Julius Caesar Arrogance

Can stabbing a person ever really be honorable? Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare represents this dilemma when Brutus and a group of conspirators decide to murder Julius Caesar to save Rome. As the rest of the play progresses the conspirators begin to realize that Rome will not realize what their side of the story was. Mark Antony took up the call to shut the conspirators down and persuade the people that Julius Caesar should not have been killed. In Julius Caesar by William Shakespear, Antony turns the crowd against Brutus and the other conspirators by using reputation to discredit them and rhetorical questions for the people to consider how Ceasar really lived his life.

The conspirators thought that the plebeians would understand their motives, but, instead,“the city was in shock, and people became increasingly more hostile” after the assassination (Wasson). The commoners sided with Anthony and Octavian, ignoring the lack of justifications that the conspirators and Brutus provided. They were angry that their beloved king had been assassinated by the senators who were supposed to be working and supporting him. The author of The Assassination of Julius Caesar. A People’s History of Ancient Rome and political scientist, Michael Parenti, stated that Caesar’s assassination “marked a turning point in the history of Rome.

In the first act, Cassius sweet-talks Brutus to in order to convince him to consider that Caesar thinks of himself as above everyone. Cassius also writes letters as if they are worried citizens of Rome asking Brutus to fight against Caesar. This pushes Brutus over the edge and convinces him that killing Caesar is the only way to stop his rise. Even though some manipulation by Cassius was used; Brutus already had worries about Caesar before talking with

Cassius influenced Brutus to conspire against Caesar by stating, Caesar “is now become a god… and his name has been sounded more than [Brutus’s]” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 118-145-6). Cassius’s arguments convinced Brutus in proving Caesar's murder would be just, but Caesar’s death is unjust because he is being murdered out of Brutus and Cassius’s jealousy. Both of the individuals are envious of the power that Caesar is being given by the people of Rome and want to end his life before they will lose their own power in the senate after Caesar becomes king. Brutus’ naive mind was easily convinced by Cassius that Caesar was not the best choice to assume the Roman throne because he would not listen to their political thoughts. Individuals, such as Cassius and Brutus, in the senate were afraid of having their power decreased because Caesar, as Brutus states, is an “unhatched serpent’s egg” (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 33).

Brutus then says, “I would not, Cassius. Yet I love him well” (Page 7, line 87). This then inspires the new plan on killing Caesar. Despite Brutus’ confliction, he decides it is what is best for Rome. There are more disadvantages than advantages in this act, because the conspirators had gone against the minds and beliefs of all of Rome.

He was unable to see through the fake letters that are supposedly written by the people of Rome, but in reality are being written as a scam from Cassius. Brutus interpreted these letters as a protest against Caesar. He believed the people of Rome were telling him their desires through this letter, he tries to resolve this by listening to the societies challenge to “speak, strike, redress” (II.i.47). Reading these letters from “random citizens” it is what finally pushes him over the edge. The people of Rome along with the conspirators convinced him to kill his former friend, Caesar.

Act three of Julius Caesar, a play written by William Shakespeare, is the climax of the plot. Julius Caesar has just been assassinated and so the conspirators move on to the bigger problem at hand: convincing the people of Rome that they are sacrifices not murderers. Once Brutus addresses Caesar's ambitious nature and his need to fall from power, Antony is given permission to say a few words for Caesar. Although, Antony had shaken hands with the conspirators and smiled at them he also prophesized that civil war and chaos will plague Rome. In his carefully crafted speech, Antony uses repetition as part of his rhetoric to inspire the Roman citizens into revolting against the conspirators.

This quote, from Brutus, means that his own thoughts and conflicts overwhelm him. In addition, his thoughts and conflicts refer to his idea that if Caesar becomes king, that he will end up harming or endangering Rome. Brutus believes killing Caesar, results to the only solution to help and protect Rome, which relates back to his conflict. Overall, Brutus’ internal conflict involves deciding to kill Caesar, or not, because he does not necessarily want to kill Caesar, but sees it as the only way to protect Rome and its people. His love for Rome and the Roman people proves greater than his love for Caesar, who he somewhat looks to as a friend.

Desire For Power In Act III, scene ii, lines 74-139 of Julius Caesar Antony’s speech portrays a powerful argument which he used to sway the citizens of Rome to side with him. Antony elaborated the truth behind the conspirators actions, which proved to the citizens that Caesar didn’t rule through ambitiousness like Brutus claimed in the speech prior. The scene took place moments after Brutus ' speech to the people claiming that Caesar 's control ultimately ended his reign,which he justified as the betterment of Rome. Shakespeare uses repetition, tone, and hyperbole throughout his speech to demonstrate the major fault in the conspirators plan, ultimately showing Antony’s need for power. The use of repetition in Antony 's speech allows for him to persuade the crowd and enable him to indoctrinate the plebeians causing them to despise the conspirators undertakings and yearn for Caesar’s avengence.

Act I, scene II, lines 180-252 of Julius Caesar shows the effects of jealousy and how it causes someone to become evil and manipulative. Cassius shares his thoughts on Caesar, trying to convince Brutus that Caesar is a weak ruler who doesn’t deserve the power and fame he has. This scene takes place right before Antony offers Caesar the crown three times, and Caesar refuses every time. A soothsayer has recently warned Caesar to “beware the ides of March” and act carefully because some people don’t want him to rule Rome. Throughout Cassius’ speech, Shakespeare uses imagery, similes, metaphors, and allusion to reveal and demonstrate Cassius’ manipulative nature.