Ambition In Julius Caesar Research Paper

Cassius is a talented general, and does not like the fact that Caesar has become `god-like' in the Roman people's minds (see above quote Act I, Scene ii). Cassius can be seen as a

     Cassius, up to the end of the play, was very aware of his fate and took the largest strides to overcome that. This is due to the fact that Cassius followed the Epicurean philosophy, which believes that the gods do not involve themselves directly in the fate of man. This belief was highlighted when he told Brutus “Men at some time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our starts, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (I. ii. 139-141). Because of this belief, he never resigned himself to live in the world in its current state. He always felt that there was something he could do to better his standing in life. This diligent effort to better himself led Caesar to comment “such men as he…are very dangerous” (I. ii. 209-210). Cassius’ role in the play was using his free will to overcome the fate that would come true, the fate that Caesar was one day going to become emperor. Because he was so driven by the desire to overcome this fate, he was

Antony and Cassius, unlike Brutus, never separate their private affairs from their public actions while Brutus tries to prove himself by acting only with respect to honor and virtue, completely ignoring his personal concerns. For example, Cassius disliked the fact that Caesar became “godlike” in the eyes of the Romans, so he leads Brutus to believe that Caesar had become too powerful and must die by sending him forged letters claiming that the Roman people support the death of Caesar, ultimately converting Brutus to his cause. At last Brutus ends up murdering his good friend in an act he truly believed was honorable. Marc Antony, who also shares in Cassius’ selfish trait, persuaded the conspirators that he is on their side, therefore gaining their leniency. He proceeds to persuade the plebeians of the conspirators’ injustice and gains support of the masses.

Cassius’s jealousy caused all the events in the play to be set in motion, and thus led to his downfall. A prominent example of this would be when Brutus and Cassius are speaking and Cassius is trying to convince Brutus to join his plot by telling a story of how Caesar had to ask for Cassius’s help because he was too weak and tired to continue swimming. This leads Cassius to say, “Did I the tired Caesar. And this a man / Is now become a god, and Cassius / A wretched creature and must bend his body / If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (I.ii.115-118). This quote in modern times would say, “Caesar was tired. And this man is supposed to be a god, and I am a wretched creature who has to kneel to Caesar.” Cassius is implying that Caesar is supposed to be this strong god and Cassius a wretched creature, yet Cassius had to save Caesar from drowning. This quote leads to Cassius’s downfall because it shows his jealousy through what he is feeling towards Caesar. His downfall is also shown because this scene is Cassius trying to convince Brutus to join his plot. Another quote that proves Cassius’s tragic flaw occurs after Brutus has died. Messala is asking

In this quote Cassius seems jealous of Caesar. As you can see Cassius was guilty in the assassination of Julius

Cassius’s character was sneaky and conniving with the motive to kill Caesar for his country because of his jealousy. His role being the mastermind behind the plan led Cassius to deceive a group of people. Cassius’s character was sneaky because he convinced many people to do what he wanted to be done. Which caused the death of Caesar because he thought it would make his country a better place. Cassius was also jealous of Caesar because Caesar had all the power in Rome. Consequently, the jealous man turned against Caesar because he wanted to have the power of Caesar.

In Julius Caesar, Cassius achieved his goal of executing Caesar by applying Machiavellian approaches. Machiavelli wrote, “One can make this generalization about men: they are ungrateful, fickle, liars and deceivers” (Prince 3). The description Machiavelli gives of men is equivalent to Cassius’ actions.

Throughout the play Julius Caesar, different characters struggled to gain power and take on the leadership of Rome. One important character was Caius Cassius. He was intelligent, and had key ideas that could be used to help him gain the leadership he wanted. But, upon executing these ideas, Cassius never stepped up and attempted to lead Rome, while his friend and fellow senator, Brutus, did. Cassius craved power throughout the play, but he was always too weak to rise above more powerful characters, therefore proving that his hatred for Caesar stemmed from their shared weakness.

The definition of ambition is a strong desire to achieve something, usually requiring determination and hard work. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare based on true events from Roman history. This play demonstrates ambition through Caesar. Caesar is a highly successful but ambitious political leader of Rome. The people of Rome wanted him to become their king, and conspirators saw that as a threat. Many of the conspirators feel that he is too ambitious and going to become a tyrant, so they plot to murder him. Caesar’s ambition is also what worries Brutus, and ultimately leads to Brutus joining the conspiracy to murder Caesar. The conspirators along with Brutus successfully murder Caesar. Throughout the play there are multiple instances where Caesar’s overly ambitious character was detrimental and lead to his downfall. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by Shakespeare, through Caesar, demonstrates how ambition may be the force propelling one towards accomplishment, it can still lead to one’s downfall.

Throughout the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Cassius struggles to free himself from his greed for power, this want for power is ultimately the catalyst for the entire play. Cassius´ desire for power leads him to conspire against Julius Caesar. In Act One, Cassius´ clear envy of Caesar's power further motivates Cassius´ power hungry ways. His speech distinctly emphasizes his resentment and jealousy of Caesar, stating how weak Caesar is in comparison to himself, and that now Caesar has ¨become a god¨ with Cassius forced to ¨bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him¨. Establishing that Cassius believes that Caesar is undeserving of the power which he has gained.

Although, Cassius himself was power hungry, he did what he believed was best for the city and the citizens within. Caesar dominated Cassius’s thoughts in life and death even being brought us as leverage in Cassius’s quarrel with Brutus. “Strike, as thou didst at Caesar. For I know/ When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better/Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.”

14. Cassius is trying to show that Caesar, despite seeming so powerful, is just as weak and as vulnerable as any other, if not even more.

“Even the noblest men can be seduced by power; it has the power to kill, to distort, and to corrupt” Through this passage, Matthew Sims captures in essence how individuals often turn to betrayal and deception in order to gain their heart’s desires. This characteristic is not only present in life, but can also be seen in modern and classical literature, including the well known work of Julius Caesar. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the lust for power transcends any one individual and ultimately leads to death and corruption of not only Caesar, but also of Brutus and Cassius. The play begins with Caesar parading through the streets of Rome as he triumphs in his victory over Pompey. However, Brutus, Cassius, and many others hatch a plot to

Although it was the belief of the majority that it was Caesar’s fate to become king, Cassius did not believe that Caesar was worthy of such honor. As the leader of the conspirators, he uses various means to convince the others to join his cause, and as he attempts to convince Brutus, he says: “Men at some times are masters of their fates./The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings” (I. ii. 146-148). Cassius believes that society’s faults are not caused by fate, but in man’s fear of resisting tyranny. According to Cassius, fate is a form of passivity and cowardice, and he chooses to overcome this

At the start of the timelessly classic play, Julius Caesar was in the final stages of parlaying his military prowess and growing cult of personality into enthronement as the long absent autocrat of Rome. His brother-in-arms, Marcus Brutus, after fighting at Caesar’s side for so long, was forced to weigh his loyalty to Caesar against his loyalty to Rome, setting the stage for the troubling events to come. As Caesar’s divine right to rule and infallibility were trumpeted throughout Rome, others were not so convinced of his purity and worthiness. Cassius, a dissident Senator, opened Brutus’ eyes to the circumstances unfolding before them and to what could be lost should Caesar take the throne. Cassius voiced his opposition strongly, saying: