Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Sophocles' Antigone

In “Julius Caesar” there are many noble Romans that come about throughout the play. The most noble Roman that was in the whole play is Mark Antony. Mark Antony is the most noblest because he has both strengths and weaknesses. The two major strengths he has is holding it together and telling his people that Caesar is dead and who has killed him, also he is strong when he gets an army together to fight Brutus. The only weakness he has is being very angry and falling apart when he finds out that Caesar is dead.

As of Antony he seems to be a harmless friend of Caesar, and Brutus is a monster for killing his best friend Cassius. After Caesars death everything started to change. Antony went to entreat his life to Brutus, pleading with him after all he was the one who stabbed a knife at his close friend, Caesar. Which then questions was Antony truly noble? He did swear his allegiance to Brutus, but for what purpose? Probably to save his life, but it has no good in it if he were to die for Caesar just leaving his memories and reputation. Antony saving his life is not only for him but for Caesars benefit. By Antony convincing Brutus that he's in his side, he was able to make his funeral speech. In Antonys speech he used repetition, “But Brutus says he was ambitious and Brutus is an honorable man”. Each time he repeated that phrase, Caesar seemed less ambitious and Brutus less honorable, but until Brutus was claimed admirable. Even if Antony were to not make that speech, Brutus would have still been suffering. He lost all of his allies, his best friend, his wife killed herself, and also Rome itself. This plays as if Brutus has stabbed himself in the back for betraying Caesar while Antony was just hurt for the death of his best friend. Brutus was filled with regret, guilt and the country he were to protect was even against him. As of Antony he had just lost the one person he had always been loyal

The involvement of women is very important in the two stories, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare and Antigone by Sophocles. Throughout each story it becomes clear that the ideas and biases surrounding women play an important part in how society views women, and how women see themselves. Readers also see these ideas spread into the minds of women affecting what they do in their life, and how they act. Antigone and Ismene, from Antigone, and Calpurnia and Portia, from Julius Caesar are both examples of this major theme. These four women heavily influence their play and the outcome. Because of this it is clear to see the importance and relevance of women in Antigone and Julius Caesar.

In the plays Antigone by Sophocles and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the characters share a similar view about death being portrayed as an honorable quality, but each character’s journey to this conclusion varies. Antigone regards death as an act of honor and glory, while King Creon’s opinion differs, believing that condemning someone to death is the worst punishment. Haemon ends his life out of love for Antigone and to show that he does not want to pursue a future living under the rule of his father, which shows he is not afraid to die. King Creon considers death to be the worst punishment, until he realizes that being alone is far worst. Brutus’s outlook on death reaffirms his honorable personality because he truly believes Caesar’s death would benefit Rome. Cassius even sacrifices himself at the end of the play, because self sacrifice is more honorable than being taken as a prisoner. Death and how each character views death, makes it a powerful and diverse symbol to consider because the reasons behind death varies between different arguments, however the Western Civilization as a whole shares the common reasoning that death can represent an honorable trait.

When caesar denied the crown not once not twice but three times, most people probably believed he was humble man who wanted nothing but good things for rome. But thats just not true, he did this so that the people of rome would lose their not so favorable opinion of him. It was nothing but a tactical move on his part that happened to work out for him. Now Mark Antony supported him through all of this thinking he was doing the right thing, which is no fault of his own but still doesn’t change the fact that he did it.

In the classic model of dramatic structure, two characters move the action of the play from introduction to climax to resolution with their conflict. One of these characters is the protagonist; the other is the antagonist. The protagonist is generally regarded as the "good guy," and the antagonist is the "bad guy." In Sophocles' play Antigone, the lines between protagonist and antagonist are blurred. In the Greek tradition, the title character is the protagonist, but in this play, the supposed antagonist Creon also displays characteristics of the protagonist.

Humans can attempt to avoid a certain fate but if destinies are fixed they cannot be altered. Sophocles supports the notion that free will eludes us in works such as Oedipus the King and Antigone. Oedipus, Creon, Antigone, and Tiresias are characters in these epics whose lives represented the battle of truth and wisdom. Oedipus attempted to escape the prophecy in which he killed his own father and married his mother. He hastily discovered his past while trying to cure his city, and his efforts to change his fate fail when the prophecy is realized. His daughter Antigone wanted revenge after Oedipus’ death. Creon would not bury her brother so she did it herself and then allowed Creon to punish her by enclosing her in a tomb. She believed in

As Caesar’s right hand man, Antony is very close to Caesar throughout the book. So close in fact that he is always next to Caesar, willing to serve him. Now in that day and age people could most likely agree that kings were sometimes called a “Lord”, but for Antony to be calling a man who has yet to become king his Lord… that displays just how much he loved Caesar and how willing he was to serve right alongside the man who considers himself “as constant as the Northern Star”(3.1,91). Another example of Antony’s loyalty occurs when he replies to Caesar about the suspicious unknown conspirator Cassius, “Fear him not…” (1.2, 196). Antony’s relationship with Caesar is similar to the relationship of a mother and a child. It is similar because of the fact that Antony looks after Caesar just as a mother does on her young boy. Antony is always next to Caesar assuring him he has nothing to worry about and that he is

He is portrayed as a faithful and devoted companion to Caesar despite the threat the conspirators pose after Caesar’s death. Antony acts to avenge Caesar though he knows how dangerous these choices are. He speaks to the people and turns them against the conspirators, which is a direct violation of his instructions, and fights alongside the romans to get revenge for Caesar’s death. He believes that Caesar was not power-hungry like Brutus says and also that he was a just ruler.

Antony reminds the people during his funeral speech, “when that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept”(3.2.19). Caesar was beloved by all Rome, and not with a cause, he has done many things Antony states. On the other hand, Brutus complains to the people, “crown him that; and then, I grant, we put a sting in him, that at his will he may do danger with”(2.1.6-8). Yet, from all Caesar’s accomplishments and morality, as well as refusing the crown three times, Antony cries to the people “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse: was this ambitious? Yet Brutus says he was

Before Julius Caesar is assassinated, Marc Antony only makes a few statements indicating that he is loyal to Caesar as dictator and as a friend. Caesar's confiding to Antony shows he trusts Antony and looks upon him as a friend in return, perhaps even as an ally.

Two men battle with words to claim the hearts of the people of Rome. In Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, Brutus and Antony address the people over Caesar’s dead body. The body is brought to the town square shortly after he was murdered by the Senate. Brutus, one of the murderers, appeals to the people’s fear and patriotism. Antony speaks after and puts doubts of the justification of the murder and plays to the people’s hearts.

Every character in Julius Caesar serves a purpose. While some characters are not featured heavily in the main plot, they serve as a means by which the author can illuminate aspects of the main characters, which are important to the plot development and overall depth of the story. Some of the more prominent characters that do this are Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife; Portia, Brutus’ wife; and Lucius, Brutus’ young servant. Lucius highlights Brutus’ affectionate side, Portia illuminates the issues growing in Brutus’ personal life and Calpurnia brings out Caesar’s pride.

Also, though unwisely, Antony suggests a feast for their "comfort", and this summarises his leadership, as he is no longer presented by Shakespeare as a great and powerful leader, but as a kind and generous man. Caesar appears to be a heartless leader, detached from the people, whereas Antony shows his emotions and, thus, appears more human, which causes the audience to sympathise with him.

The Renaissance was a time in which mankind was rediscovering itself. For ages, men were simply trying to exist, survive more than anything else. The Renaissance was a period in which men no longer had to just get by everyday, but could begin exploring morality. No other Renaissance author characterizes this more than William Shakespeare in the early 1600s. His plays highlight the internal moral struggle that every man goes through, the concept of what is right and what is wrong in a world that is full of gray areas. More specifically he deals with the concept of honor and morality in several of his plays. Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and Henry V, to a lesser extent, deal with how men handle these and can reconcile otherwise heinous acts. Now, being well aware that Shakespeare does not account for all the Renaissance writers, however his are the most prevalent still today and it can be argued that Shakespeare did not work alone. For the sake of organization, it is far easier to tackle these literary works in chronological order and analyze the individual pieces first and then view them all as one whole.