ipl-logo

Fate Versus Free Will In Julius Caesar

442 Words2 Pages

Fate versus free will – this is one of the many philosophies that William Shakespeare examines in Julius Caesar. There are two interesting forces, fate and free will throughout the play that are fighting for control over men. Fate was shown in the many prophecies and omens that characters viewed throughout Act II. Free will was the characters ability to overcome their fate. Shakespeare shows a delicate balance between the two forces. In Act II Caesar’s fate seemed most obvious to him and the reader. However, Caesar used his free will to ignore his destiny, which fate presented. When Decius asks Caesar to go to the senate Caesar replies, “Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home. She dreamt tonight she saw my statue, which, like a fountain …show more content…

Later in Act II, Artemidorus has written a letter to Caesar that could’ve also prevented his fate but that he chose not to act on. The letter says, “Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius, come not near Casca; have and eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; make well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these three men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: securily gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, Artemidorus.” (2.3.1-9) This evidence further proves that Artemidorus was trying to warn Caesar of the conspirators by waiting for Caesar to pass by so he can give him the letter. If only Caesar has received Artemidorus’s letter, he may have still lived. Throughout Act II, fate was displayed in many prophecies and omens that Caesar encountered. Julius Caesar chooses his free will and ignores his fate. Many people tried to warn him. How many times has he been told not to go to the senate! In his arrogance, he follows his free will and

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Sacrifice In Julius Caesar

    509 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people sacrifice their lives and die in the play Julius Caesar. Many of those who did not,were willing to die for their convictions. This essay will examine every catastrophe, including suicides and homicides. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste death but once. "

    Read More

  • How Does Julius Caesar Use Emotional And Logical Manipulation

    175 Words  | 1 Pages

    Derry Pinkston mrs. Tamayo American Literature 2/28/2017 More Power than weapons! People use emotions and logical manipulation: which allows manipulators to use words as weapons.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Fate Vs Free Will

    1004 Words  | 5 Pages

    He told his wife, “Cowards die many times before their deaths, / but the valiant taste of death but once. / … /It seems to me most strange that men should fear/ Seeing that death…/ Will come when it will come,” (2.2.34-39). This statement by Caesar emphasizes his view on fate. Shakespeare shows that if death is predetermined, and death is nigh, why would someone live in fear. He tells the reader that fate is what shapes life.

    Read More

  • Free Will In 'Julius Caesar Vs. Mean Girls'

    900 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Julius Caesar vs. Mean Girls” William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar carries with it timeless themes that continue to be explored in modern cinema. Fate versus free will occurs in Mark Waters' Mean Girls. Characters attempt to grow in power while taking down those with it. Manipulation is utilized. The “heroes” and those against them begin to get confused along the way.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar: Hero Or Villain

    508 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since Caesar had defeated Pompey, a military and political leader during the Roman Republic, in battle and was a roman general at the time, Caesar went on to conquer and take control of Gaul ( modern day France) and allied himself with Cleopatra in Egypt by marrying her. Caesar was expecting to become dictator for life because of his accomplishments without the Senate voting on him. This shows that Caesar wanted anything that would better him in life and brings us to the next topic about how Caesar didn’t think about others first. This shows that Caesar wanted anything that would better him in life.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Fate Or Free Will Essay

    865 Words  | 4 Pages

    Was it fate or free will that killed Romeo and Juliet? In the prologue of this play, Shakespeare refers to Romeo and Juliet as “A pair of star-cross'd lovers.” Star crossed lovers are people whose love is destined to end in tragedy. Free will is when people are able to make their own decisions and have consequences based off their decisions instead of predetermined consequences. Fate was definitely the reason for Romeo and Juliet’s tragic deaths because of the unexplainable coincidences, uncharacterized choices, and conscious decisions that all lead to the same inescapable outcome.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Power In Julius Caesar

    804 Words  | 4 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appears to be a strong advocate for Julius Caesar’s triumphs and increasing power. However, like Caesar, Antony is extremely manipulative and powerful. After Caesar’s death, Antony manipulated the conspirators into believing he was on their side before requesting to speak at Caesar’s funeral. While Brutus and the conspirators remained fooled by Antony’s innocence, Antony took the initiative to inform the Roman citizens of the conspirator’s horrendous actions towards their beloved leader, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s funeral was a time of reflection for the citizens of Rome, as Marc Antony caused them to question their allegiance to Brutus.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Brutus On Society In Julius Caesar

    522 Words  | 3 Pages

    The people of Rome along with the conspirators convinced him to kill his former friend, Caesar. His last words before killing Caesar were “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (III.II.19-24) This shows that he cared more about the society and people of Rome, than his friend. It also shows how they could influence him to turn against his friend.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Fate And Free Will Analysis

    882 Words  | 4 Pages

    Verona, a city in which a pair of “star-crossed lovers” and all of its citizens overall, blame the “greater power,” fate, to veil their own actions. Fate and free will, both play a major part in Romeo and Juliet. However, only one of the two is actually true. On one side, fate supposedly controls the character’s destiny. But they are completely unaware that it is actually their free will and their own actions in which they are in control of.

    Read More

  • Warnings In Julius Caesar Essay

    496 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the tragedy of Julius Caesar, there have been numerous occasions of foreshadowing Caesar’s fate. Julius Caesar has received both direct warnings, and indirect omens that he has chosen to ignore. Firstly, Caesar has been receiving direct warnings from the soothsayer, artemidorus, and his wife, Calpurnia. Each warning is given differently, for example, the soothsayer’s warning was direct and clear “beware the ides of march”.

    Read More

  • Omens In Julius Caesar

    951 Words  | 4 Pages

    Caesar’s scornful behavior towards the soothsayer illustrates his arrogance. Later, in Act 2, Calpurnia pleads Caesar to stay home because she realizes that all the omens are pointing to Caesar’s death. Despite her plea, Caesar insists “Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten’d me ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished” (2.2.15-17). These incidents show that Caesar’s pride blinds his ability to see his tragic end. Moreover, Caesar ignores his own feeling of uneasiness towards Cassius for the sake of his pride.

    Read More

  • Power In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    517 Words  | 3 Pages

    Julius has the ability to make things happen by words alone. Early in the play, it is established that Caesar has this type of absolute authority: "When Caesar says 'Do this,' it is performed," says Antony, who attaches a similar weight to Octavius's words toward the end of the play. (I.ii.12) The power of speech plays a very important role in the plot developments of Julius

    Read More

  • Public Vs. Private Life In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    737 Words  | 3 Pages

    In public, Caesar was the leader Rome had always wished for, a strong, valliant man that would let nothing in his way. Consequently, Caesar had a more vulnerable side to him where the reader would be able to see glimpses of throughout the play. Still, Caesar allowed his public self image to take priority in which would eventually lead to his death. Speaking historically, the great Julius Caesar was a people’s leader with a deep hunger for power in which he would do anything to

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Fate Vs Free Will Essay

    1057 Words  | 5 Pages

    The theme of Fate vs. Free Will is dominant in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; however the theme of fate is more significant than free will. In the play both Romeo and Juliet meeting was contributed by fate as Shakespeare mentioned in the prologue that Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers that were meant to meet, fall in love and their death would be the reason for the feud to end between the two families. Fate was the reason Capulet’s servant asked Romeo and Benvolio to help him read the invitation for him that contained all the names of the people that were invited to the ball Capulet hosted. “…If you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Ambition In Julius Caesar

    700 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play begins with Julius Caesar returning from a victory over Pompey to a cheering crowd of Romans. He is an ambitious leader who wants Rome to prosper and looks out for his countrymen over himself, though he has his own, darker, flaws. This selflessness is explicitly demonstrated by him saying “What touches us shall be last served” (III.I.9) when he is told to deal with a letter because it most directly related to him. His goal is to further Rome and gain the approval of his people, which he does very well.

    Read More

More about Fate Versus Free Will In Julius Caesar

Open Document