Conspirators Intentions In Julius Caesar

In Act I, Scene 2, the purpose of Cassis’ speech is to persuade Brutus to distrust Caesar, and to join him in a conspiracy against Caesar. In his speech to Brutus, Cassius uses a variety of persuasive and rhetorical devices to persuade Brutus to join his cause against Caesar. Cassius is desperate to have Brutus on his side because of his close relation to Caesar and great respect and trust from the people of Rome. The tone of Cassius’ speech to Brutus is introduced with Cassius appealing to Brutus’ sense of responsibility towards Rome. Cassius tells Brutus that he has, “Heard where many of the best respect in Rome, except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus and groaning underneath this age’s yoke, have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes” (I.ii.64-68). Cassius tells Brutus that he is admired by Rome, appealing to Brutus’ value of putting Rome ahead of himself. Cassius uses knowledge of this value to his advantage in his speech, insisting that killing Caesar will be for the good of Rome. Cassius also introduces his speech by persuading Brutus that he is honorable and can be trusted. Cassius tells Brutus that, “Honor is the subject of my story”(I.ii.99). This appeals to the speaker Cassius’ credibility and has an ethical appeal on Brutus, or ethos. This appeal is effective because it connects with something that Brutus values, honor. In Cassius’ speech to Brutus, he uses a comparison comparing Caesar to a Colossus saying, “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves”(I.ii.142-144). Cassius is using an analogy comparing Caesar to Colossus, which was a large statue. Cassius again uses Brutus’ value of honor to persuade when he tells Brutus that if Caesar is in power, he and Brutus will die dishonorable deaths. During the time period, an honorable death was very important to noble Romans, especially Brutus. When Cassius is comparing the two names Brutus and Caesar, he uses the strategy of asking rhetorical questions. “Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that ‘Caesar?’ Why should that name be sounded more than yours?(I.ii.149-151).” Cassius also asks, “Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he

He states that Brutus is just as noble and worthy as Caesar. (Act 1, scene ii). He says that Brutus cannot see what everyone else does and recognize his worthiness. Cassius and the other senators do not want Caesar to be king because they would lose all their power. Cassius is slowly luring Brutus in to do his dirty work. He builds Brutus’s confidence up to make him thing that killing Caesar is the right thing to do. Cassius is basically playing with Brutus’s head because he knows Brutus will listen. So, Brutus joins the conspirators in killing Caesar. Cassius tells Brutus that it is for the good of Rome, and that he is saving them from a dictatorship. Cassius is going for Brutus’s weakest point, his care and concern for Rome. He knows that if Brutus believes the people distrust Caesar, then he will be convinced that Caesar must be thwarted. Brutus knew that if Caesar was crowned, he would never have a chance, and he was power hungry. This is what ultimately leads to the tragedy of Julius Caesar. After Brutus kills Caesar off, he starts to feel guilty for killing his friend, thus creating an internal conflict. Brutus was so confident that the plan would go exactly as planned that he fell apart when they encountered problems. If Brutus and the other conspirators had taken more time to think things through, they probably would have been more prepared for the situation that was handed to them.

Cassius is a senator in Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar.” He is jealous of Julius Caesar because of all the power and love he gets, as shown in the quote "Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about."(Shakespeare 7) This quote basically states that Cassius is tired of Julius being better and that he thinks they should not be beneath him. Cassius also seeks to get his own power. To achieve this he manipulates Brutus as shown by this quote, “Well, Brutus, thou art noble I see, thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes For who so firm that cannot be seduced?” (Shakespeare 12) This

In the play, it is evident that Cassius wanted to kill Caesar for selfish reasons(I, ii, 140-145). The citation shows that Cassius was jealous, but Brutus saw right through

He compares Caesar to a serpent in an egg which he must kill before it hatches. Brutus knows that Caesar is gaining too much power too quickly and it must come to an end. He shows his belief in a republic government by saying, “We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar / And in the spirit of men there is no blood" (II.i. 180-181). Cassius is a character who is jealous of Caesar’s power and also wants it to end. He forms a group of conspirators who are against Julius Caesar. He persuades Brutus to help him and the other conspirators to kill Caesar during the ides of March. Brutus joins but only due to his love for Rome and its people. He proves this by saying "Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius." (II.i. 179). This also proves his love for Caesar because he wants to kill him with some sort of honor. Brutus wants the citizens to look at him not as a murderer but for someone who cares for his country. He expresses his ideas toward the stabbing by saying , “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer-not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" (III, ii, 17-19).

Brutus’ flaws that he has as a character made it easy for Cassius to convince Brutus. Since Cassius knows Brutus will not believe him right away and join the conspiracy, he decided to write fake letters and forge other citizens names to trick Brutus into thinking that this is what the people of Rome wanted. "Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find outselves dishonorable graves. Men at some point are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves, that we are underlings (Act 1 scene 2).” Cassius is making Brutus seem like they are Caesar's slaves when in reality they are two well respected and wealthy Senators in

Manipulation, the ability to alter one’s position, is almost seen as a professional sport in the play Julius Caesar. The play constantly conveys the emphasis on manipulation to the readers, and displays persuasion as the main rhetorical device. Many characters, such as Brutus, Caesar, and even the people of Rome, are influenced heavily by sources such as their close friends, or even skilled politicians. Throughout Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the theme of manipulation is revealed through several instances, leading to detrimental occurrences in the story’s plot and clashes among the characters.

From a young age, Julius Caesar was introduced to the politics of Rome through his family’s connection to Marius. Growing through his adolescence in both the proscription period of Marius and the dictatorship of Sulla, Caesar gained a lesson in extra constitutional advancement in the early career of Gaius Pompeius Magnus. Both Marius and Sulla distinguished themselves in the Social War, and both wanted command of the war against Mithridates, which was initially given to Sulla; but when Sulla left the city to take command of his army, a tribune passed a law transferring the appointment to Marius.

“What trash is Rome, / What rubbish and what offal, when It serves/ For the base matter to illuminate/ So vile a thing as Caesar?” (Shakespeare 1.3.107-110) Although this quote was mentioned twice, it describes how Cassius wants to kill Caesar. Cassius refers to Caesar as “a thing”, which shows how much disrespect he has for Caesar. Cassius calls Caesar “Vile” as if Caesar repulses him. The thought of Caesar ruling disgusts Cassius, he is saying that if Caesar rules Rome, it will be complete trash and a terrible place to live therefore Caesar does not deserve to rule. What also shows the envy in Cassius is this quote from the book; “And this man/ Is now become a god, and Cassius is/ A wrenched creature and must bend his body/ If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (Shakespeare 1.2.115-119) This perfectly describes the envy and jealousy of Cassius. Cassius is telling Brutus about the time he saved Caesar from the waves of the Tiber because he could not save himself. Again the “man” Cassius is referring to Caesar. Cassius is referring to Caesar being a “man” not “a god” like other Romans treats him, because a god would have been able to save himself. Cassius thinks that Caesar should not be treated like a “god”. Cassius hates that he must “bend his body”, bow down to Caesar, which builds up more hate for Caesar and the power he holds that he does not deserve. Caesar could not even save himself from drowning, so why does he get to rule Rome? Why must Cassius bow to him? Cassius saved Caesar from the waves of the Tiber and yet Cassius must bow to Caesar if he “carelessly but nod”, Caesar should be treating Cassius like a god, not the other way around. This led to the conspiracy that Cassius wants to

Cassius is a man shrouded in mystery the only thing we need to know is he isn’t the good guy in this story. The play itself starts off with a cobler and guard then Cesar comes in and after a soothsayer says “beware the ides of march”(17). warning caesar about his soon to be doom, we get Cassius first appearance where he makes himself out to be a friend and supporter of Caesar and after that we see him go and talk to Brutus. Cassius starts by saying “You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand over your friend that loves you”(36). Cassius is using pathos and connotative words to suggest a tone; he uses the words love and friend to try and gain Brutus trust. Most of Cassius speeches are made using pathos to convince the people he needs on his

Brutus is honest himself and cannot see the dishonesty in others . Cassius takes advantage of this trait. He is dishonest and manipulates Brutus and lies to him. “Therefor, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; and since you know you cannot see yourself so well as by reflection, I, your glass will modestly discover to yourself that of yourself which you yet know not of”(I.ii.66-70). Cassius is comparing Brutus to himself as the same person. He

When Cassius forged the letters to convince Brutus to join the conspirators it was all to change his perspective about Caesar. Brutus was loyal to Caesar and was a good friend of Caesars, and when Cassius created the letters Brutus’ perspective of Caesar changed and he saw Caesar as ambitious. “So let high-sighted tyranny range on till each man drop by lottery…What other bond than secret Romans that have spoke the word and will not palter? And what other oath than honesty to honesty engaged that this shall be or we will fall for it?” (Act II, Scene I pg.20). This quote shows that once Brutus’ perspective changed he forgot about perceiving the situation. The letters made Brutus’ perspective of Caesar as being a powerful person morphing into a tyrant, and the people have “spoken” to him and he must act upon it. Brutus was impacted heavily because after he and the conspirators kill Caesar he felt bad and at the end of the play he shows feeling towards Caesar. “Caesar, now be still; I kill’d not thee with half so good a will.” (Act V, Scene V pg.79). This quote is an example of how his perception never changed but his perspective did and his perspective highly influenced him into forgetting his perception of the situation. If Brutus’ were to listen to his perception of the situation and not let his perspective be changed Caesar would’ve probably avoided being killed; Brutus would’ve knew what

He thinks that Caesar doesn’t deserve anything good that’s coming to him but instead he believes that everything good that is coming upon Julius Caesar is supposed to be brought unto him instead. In act 1 scene 2 Cassius refuses to accept Caesar as the soon to be ruler of Rome. Cassius believes that any man that has power or authority over something or over someone then they shouldn’t be passive or act cowardly towards it. He believes that with such power they should assert themselves as the rightful king Caesar is supposed to be, but what

Cassius sure is slick, don't you think? It's obvious he wanted Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar, but instead of coming right out and asking him, he tried to stroke Brutus' ego by suggesting that the

In Cassius’ speech to Brutus, he explains that Caesar, the man he despises greatly, is weak, mortal, arrogant, and is not fit to be king. Caesar has been known to push passed the ones who have tried to help him in his life and be selfish. Not only is Cassius trying to get his opinion out in his speech, but he also trying to persuade Brutus that Caesar is not fit for the job. Although Brutus and Caesar are great acquaintance's, Brutus may not believe he may be the best man either to rule Rome.