Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Vs. Plutarch’s Julius Caesar

When closely evaluating the two texts: Plutarch's The Lives of the Ancient Grecians and Romans and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, there are stark differences of the theme and characters. While Plutarch's text is mostly informative, as describing a series of historical events, Shakespeare incorporates a wide variety of dramatic conventions as well as changing many events to entertain an audience. It is important to note that Shakespeare's play was based on Plutarch's text, which is why many of the differences are because of Shakespeare's revision. Shakespeare changes the tone of many important characters such as Marcus Brutus and Mark

In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar has become overly ambitious, so a group of men conspire to murder him. Many people and omens try to warn him of his doom, but he is too arrogant to think he will die. Calpurnia, his wife, tries to convince Caesar to stay at home; while Decius, one of the men who plots to kill him, insists that he comes to the Senate House. Calpurnia and Decius employ various rhetorical devices, which Calpurnia uses in an attempt to save Caesar from his fate, while Decius uses them to draw Caesar closer to his fate.

Plutarch considers Julius Caesar’s assassination to be justified. He believed the group felt they had to keep their plans in secret with a select few which they could trust to further their cause. Despite the fact that there prophesies and warnings alerting Caesar to his eminent Demise, the assassins continued their plan feeling that they would be deemed as “noble leaders of the commonwealth” when they had done this great deed. Because of Caesars hand in the murder of Pompey, it was believed to be a “divine appointment” to hold a senate meeting where there statue of Pompey stood for whom they also sought vengeance. Therefore at the start of the meeting, Plutarch states that when Cassuis turned and faced Pompey’s statues, this when Caesar walked in the room and the men struck him, making it look like it was providence. At the end, Brutus was prepared to make a speech but there was nothing but chaos. The elitist group had come to the agreement to only kill Caesar but when they sought Antony as a threat, Marcus felt enough had been done “restore Rome and saved Antony’s life,” illustrates

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.

            Despite these drastic differences, the two orations are similar in a way essential to their effectiveness.  Brutus and Antony demand audience participation by asking questions and making comments they know will spark fire in the hearts of the Roman people.  After providing his explanation for the extermination of a dangerously ambitious tyrant, Brutus questions the people as to whether or not he has offended anyone or if anyone disagrees with his ideals.  He is such an authority figure, though, and he knows no one will stand up to him because the people find safety within the mass.  He dares anyone to defy him, "...I pause for a / reply" (Act III, scene ii, lines 34-5).  The people reply, "None, Brutus, none!" (Act III, scene ii, line 36).  Once he knows he has won the people, Brutus states that he has the same death for himself (the same death as Caesar) when it will benefit Rome.  To this, the people reply with shouts of

Brutus tells them people then he had done no more to Caesar than they will do to him.

The play Julius Caesar written by Julius Caesar illustrates the murder of Julius Caesar by his Senate and the events that happened after his death. The famous funeral speeches given by Mark Antony and Brutus give the Roman people two different sides of Julius Caesar and his leadership using ethos, logos, and pathos. Ethos is the credibility of the speaker, logos is the logic or reasoning, and pathos is the emotion of the audience. Mark Antony delivers the most effective speech in the play as he appeals to these three elements in his speech in a more convincing manner than Brutus.

In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, an honorable man, Brutus, is planning to overthrow the soon to be king, Julius Caesar. Brutus is persuaded by Cassius that Caesar is a liar, too ambitious, weak, and not fit to be Rome’s king. Brutus soon believed Cassius, and they and the conspirators made a plan to kill Caesar. After Caesar’s death, Brutus planned to justify his actions of killing Caesar at his funeral in his speech to the people. After Brutus’s speech, the citizens of Rome were all in agreement that Brutus did the right thing for Rome. Brutus then decides to allow Caesar’s best friend, Antony, to speak in honor of Caesar. Antony speaks, and he convinces the citizens that Brutus’s actions were unjust and turned the people against Brutus.

He also believes this will bring him power. His downfall is shown in this quote because it shows what he’s going to do to no longer feel this way. It is also shown because the plot is based on his jealousy of Caesar.

In document D an eyewitness places Cassius at the scene. Also In document D Cassius was directly involved in Caesar’s death. It says, “a number of Senators attempted to restrain Caesar. Unfortunately, he would not calm. The result was his death.”

Brutus told Caesar’s ghost, “Caesar, now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will.”

ii. 82-83). Shakespeare meant in this quote that people don't be afraid. He has taken care of the problem. Caesar won't be the downfall of Rome anymore. That he will do anything for the “good” of Rome. Or so he thought it was for the good. Until Brutus finds out what Caesar was really like. And how he acted. How he was the true king of Rome. Brutus will do anything to get the love and support that he thinks he needs. Or that the people think he needs, but when really, he did not need any of it. He just needed the family and friends he had.

This passage revealed how much of a conceited person Caesar is. The words that Shakespeare chose to make Caesar says showed how he had too much confidence in himself considering that his death is in the next scene. The words that Shakespeare used are intended to reach out to the reader and give them a better understanding of the kind of person that Caesar is. He was successful in carrying out the message. Overall, Shakespeare is known for each character a specific personality that suits them depending what plays they are

Now, Julius Caesar was a great leader, but his ambition, pride, and arrogance, all lead him to his death, but ultimately it was his pride that led him to taking his last breaths. Caesar's pride is showcased in Act II, when Calpurnia had told Caesar not to go to the Capitol, because of a dream that she had had, and omens that had scared her. Calphurnia asks Caesar to tell Decius

He is telling them to believe him for his honor and not for the reasons he gives. Brutus repeated many times that Caesar was ambitious but never once said how or why. This left the people with a question in their mind.