Honor In Julius Caesar Research Paper

Cassius vs. Honor The definition of honor is stated as the right or just way of doing something. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, his play depicts the battle for power, how it’s correctly and incorrectly used in honor of the actions of different characters. The main antagonist is titled Caius Cassius, his own craving for power leads him to make strong, fearful statements about the protagonist, Julius Caesar. These ideas spread to his companions, who also fear Caesar’s power, and they devised a plan to put a stop to it. Shakespeare’s writing shows Cassius' manipulation of the ideas of honor in a pursuit of taking power away from Caesar through the act of execution. Before Cassius made the decision to commit the acts of murdering Caesar, he first

Cassius uses the want for honor as a way to convince Brutus that his own friend, Caesar, will use power over Rome in negative ways. In Act 1, Scene 2, whilst conversing with Brutus, Cassius speaks, “Indeed, honor is what I want to talk to you about. I don’t know what you and other men think of this life, but as for me, I’d rather not live at all than to live to worship a man as ordinary as myself.” Cassius twists the use of the word ‘honor’ to weaponize the meaning. He uses the term to state that the idea of worshiping Caesar will only lead to a deadened life. While Cassius specifically reached out to Brutus, he had many other companions that he led with him. These men had already believed the same statements, believing that Caesar coming into power would cause more harm than good. Act 2, Scene 1, just before Caesar's death, Cassius stated, “Friends, go your separate ways. But all of you, remember what you’ve said and prove yourselves true Romans.” Using the term, ‘Friends’ were to state that they were working as a team to commit an honorable action as ‘true Romans.’ Cassius purposely wanted to make Brutus and his companions believe that the act of murder was for the greater