Julius Caesar Act 1 Lines 11 Analysis

Scene 1 of Act 3 begins with Caesar entering the Senate hall and being approached by Artemidorus to read a document or letter of his first because it concerns Caesar the most. Caesar tells Artemidorus that if the document concerns him, then he shall read it last, showing that he is a noble leader that does not put himself before his people. In this case though, Caesar not reading Artemidorus's document first dooms him. Another senator, Metellus, then approaches Caesar to fight the petition for the banishment of his brother but Caesar will not do it. He says that would be pardoning someone based on their family’s position, which would cause anger against him among the common people for pardoning those with connections.

Julius Caesar had worked very hard to get the people to like him and like his ideas. Caesar was a man who, when he was born, his family was pretty well known in the world of politics, however he was not guaranteed a position with power. Caesar had to do a lot of campaigning and political work in order for him to become known in politics, which essentially led to some sort of power. In order for some of Caesar’s plans to work, some risks had to be taken, but that did not stop him, “…and never discarded a possible advantage for a problematically more attractive aim, thereby risking” (Fuller, 49). Caesar was not the most trained so he had to go with his gut, which typically meant taking a risk, but without risks, he would have never gotten anywhere.

That is until Decius tells Caesar that he shouldn’t be coerced by his wife’s dreams and Caesar decides to go with him to the Senate House. In the streets on the way to the Senate House is Caesar’s last warning. Artemidorus has written him a letter telling him the names of all the conspirators. On the way to the Senate house Artemidorus tells Caesar to read this scroll immediately and Caesar replies “What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol” (935). Then Caesar walks off with the rest of them just following behind.

Everyone in Rome appeared to have a deep fondness for the adventurous, potent, and supercilious Caesar. In the time period in which Julius Caesar took place, the power was split evenly among the court to which no single man could rule (Eastman), but Caesar was starting an uprising which had the potential to change the way authority was distributed. He was adored by everyone around him and seemed to be flocked with his admirers at any given time. Soon this got to the point where Antony offered him the crown to the throne. Eventually, Cornelius recognized the change in the way the government was functioning and started to become envious and bothered by the shift in power. Eventually, his own selfish ambition drives him to go to one of his closest companions, Brutus, to see if they could put an end to the chaos in the jurisdiction. At first, Brutus is

led him to praise him until he realized that Caesar was full of ambition and was sneaky like a

There are several points in the play where Caesar sets aside his self-importance while it is always there in Brutus. “It must be by his death; and for my part, I have no personal reason to spurn at him, but for the general.” (1.2.304-308) Brutus puts aside his friendship for Caesar and condemns Caesar to death. He does this in order to be a Roman and save his fellow Romans from the tyranny that Caesar may commit. He states that Caesar was too ambitious and would scorn the very people assisted in him being king. Caesar sets himself aside when Artemidorus tries to give him a letter of warning but does not read it as the people are to be put first. Caesar has put himself behind the people. The first time is when Caesar rejected the crown three times even though he wanted it. He knew that the people wouldn’t accept him as king so he refused. Most high-powered, egotistical men wouldn’t have cared about what the people would think and take it because they wanted it. This shows that Caesar’s flaw doesn’t always dictate his actions and didn’t lead to Caesar’s death but by putting it

“Veni, vidi, vici.” These three words spoken by Julius Caesar perfectly sum up the life and legacy of this great man, (Mathisen 382). Although Caesar was not an emperor of Rome, he played a large role in creating the Roman Empire. Alive during the Age of the Generals (88-60 BCE), he ascended the political hierarchy to become the most powerful man in Rome, (Mathisen 372). Caesar was beloved by the people or Rome as well as the army, who aided him in taking over control of the Republic. However, not everyone in Rome was a fan of Caesar, including some Senators and groups which he conquered during his various expeditions.

Caesar did many things as dictator that made him popular with the nation’s poor people. “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is performed (Julius Caesar 1.2.10).” Julius Caesar first gained political power by forming a triumvirate with Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus. Julius Caesar then became ruler after he killed the previous leader, Pompey. Caesar frequently shows signs that he thinks he is invincible, which is one reason that people don’t want him to be king. Some examples of this include, “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 (Julius Caesar 1.2.135-138).” Also, there is, “The things that threatened me Ne’er looked but on

Caesar loved the Romans and only wanted to do what was best for them. In his will, he awarded each Roman citizen 75 drachmas. In today’s US dollars, that equates to about $6,000. This is proof alone that he loved his people, but in case that is not enough, there is more. Julius Caesar brought Rome peace and prosperity, but he also gave them land. Land also equates to power. He gave the Romans land like Gaul, which is now modern-day France. If that is not enough, Gaius Julius Caesar wanted to include all of Rome in the decision making. He opened the Senate up to the lower classes, so that they, too, could have a say in the laws. Caesar should not have been assassinated because he just wanted to make Rome a better place for its

	Julius Caesar vacillates, or changes, his mind throughout the play and this downfall is shown to be one of Caesar’s hamartias. On the day Caesar is to go to the Capitol, he changes his decisions frequently. Caesar defies the warnings of Calpurnia and the priests and Caesar says that she, Caesar, shall go forth to the Capitol this day. "Caesar. Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me Ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see The face of Caesar, they are vanished." Through this quotation, it seems Caesar has made his mind to go forth to the Capitol. Calpurnia, though, is able to persuade him to stay home and send word that he is sick. Caesar replies, "Caesar. Mark Antony shall say I am not well, And for thy humour I will stay at home."(2,2,55-56) Decius then flatters Caesar and is able to persuade him that Calpurnia’s nightmare is misinterpreted and that he

Choosing to go his daily business attending the Senate, Caesar proves himself to be responsible instead of skipping out on his duty based off ungrounded premonition. In fact, Caesar is noble in the way he is ignorant. By focusing plainly on his duties to Rome, he serves the role of a noble statesman, putting his country above all even his own

To some Caesar was great leader. Even tho some people loved him others felt he was not good for rome . He didn't adhere to any of the warnings that could have possibly saved his life. Caesar felt as if he was untouchable and this mighty God. May this be a lesson maybe we should all “ Beware of the ides of March”

Sam Christopher in this essay gives a description of Caesar personality, his ability to convince the public and his tenacity to gear the public attention towards himself.

Julius Caesar himself acts as a primary example in addressing the importance of the support of the masses. Caesar rose through the ranks as an impressive general and gained his significant power through popular conquests. This in turn achieved him popularity with the ‘Plebs’. To signify this power Caesar holds; Shakespeare, within the opening scene represents Caesar as a much loved politician within the Roman Republic. Shakespeare identifies Caesar as a leader capable of gaining power however represents him as weak, ignorant and not as ruthless as he should be. Ultimately revealing that caesar does not constitute the ‘Voltairian’ “fine lion” a monarchy needs. While Shakespeare identifies Caesar as ‘not the right man for the job’ he maintains the argument in power of the people while gaining and maintaining power. This is especially clear with the representation of the ‘plebs’ upon Caesar’s arrival in Act 1 scene 1. Shakespeare ultimately conveys the idea that a monarch with the support of the people will allow for maximum stability and efficiency whilst

He should have paid more attention to his instincts. This example shows us that Caesar was excellent at what he did; however, he had a big problem, which held him back.