Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Introduction
This is one of the creative works of Shakespeare. This play engrosses the interaction of many characters in the scenes. These characters participate in diverse events that help in manifesting their traits. Additionally, the interaction of the characters in the events communicates diverse themes that are entirely practical to human life. In this case, the viewers and readers of the play can apply the themes to daily life. In a specific perspective, the play takes the form of a tragedy. This is a justifiable fact in the events of the play. For example, this play involves a protagonist that undergoes immense suffering in the sequence of events. Readers and viewers of the play express sympathy towards the character. In this play, the protagonist of the play has the capacity to perform both good and evil. This attribute makes substantial contribution towards the themes of the play. Shakespeare expresses the themes of the play through a vivid reflection of the Roman leader Julius Caesar. The sixteenth century defines the time setting of the play. During this era, the Roman leader expressed much dictatorship to the subjects of his authority. In this play, Shakespeare explores the events and traits of the personality through expressing his term in leadership. Generally, the play has its basis on the true occurrences of the Roman history. It dominantly dwells on the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Despite the title of the play, Caesar is not the key focus. He does not appear more than three times before his demise in the play. Marcus Brutus dominates the events of the play more than Caesar. This is an illustration to show that the play does not have a major focus on Caesar. The play manifests the conflicting forces of authority. Throughout the play, power has a major influence on the events and character traits of the persons.
After a critical analysis of the play, power has a major influence on the eventualities. Many characters are under the influence of power. Power shapes the personal traits of many characters in the play. In all the dominant events and characters, power has the capability to initiate and perpetuate corruption in behavior. This is an evident fact in the foremost scenes of the play. Brutus is a close friend to Caesar, and he is a political leader. He holds the position of praetor in the Roman regime (Shakespeare, 1). In this case, Brutus and Caesar had a strong affiliation amid each other. This trend did not last for long due to the factor of power. In the first scenes of the play, there is a conspiracy that has a rampant spread. Cassius was the initiator and perpetuator of the conspiracy against Caesar. According to the conspiracy, Caesar had a resolution to turn Rome into a monarchy. He would be the sole leader of the entire nation. Cassius shared the ideology with diverse individuals. Brutus was among the foremost individuals to hear this conspiracy. In the first scenes of the play, Brutus engages into a severe argument with Cassius. He also fights with his conscience about the conspiracy (Shakespeare, 1). His rejection to Cassius’ proposition shows his commitment towards Caesar. He observes their bond and affectionate affiliation before making decisions. This is a key attribution towards his rejection to Cassius and fighting with his conscience.
Brutus’ commitment towards Caesar does not dwell for a long time in the play. After the rejection against Cassius, he observes significant support from the public of Rome. Definitely, this support would elevate his political post to higher heights. Brutus observes the support as he receives letters from the public. The numerous letters affirm his outstanding leadership towards the natives of Rome (Shakespeare, 1). Under this observation, Brutus resolves to join the conspiracy against Caesar. This is a key event in the play. The resolution of Brutus to join the conspiracy of against Caesar indicates the impact of power. It is a paramount manifestation of the theme of the impact of power in people. Power was the motivating factor in Brutus’ resolution to go against Caesar. He made this resolution after observing that the public had a dominant and stable support towards him (Hylton, 1). In his perspective, the public support would elevate him to higher heights of authority. As connoted previously, Brutus had a strong affiliation towards Caesar. Despite of this fact, he resolves go against him by following the conspirators. This is clear evidence that power corrupted the behavior and personality of Brutus. Out of the greed for power and recognition, he turned against his associate. Brutus knew of the assassination plan of his associate. Additionally, he took part in strategizing for the assassination. Under the consideration of their bond, he would have saved Caesar from the brutality. In the contrary, he resolved to triumph over the demise of his associate. The conspirators kill Caesar during his attendance to the Senate (Taylor, 1). They strategize to initiate a petition about Cimber’s banished brother, since they knew that Caesar would reject it. When Caesar rejects the petition, the conspirators stab him to death. During the moment of the brutality, Caesar does not believe that Brutus would take part in the act. He dies under the astonishment of the event. This event affirms that power has an immense impact on human behavior. It has a capability to corrupt an individual’s behavior.
Cassius was a Senator in the Roman government (Shakespeare, 1). He had served a long time in the Senate before initiating the conspiracy. Cassius was the major proponent of the conspiracy. He had outstanding strategies of incorporating other persons in the Senate into his conspiracy. For example, Cassius had the strategy to incorporate Brutus into his conspiracy. When he introduced the ideology to Brutus, the immediate response was a harsh argument. Brutus could not accommodate the implications of Cassius due to the strong affiliation he had with Caesar. Consequently, he rejected Cassius when he brought the idea to him. Cassius became very aggressive in introducing the conspiracy to the people. He had the urge to reach many people that would oversee the elimination of Caesar from his legal post. After facing a rejection from Brutus, he resolves to employ alternative mechanisms that would win Brutus to his side of conspirators. In his second trial, he creates a false public support to Brutus (Taylor, 1). Cassius accomplishes his mission towards Brutus through writing letters to him in different handwritings. Brutus does not have any doubts concerning the letters. He considers them as real expressions from the public of the nation (Pressley, 1). The event of Cassius formulating a false public opinion is a manifestation of the impact of power. Aspirations for power pushed Cassius towards initiating the conspiracy. It was also a motivation factor towards his strategy of assassinating the leader. The dominant events of the play express the capability of power to corrupt human behavior.
Work cited
Shakespeare, William. “Julius Caesar.” eNotes. 2012. Retrieved on May 10, 2012. http://www.enotes.com/julius-caesar
Shakespeare, William. “Themes, motifs, and symbols.” Spark notes. 2012. Retrieved on May 10, 2012. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/themes.html
Taylor, Samuel. “Julius Caesar summary.” ABSOLUTE SHAKESPEARE. 2005. Retrieved on May 10, 2012. http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/caesar/summary/julius_caesar_summary.htm
Pressley, J. “JULIUS CAESAR: FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRY MEN.” Shakespeare Resource Center. May 4th, 2012. Retrieved on May 10, 2012. http://www.bardweb.net/content/readings/caesar/lines.html
Hylton, Jeremy. “The life and death of Julius Caesar.” Shakespeare homepage. 1993. Retrieved on May 9, 2012. http://shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar/full.html
