footsteps of Brutus. Furthermore, both Abraham Lincoln and Caesar share similar qualities like investing time into the people instead of seeking to stay protected.Although investing time to your people without much protection can be beneficial, it can also bring harm. These two men of power learned this terrible truth after it was already too late. All in all, while Brutus and Booth share similar motives for their actions, Lincoln and Caesar also share similar traits of being a politician.
Allusions to Caesar
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Les Misérables ~ Victor Hugo references the dogs of war. In “Julius Caesar,” Shakespeare writes “Let slip the dogs of war” (Shakespeare III.I). This phrases is used in many present day shows, movies, and literary works.
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Aladdin ~ While looking through a cookbook, Genie stumbles across a page in which an arm pops out with a dagger in hand. Quickly, Genie exclaimed “Et tu, Brute?” and the page is flipped.
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Big Bang Theory (The Show) ~ Trying to explain his job, Sheldon constantly references the “warm summer evening in Ancient Greece” to his girlfriend.
Works Cited
Harrison, Julliete. “Top Five Random References to Julius Caesar.” Pop Classics, 15 Mar. 2012, popclassicsjg.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-five-random-references-to-julius.html.
History.com Staff. “Julius Caesar.” History.com, A+E Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/julius-caesar.
“Julius Caesar.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 30 Nov. 2017, www.biography.com/people/julius-caesar-9192504.
Shakespeare, William. “Julius Caesar: Entire Play.” Shakespeare MIT, shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar/full.html.
Strauss, Barry. “Lincoln’s Assassination – and Caesar’s.” History News Network, 4 Apr. 2015, historynewsnetwork.org/article/159104.