Caesar's Convoluted Character In De Bello Gallico

As an individual, Caesar exhibits various qualities that illuminate his convoluted character. He shows generosity, passion, ambition, and many more. Moreover, in his book, De Bello Gallico, Caesar writes in a manner that reflects his personal traits. As seen with his depiction of Orgetorix, Caesar interweaves events that occurred in his own life into Orgetorix’s endurance. Thus, Caesar portrays his own qualities through the character of Orgetorix. To begin, both Caesar and Orgetorix hold leadership skills that give them honor in society. Moreover, at Rome, “Caesar won a great and brilliant popularity by his eloquence as an advocate…increasing political influence in consequence of his lavish hospitality” (Plutarch 2). As a result of his outstanding

Additionally, the formations of these triumvirates display their similar mindsets. Moreover, at a council, “Pompey and Crassus were to be elected consuls for the ensuing year and Caesar was to have money voted him” (Plutarch 11). Here, the triumvirate has started to take form as each member - Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar - join for their own benefits and primarily, for individual power in the future. Later, this triumvirate backstabs Caesar when Pompey wages war and ends Caesar’s short-lived power. Similarly, Orgetorix forms a triumvirate, In eo itinere persuadet Castico…itemque Dumnorigi Aeduo (On the journey he persuaded Casticus… and in like manner (he persuaded) Dumnorix Aeduus (1.3.10-14)). Here, Orgetorix forms a triumvirate with Casticus and Dumnorix for the chief reason of power. Orgetorix ends up in a similar situation as Caesar when he is betrayed and dies early, terminating his supremacy. It seems as if Caesar purposefully depicts the triumvirate in Orgetorix’s life to emphasize this decision that he made in his own lifetime. Based on their similar mindset, with respect to their greedy objective in forming triumvirates, the audience see that both Caesar and Orgetorix have corruptive aims in holding

In the beginning of the readings, the audience seems to have the impression that Caesar and Orgetorix appear to be good leaders. However, later, they realize that Caesar and Orgetorix are merely led by an incentive of extreme sovereignty. For example, Caesar tried to ally with Pompey through his own child, “This daughter he betrothed to Pompey…Cato vehemently protested…that it was intolerable to have the supreme power prostituted by marriage alliances and to see men helping one another to powers…by means of women” (Plutarch 7). Here, Caesar uses his own daughter to ally and eventually, to gain potency. As Cato properly thinks, it is absolutely unjust to use women as marriage alliances. Further, this alliance shows the dishonor within Caesar as he shows no care towards Julia, his own daughter. Similarly, Orgetorix tried to ally with Dumnorix, eique filiam suam in matrimonium dat (and he gave his own daughter in marriage to him (1.3.16-17)). Like Caesar, Orgetorix uses his own daughter for the sole purpose of alliance and power. He does not stop to think about what his daughter has to say about this marriage alliance. Although these matrimonial alliances were common back then, they are wrongful acts in today’s society. In this way, the corruptive aims of power within Caesar and Orgetorix develop into an utter obsession of power. Hence, these events mark the arduous corruption that Caesar and