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Power In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

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There are a lot of different themes that could be used to describe the play of Julius Caesar. Power is a big part of the play and is probably the best theme of it. Throughout the play, power has a big impact on the story line and the way the story goes. It is evident to the conspirators that Julius Caesar is headed for absolute power; he becomes a threat to the ideals and values of the Roman Republic. They assassinate Caesar before he can be crowned king. The irony is that Caesar's death results in civil war. As two people with questionable motives try to get power, chaos ensues and the Republic is never the same again. The theme of power is introduced early in the play. Brutus and Caesar have a love/hate relationship. Early in the play, Cassius states that Brutus does not seem to see him as a …show more content…

Brutus responds saying that it is not true; it's just that he had a lot on his mind lately. Brutus has a soliloquy that addresses his inner conflict over how to deal with Caesar. "The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power, and, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections sway'd." Later after Caesar's death, Brutus and Cassius are preparing to assault the armies of Antony and Octavius. Brutus wanted power more than he valued his friendship with Caesar. Cassius refuses to accept Caesar's rising power and deems a belief in fate to be nothing more than a form of passivity or cowardice. He says to Brutus: "Men at sometime were masters of their fates. / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings" (I.ii.140-142). 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

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