Julius Caesar Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This illustrates the theme in the historical play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Julius Caesar was a man full of arrogance and he had a sense of being self-absorbed. This kind of personality lead to bad things, it eventually led to death. Caesar was a well-known man in Rome. The people of Rome didn 't care what he did. Everyone thought he was perfect. I ii 273 He was married to a woman named Calpurnia. She lived in Rome. At the beginning of the play, Caesar just had defeated Pompey. I i 53 Some of the people in Rome knew that Caesar was getting into deep trouble. Brutus had to make a big decision towards the end. Everyone wanted Brutus to kill Caesar because he was never going to change his personality. He didn 't know what he should do, he didn 't know what is best for Rome. Julius Caesar was a very arrogant man. He thought very highly of himself. Although, everyone in Rome respected him. They didn 't care what he did. I ii 273 He claimed he was not scared of anything. Calpurnia had nightmares, they were thought as representations of signs of Caesar´s death. Caesar wanted to go to the capitol, Calpurnia told him it was not safe because of her nightmares. In her dreams, there were dead men walking, a statue running with blood like a fountain, while many smiling Romans bathed their hands in the blood. She also had a dream of ghosts wandering the city, a lioness giving
To start off, the character Brutus alienates from his indecisive, good hearted nature into a more powerful corrupted character who easily makes decisions that may not always be based off morality. For example, in the beginning of the play Brutus shows his good-hearted character when he states, "Nor construe any further [his] neglect than that poor Brutus with himself at war forgets the show of love to other men"(Shakespeare, 1.2.45-48). Clearly, before Brutus gained power he was unsure of himself, and still wasn’t against Caesar because his heart still pushed for moral choices. Furthermore, without power Brutus did not appear to be corrupted in anyway, and rather seems to want to do everything he can for the good of Rome. While it is true, that Brutus began as an innocent it is clear that further on in the play he began to be corrupted by power and this is seen when he states, "Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar" (Shakespeare, 2.1.162-165). Obviously, Brutus quickly becomes more confident and decisive in his decisions, and is even willing to tell the other conspirators what courses of action they must take. Therefore, further proving that as Brutus gains power his arrogance, and sense of control also increase.
In the book “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” by William shakespeare there was a lot of violence. All power tends to corrupt, and absolute corrupts power corrupts absolutely. I agree with this statement, because I believe having power would corrupt you. People want that power, people will do anything to get that power to make everyone do what they want, at their command. Having power could make you do bad things. When people have power they are in control and won’t make the best decisions.
Caesar- Main character of the play by William Shakespeare Julius Caesar. Caesar started as a citizen of Rome and wanted to get back the power his earlier family had. Caesar become friends with a military general named Pompey and used him to rise to power. Caesar became a well respected Roman Leader. Caesar was well known due to his expertise in combat and all the battles he had won. He had plenty of enemies, however, he has many supporters as well. Caesar was eventually assassinated because the the conspiracy
First, in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, all power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For example, in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Flavius says,“Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about and drive away the vulgar from the streets.” (1.1.71-72). To clarify, Caesar is being celebrated because Pompey has just been defeated and Romans are celebrating but Flavius does not like Caesar's actions. Furthermore, after the death of Caesar one could concur that his final will was an act of corruption. For instance, when Antony reads Caesar’s will Antony reads, “Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal: to every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas.” (3.2.243-25). Caesar leaving money to every citizen demonstrates he might want the citizens to rebel over his death. In conclusion, Caesar became corrupt because of the power he gained.
Julius Caesar was a spellbinding orator and a ruthless politician, although he was merciful in victory, understanding that such favors would return political dividends. He was also a military genius and his legions loved him for his courage and skill, and for fighting bareheaded among their ranks. Caesar was a great man, however, sometimes his actions would prove people wrong. Occasionally crowds had protested against him and it has mostly been over a specific grievance. Many people of Rome will not deny the fact
Power is the ultimate goal of many throughout their life. If power is taken advantage of it
Brutus, Cassius, Caesar, and the other Senators held the power to do things others could not. With this authority came their ability to use poor judgement. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Julius Caesar the theme Power Corrupts is arrayed thoroughly. Murder, treason, and ethical/moral corruption were three prevalent themes that proved the overall topic of Power Corrupts.
“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
Julius Caesar, a Roman general, dictator, and leader, is considered to be one of history 's most influential and powerful rulers to this day, in which his rise to power, conquest of Europe, and controversial downfall all remain to be told during modern days. The play Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, portrays the events leading up to Julius Caesar’s assassination, and how those who conspired against him banded together and plotted Caesar’s demise. Many of those conspirators assassinated Caesar due to his quick rise to absolute power, his “acts” of disrespect against the senate such as his failing to stand to receive the title of becoming a “god,” and pure jealousy and anger towards Caesar’s success and rule over the Roman empire. Caesar, an ambitious man, was able to conquer many lands and peoples for Rome through successful military campaigns in which he became one Rome’s best generals due to the amount of successful battles he had won and the amount of blood he had shed for Rome’s expansion. However, Caesar’s trait of ambitiousness would prove to be a double edged sword.
Unlike the common view of leaders, the potential leaders of Julius Caesar are not necessarily nice or giving. However, sometimes that is necessary. In the play Julius Caesar, a long tale of leadership shows the true qualities of the greatest leaders. Where the reader finds themselves started is at the point which Antony and Caesar, the overconfident leader of Rome, are discussing people around them. This discussion boils to a point in which Antony and Caesar discuss the possibility of Cassius being a threat to Caesar. Later, readers find Cassius is indeed a threat, as he and multiple others, including Brutus, stab Caesar to death. Antony then brings Caesar’s body to the multitude, and with a great speech inspires a hatred for those who wrongfully stabbed him. At the next point Antony is seen, he and Octavius are the new rulers of Rome. These two comrades go and finally eliminate the last of the traitors, Cassius and Brutus, in a battle that cements the two as the new leaders of Rome. Throughout all these actions, one man particularly showed that he should control the Roman Empire. Antony was created to be Rome’s leader in Julius Caesar, where William Shakespeare gave him inspirational abilities, persuasiveness, and fearlessness which are unparalleled.
Well, honor is the subject of my story. I cannot tell you what other men Think of this life, but for my single self, I had as lief not be, as live to be In awe of such a thing as myself” (1.2.90-96.). Brutus goes through with killing Caesar,but talks the men out of killing Mark Antony out of the belief he has done nothing wrong. Caesar believes he has done the correct thing and has saved the people of Rome from a corrupt leader, and he performs a speech to the people of Rome explaining his actions and why he murdered Caesar. This leads to his downfall in the end, because the act of not killing Mark Antony creates a war that is order to kill Cassius and Brutus.
A person of great power has a large amount of control and influence over the vast majority of the population that they lead. Often times, their leadership position was gained through manipulation of the people as they try to sell themselves to them. This manipulation also affects any competition for that leadership position because a common technique to sway someone’s opinion is to make the competition look bad which then makes the people look down on the competition, causing the opposing side’s chances of success to plummet. William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar demonstrates this as a tale of manipulation leads to the downfall of the weaker link. Cassius, Mark Antony and Julius Caesar have perfected the art of manipulation as they are
As society lacks critical thinking, people let those in power manipulate them to get a taste of power. When Caesar returns from the battle with Pompey, the people of Rome are rejoicing in the streets. Yet Marullus accuses that “[the men of Rome] have hard hearts” and “[do not remember] Pompey” (I.i.32-37). The people of Rome abandon Pompey’s side as soon as Caesar wins. If they join Caesar, Caesar will like them more and their fellow citizens will continue to respect them. If they align with Pompey, the masses will attack them because Pompey’s army no longer has all it’s honor and power. Similarly, when Cassius is asking Brutus about his thoughts on Caesar, he philosophizes that “men at some time are masters of their own fates: the fault, [Brutus], is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (I.ii.139-141). Cassius’ statement explains that the less power someone has, the less control of their fate they have. Because Brutus has a huge amount of power as Caesar’s friend and as a senator, the people of Rome honor and respect him. Brutus aligns himself with Caesar and Cassius
Shakespeare shows how power and the prospect of power changes people through the character of Brutus. Brutus’ attitude changes as he acquires power and detects the possibility of being powerful. Originally, everything Brutus does is for the good of the people and Rome itself. He recognizes that he has “no personal cause to spurn at [Caesar]” (I.I.11); however, he considers doing it “for the general” (I.I.12). Power has not yet changed Brutus’ attitude; he still focuses on the good of Rome as a whole and not just gaining power for himself. As the play continues, Brutus’ ongoing internal struggle of whether or not he should kill Caesar ends when he decides to kill him. He wants to kill him in a very specific way so that the people hate Caesar rather
Brutus a high-ranking, well-regarded Roman nobleman that killed Julius Caesar, went to the top of the ranks and was crowned king. Even though Brutus was able to become king, he was not going to get that title without killing Caesar. In the play Julius Caesar, Brutus agrees to kill Caesar and is one of the three murderers that stabbed Julius Caesar. In Act III scene i William Shakespeare writes “CASCA and the other conspirators stab CAESAR. BRUTUS stabs him last.” This is when Brutus’s fate begins because he starts listening to the wrong people such as, when Cassius uses his power and authority to convince Brutus that he loves Caesar but loves Rome more. This is quoted when Shakespeare writes in Act III scene ii, “ I say to him that my love for Caesar was no less than his. If, then, that friend demands to know why I rose up against Caesar, this is my answer: it’s not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” This shows Brutus’s major flaw and when he starts to believe things that other people tell him. Brutus shows that he is the Tragic Hero right when he agrees to kill Caesar because this is his tragic flaw that begins the downfall of himself.