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Who Is Julius Caesar Admirable

Decent Essays

The characters in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are all well-developed. Some, like Brutus and Portia, are very admirable. Both of them have traits that people today strive to achieve. Other characters, like Cassius and Antony, are not as admirable. Today, there are many people with qualities like those of Cassius and Antony, but, in order to be a better place, the world needs more people like Brutus and Portia. Brutus is a patriotic man. As he explains in Act III, Scene ii, lines 21-24, he is willing to set aside his love for Caesar, his friend, to do what is best for Rome. To him, Caesar is a threat to Rome and the freedom of its people, and since Rome is more important to him, he joins the conspirators in their plot to murder Caesar. Brutus’ love for his country also earns him the respect of the other senators. They consider him noble and …show more content…

His biggest bad quality is his ability to manipulate people. Although this is a helpful quality, it is not admirable. He manipulates Brutus and the conspirators in Act III, Scene i, lines 148-230. He makes them, especially Brutus, think he is on their side and will be harmless. Thinking this is the case, Brutus lets him speak at Caesar’s funeral. Antony’s way with words helped him come out on top, but Brutus was the more admirable man. Brutus always says what he means. He never manipulates his words to say one thing but insinuate another, which is what Antony does to sway the Plebeians in Act III, Scene ii in his funeral oration. In addition to this, Antony also does not value human life like Brutus does. At the beginning of Act III, Scene i, he, along with Octavius and Lepidus, are deciding who should die. Antony does not seem phased when he agrees to his nephew’s death during this scene. On the other hand, Brutus ponders his decision to kill Caesar in Act II, Scene i, lines 10-34 even though he knew Caesar was not a good man. This makes Brutus the better of the two

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