Free Will In Julius Caesar

Katrin Gulia-Janovskaia
Mrs. See
English I Honors Period 1
25 March 2023
Humanity in Julius Caesar William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar explores numerous themes and encompasses the essential question of what makes us human through the ideas of fate as opposed to free will and how feelings play a big role in making decisions. In this play, many people believe that since they are in control of their life, they act of their free will, however, they eventually learn that fate is inescapable. The characters also learn that people can easily be influenced by external forces to make decisions they believe are right. One of the main external forces is other people and their ability to manipulate others' feelings. The most important instance of this

An example of someone who believes in free will is Cassius because he tells Brutus that “Men at some times are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings” (1.2.146-148). As soon as Cassius sees that Caesar is a potential threat, he convinces many people to join the conspiracy. He persuades Brutus by using Roman nationalism to make Brutus believe that he will be killing Caesar for the greater good of Rome. Cassius makes Brutus believe that for fair things to happen to them, he has to do this of his own free will. Caesar also assumes that he is acting of his own free will when he is going against Calphurnia’s wishes and decides to go to the Capitol, however, this was meticulously planned out by the conspirators. Even though Caesar told Calphurnia that her fears were foolish and that he is “ashamed [he] did yield to them” (2.2.111), her fears were completely valid and ultimately foreshadowed his demise. Caesar saying this shows that he completely believed that he was making his own decisions, when in reality many different things, such as people and fate, played a huge role in his

In Julius Caesar, there are many times were characters appeal to another character to temper with their opinions and mental state. Mark Antony does this with the plebians at Caesar’s funeral when he tells them “You all did see that on Luprecal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he is an honorable man” (3.2.105-108). Antony repeatedly uses the word “honorable” and contradicts Brutus to change the opinion of the crowd by getting them to question his judgment and ultimately believe that the conspirators were wrong in killing Caesar. The moment when the opinions of the plebians were easily changed shows their humanity because a big part of their shift was their