Tiffany Tsang
Clarke
World Core, Period 1
25 November 2014
Repercussions of Julius Caesar’s Poor Leadership
William Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar highlights how weak leaders affect society’s condition. Shakespeare displays this through the actions of multiple characters, one of whom is Julius Caesar, a Roman general and senator greatly favored by the people. Caesar enters the play by ignoring a soothsayer’s omen to beware the ides of March, an action that is indicative of his belief in his personal invulnerability. Caesar’s continuous disregard of warnings of his death manifests into his ultimate demise. Shakespeare extrapolates Caesar’s arrogance, physical weakness, and unfortunate fate to elucidate how rulers with similar traits would eventually fail and foment disarray between their people.
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While Caesar’s arrogance brings victories to Rome, it also causes him to disregard obvious warnings. This is shown when Calpurnia begs him not to go to the meeting, and he initially agrees to stay home only “For thy humor,”(A2S2L59), not because he interprets his wife’s dream as a threat to his well-being. In fact he says, “Danger knows full well/ That Caesar is more dangerous than he” (A2S2L46-47) and ends up going to the meeting anyway. On the contrary, his modesty from refusing to accept the crown three times makes him likable and allows Antony to persuade the citizens to seek revenge against Cassius and Brutus. Although Caesar is arrogant at most times, his slight
Shakespeare made this change most likely to highlight Caesar’s thirst for power to the point where he would view himself as a God. Similarly, Shakespeare also illustrates that Caesar is a sufferer of seizures and that the pressure from having to reject the crown was too much for him, resulting in a seizure which also further uncovers his lust for power. This arrogance is also illustrated by Caesar disregarding the premonition from the Soothsayer. Further, other characters that are transformed by Shakespeare include Brutus, who is actually the true main character in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. “I do fear for the people. Choose Caesar for their king. Yet I love him as well” (Shakespeare scene 2, line 78-82). The Tragedy of Julius Caesar depicts mostly his inner conflict of choosing between his loyalty to Caesar or his own endearment towards the citizens and country of Rome. Based on Brutus’s love for the people and the troubles he is willing to endure for them reveals that he is a noble, yet easily manipulated character. Cassius, a character also introduced in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, attempts to manipulate Brutus, who is lost and muddled in his inner conflict to murder Caesar. Cassius attempts can be evidenced as he
One of the first things to recognize about Caesar is how he listens to what others have to say, which is a very important trait to find in a leader. For example, when he is walking through the streets and a man calls for him, Caesar says,”Who is it in the press that calls on me?/ I hear a togue shriller than all the music/ Cry “Caesar!” Speak. Caesar is turned to hear¨(I.ii.15-17), and when Calpurnia, his wife, tells him that he should stay home because of a frightening dream he eventually gives in and tells Decius why he will not go to the Senate, ¨The cause is in my will: I will not come./ That is enough to satisfy the Senate;/ But for your private satisfaction,/ Because I love you, I will let you know./ Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home¨(II.ii.71-75). Although he was reluctant at first to his wife’s suspicions, after hearing her out Caesar decided to yield to Calpurnia’s wishes. This proves that Caesar does indeed listen to those around him, and considers what they have to say.
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.
With Caesar’s actions in Calpurnia’s presence we see the gentler, slightly less arrogant side to his personality. Also in having Portia’s presence, we see the more compassionate side of Brutus, her husband. We are shown Caesar’s gentler, less arrogant behavior when Calpurnia pleaded with Caesar that he not leave home that day, a request made due to her suspicions sparked by the soothsayer’s warning to beware the Ides of March. Caesar dismisses her feeling confident that the Soothsayer’s words were unimportant. However she continues in her attempts to convince him. “Mark Antony shall say I am not well,/ And for thy humor I will stay at home” (cite). Then, although he sees staying home on this day as a sign of cowardice, Caesar chooses to stay home. Although shortly after, Caesar reverts to his original plan, the fact remains true that for at least a moment, Caesar had made the less arrogant choice. Making this choice showed Caesar is capable of changing his arrogant way of thinking under certain circumstances.In having Portia, Brutus’s wife, we see a new characteristic in Brutus as well.After Portia’s death Brutus says to Cassius, “No man bears
These encounters reveal much of Caesar’s character one in which lacked discernment. Faced over and over again to evaluate and make the right decisions Caesar always makes the wrong one. Julius miscalculates everything and pays for it at the
As Warren Bennis, Founding Chairman of The Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California, once said, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” This can be interpreted to mean that one can be classified as a leader if he or she can put a plan into action. A leader is often like a visionary, and forward thinkers are needed in society. A visionary has a vivid imagination who makes dreams come true. They provide a backbone in society, helping to plan what is to come in the future that would be most beneficial. Without a leader that has the qualities of a visionary, no civilization has a bright future. Julius Caesar, Roman general-turned-ruler, was a historical visionary who fit Warren Bennis’ description of a leader. Possibly one of the most well-known Roman figures, Caesar extensively pushed Rome to one of its best eras, despite Caesar himself having a bit of a dark side. Even though Caesar seized power in the Roman Empire and named himself “Dictator For Life,” Julius Caesar was a great leader. He helped to expand the empire into France, as well as glorifying Rome through architectural projects and reforms. Overall, ?
Julius Caesar was a man who was uncommonly uncommon. He had never been brought around any kind of weaknesses. He was firm to face all dangers and wrongs that incorporated him. He had a tall and appealing stature and was to a great degree congenial. The overall population was something he was minding of, and it was minding of him, also. All his behavior were dumbfounding (Abbott 14). It was this that brought him to transform into a phenomenal general. He was to a great degree given on special strategies that would help him control the Roman officers who were harsh and incredibly willing to fight. He had a stand-out speed the degree that striking his foes. He had various qualities yet constancy was one of them, which helped him fight his battles. His troopers had complete endurance to him in light of his power capacities. The attributes he held made it worth fighting close-by Julius Caesar (SFUSD para.1).
During the late Roman Republic, power was held in the senate and by controlling the power of the people. Julius Caesar quickly became a powerful influence through the help of the Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus when they formed the political alliance the First Triumvirate. Yet, he quickly fell from power just a few years after his daughter’s death. Julius Caesar’s downfall has always been attributed to his pride and the betrayal of these allies. However, Julia Caesar, his only daughter, played a significant role in establishing the First Triumvirate, which led to Julius Caesar’s rise to power and eventually his downfall.
July 12, 100 BC a great Roman general by the name of Julius Caesar was born in Rome, Italy. Caesar was “born to a family of particans but his uncle Marius was a famous general” (History.com, 2009). Eventually, Caesar rose up through the ranks and became a great general. Caesar eventually went to war with Pompey and was able to drive Pompey out making Caesar believe declare himself the dictator for life. Even though under Caesar’s control daily Roman life improved, his assassination was for the best of the Roman people because he had stated himself as the dictator for life in Rome, ruining any chance of continuing democracy, he was self-centered, Rome got a new ruler and became successful
The prophecies of Anchises, and the outwardly imposed leadership of Aeneas to a great extent suggest Vergil’s complicity in preserving 'the old republican facade' (Cramer) to suit the Augustan political agenda. Acutely aware of the legacy and assassination of his predecessor Julius Caesar who ‘grasp[ed] his promised power’ Octavian was, in his own public image, “careful to sharply discriminate between Dictator and Princeps” (Syme). This was done by veiling autocratic power behind a cloak of republican titles and constitutional devices (Cramer 160). Augustus went to lengths presenting his authority as condoned by, and reliant on the support of the people and the senate in the republican manner. This public image of a passive leader, who is
Caesar’s character was one full of what the Romans called Dignitas, which played a huge part in his success. Dignitas was a Roman version of prestige or charisma, serving as a direct root to the modern English word dignity. Dignitas was of massive importance to Roman men as it ruled their socio-political lives. The fact that Caesar was a very proud character would have undoubtedly been frustrating. For example, he often mentioned his family and their [supposed] heritage; “The family of my aunt Julia is descended by her mother from the kings, and on her father's side is akin to the immortal Gods; for the Marcii Reges go back to Ancus Marcius, and the Julii, the family of which ours is a branch, to Venus. Our stock therefore has at once the sanctity of kings, whose power is supreme among mortal men, and the claim to reverence which attaches to the Gods, who hold sway over kings themselves.” These are very boastful statements and the crudest and bluntest recorded. But there are others that appear to be less black
Due to Caesar’s power-hungry characteristics, acquaintances are able to effortlessly convince him when power is involved. For example, Decius convinces Caesar to claim the crown, warning Caesar, “And know it now: the senate have concluded / To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. / If you shall send them word you will not come, / Their minds may change (Shakespeare ???). Specifically Decius’ last claim, “their minds will change”, shows his strong persuasion skills by invoking a fear of losing power to Caesar. Although Caesar finds himself easily manipulated, crowds are constantly being manipulated by Caesar. Caesar often humbles himself to better convince crowds. *insert quote and quote analysis whoops* Although Caesar’s demise ends with his assassination, his spirit returns strong-willed. Caesar's ghost continues to change the course of events. As Honigmann says, “Caesar’s will survives him as a political force [...]” (120). Caesar’s spirit returns strong willed, coming to haunt Brutus. The exchange between Brutus and Caesar’s ghost leads to Brutus’ suicide, for the visitation of the ghost stirs Brutus’ conscience and makes him reflect on his decisions. In summary, Caesar’s political power fluctuates throughout the duration of the play.
In the Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar is presented to be ambitious, arrogant, and full of pride. Caesar strongly portrayed these characteristics throughout the first three acts of the play by showing off how brave and strong he was and how “Danger knows full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he. We are two lions littered in one day, And I the elder and more terrible” (Shakespeare 2.2.44–47). Evidently, his tragic flaw was his arrogance and pride. Various characters from the play envied Caesar to the point of wanting to kill him for the better of Rome.
Although William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar provides a largely accurate and incredibly detailed record of the assassination of its namesake, the play is regarded not as one of the Bard’s histories, but as one of his greatest tragedies. Shakespeare’s poignant lyrical interpretation of the fall of Julius Caesar is defined without a doubt as a tragedy by the sorrowful nature of the development, execution, and aftermath of Marcus Brutus’ betrayal of Julius Caesar.
There are certain traits that make someone a great leader. Said traits range from valiance or courage, not being easily dissuaded or deterred. These attributes can almost guarantee success in any environment, such as a government or in a military standpoint. Therefore if one lacks in these traits, failure is tantamount for not only themselves, but also the ones under their leadership. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the character Brutus portrays this situation almost perfectly. In the tragedy, it plays out the events leading to Julius’ death, the assassination itself, and the following turmoil. In the beginning, the original leader of the assassination, Cassius, tries tirelessly to persuade Brutus to understand the misdeeds and shortcomings