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Qualities Of A Good Leader In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Decent Essays

John Maxwell once said, “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” What is a leader? A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way. Qualities of a good leader require courage, charisma, strength, knowledge and wisdom, good morals and power. All of these qualities of leadership boil down to what is known as integrity. Integrity is doing what is morally correct; it requires honesty, making the “right” decisions for the community, taking the blame, and being selfless. A good leader should possess all these qualities in order to be capable of leading and gaining respect from others. Cassius was set at such a high place of being a leader, but Brutus proved he would’ve been a better fit for the title.
In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Cassius is the leader of the conspirators. Brutus, as chosen by Cassius, essentially becomes his second-in-command in the plan to eliminate Caesar. Cassius and Brutus portray specific leadership qualities in very different ways. Brutus demonstrates he himself as the better leader through his bravery, integrity and selflessness. Cassius’ bravery, or rather, lack thereof, is matched up to Brutus’ at the time of their deaths during the Battle of Philippi in the fifth act. Right before Cassius dies, he says to Pindarus, “O, coward that I am, to live so long, / To see my best friend ta’en before my face!” “Stand not to answer: Here, take though the hilts; / And, when my face is cover’d, as ‘tis now, / Guide thou the

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