In William Shakespeare’s nonfictional play written in 1599, Julius Caesar is betrayed and killed by his most beloved companions for his power over Rome. Brutus, a comrade of Caesar, is convinced by Cassius that Caesar does not deserve that tremendous amount of power and pride. By Brutus’s jealousy towards Caesar, he claims that Caesar is not worthy of being crowned king of Rome because he will be too powerful, and that could change a human to turn into a vile person, or become a dictator. Brutus declares the only way to end this “upcoming reign of terror” is to kill Caesar. Brutus is a villain because, he murdered Julius Caesar to gain power over Rome. Cassius claims in Julius Caesar that Caesar has many weaknesses and is inadequate of being king of Rome. In Cassius’s speech he says to Brutus “I was born free as Caesar, so were you”(2.2.8). Cassius …show more content…
However, all the things Cassius claims about Caesar are absurd. The things Caesar is incapable of are just human incapabilities. In general, some humans have weakness, but that doesn’t certainly make them weak individuals. Julius Caesar was a prestigious military leader who played a critical role in the rise of the Roman Empire. Also, he led Rome to countless victories, making them of the strongest empires at that time period. 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
Cassius is a senator in Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar.” He is jealous of Julius Caesar because of all the power and love he gets, as shown in the quote "Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about."(Shakespeare 7) This quote basically states that Cassius is tired of Julius being better and that he thinks they should not be beneath him. Cassius also seeks to get his own power. To achieve this he manipulates Brutus as shown by this quote, “Well, Brutus, thou art noble I see, thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes For who so firm that cannot be seduced?” (Shakespeare 12) This
Another weaknesses that he had was his need to rely on Brutus to lead the conspiracy and then later to win over the crowd after killing Caesar. The reason behind this was because Cassius wasn’t as respected as Brutus. Brutus was known for his strength of character and his integrity, which made him a natural leader. He thought that he was capable of manipulating Brutus like a puppet master, to gain power on the coattails of his labors. Cassius also needed Brutus to help kill Caesar so it would look like an act of greater good for the preservation of the Republic, not an act of evil for personal gain. Brutus’ charisma meant he could influence crowds into thinking that killing Caesar was to preserve the freedom of Rome. Once Caesar was dead,
Cassius is a talented general, and does not like the fact that Caesar has become `god-like' in the Roman people's minds (see above quote Act I, Scene ii). Cassius can be seen as a
Was Julius Caesar hero or a villain? I am here to tell you that Julius Caesar was a hero, and these are the reasons why he was.
In William Shakespeare?s Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius are very influential characters. Each character makes many mistakes with the assassination plans and the strategies at Philippi. Each man has his reasons for their mistakes, if it is either their idealism, being uncompassionate or not, fully thinking for their actions. Brutus and Cassius are very contrasting people; one man is better suited to be a leader of a battle and an Empire, than the other. That man is: Marcus Brutus. Although Brutus makes many consequential mistakes, his errors are made because his nobleness outranks his intelligence. Whereas for Cassius, his mistakes are made from poor decision making. Brutus himself knows that he is often too honourable and not as
Second, In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Cassius is even more corrupt than Caesar. For instance, Cassius does what is best for him. For example, after Caesar is killed, Cassius persuades the conspirators that killing Caesar is what people will
Cassius’s jealousy caused all the events in the play to be set in motion, and thus led to his downfall. A prominent example of this would be when Brutus and Cassius are speaking and Cassius is trying to convince Brutus to join his plot by telling a story of how Caesar had to ask for Cassius’s help because he was too weak and tired to continue swimming. This leads Cassius to say, “Did I the tired Caesar. And this a man / Is now become a god, and Cassius / A wretched creature and must bend his body / If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (I.ii.115-118). This quote in modern times would say, “Caesar was tired. And this man is supposed to be a god, and I am a wretched creature who has to kneel to Caesar.” Cassius is implying that Caesar is supposed to be this strong god and Cassius a wretched creature, yet Cassius had to save Caesar from drowning. This quote leads to Cassius’s downfall because it shows his jealousy through what he is feeling towards Caesar. His downfall is also shown because this scene is Cassius trying to convince Brutus to join his plot. Another quote that proves Cassius’s tragic flaw occurs after Brutus has died. Messala is asking
In the determination of whether Julius Caesar was an intelligent, political hero or an egocentric, dictating villain, it is important to look at all of the facts. Born in 100 B.C.E. and assassinated in 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was legendary. He along Pompey, and Crassus created the first unofficial Triumvirate which was negotiated to appease both the Roman citizens and the power hungry rivals. Still, this agreement would not last long. After Pompey’s wife, Julia Caesar and daughter of Caesar’s daughter given to Pompey to establish the Trimvirate, dies in childbirth, civil war breaks out as Caesar leads his army against Rome. He fights until Pompey is murdered in Egypt. As Rome is “shattered,” Julius Caesar one person should rule. He
This was because he was too weak to go get the power he craved. This characteristic prevented him from reaping the benefits of his expertly crafted conspiracy. Cassius was and intelligent man, which is why he was able to think of profound ideas such as the conspiracy. His brains were what Caesar feared most about him (1.2 204-205). Cassius’ smarts were to be feared, but he did not have any other strong qualities.
Julius Caesar was not a powerful leader. Julius Caesar was always wanting help from other people. Caesar thought he was a good leader but nobody liked him. He was always using other people to do his jobs, and he needed others to pick him up because he was not strong enough to do the job by himself. Caesar was only liked by very few people because of the stuff he did.
And because of this, pride was his tragic flaw. Julius Caesar was idolized for his charisma and power by all of Rome, and this angered his associates, especially Cassius. Cassius talked shamefully about Caesar’s fame and glory to Brutus, and persuaded him to be against Caesar. He
As Cassius retells the story of Caesar’s moment of weakness, he explains his feelings of betrayal and being left behind be Caesar. He feels as though all the support given from him to Caesar has been completely disregarded. Cassius
Cassius, up to the end of the play, was very aware of his fate and took the largest strides to overcome that. This is due to the fact that Cassius followed the Epicurean philosophy, which believes that the gods do not involve themselves directly in the fate of man. This belief was highlighted when he told Brutus “Men at some time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our starts, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (I. ii. 139-141). Because of this belief, he never resigned himself to live in the world in its current state. He always felt that there was something he could do to better his standing in life. This diligent effort to better himself led Caesar to comment “such men as he…are very dangerous” (I. ii. 209-210). Cassius’ role in the play was using his free will to overcome the fate that would come true, the fate that Caesar was one day going to become emperor. Because he was so driven by the desire to overcome this fate, he was
Specifically, Caesar’s problem was that his arrogance made the men closest to him feel threatened, mad and jealous. Caesar acted like he was better than everyone else, and he made others feel insignificant, even though they were great and noble also. “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men /Walk under his huge legs and peep about/ To find ourselves dishonorable graves.” (I.ii.135-138) Cassius feels like he shouldn’t have to feel so small next to Caesar, and Caesar thinks he is better than everyone. Caesar talks to everyone like they are nothing compared to him, and he talks about himself as though he could never be questioned, which is basically a dictatorship. Rome was a Republic and the idea that one man could rule it as a king was a threat. Cassius points out, “When could they say (till now) that talked of Rome, that her wide walks encompassed but one man” (I.ii.154-155). This is a reference to the fact that Rome should never be a dictatorship, but a democracy. This is the point that convinces some of the men to move against him. They feel they had to do it to protect Rome. Additionally, Caesar acted so
Cassius, an envious and ambitious man, did not approve of what Caesar was doing as ruler and believed