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Internal And External Conflicts In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

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William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Julius Caesar, is built around the conflict among a group of conspirators and the person they are conspiring against. Julius Caesar tells the story of the assassination and downfall of an influential leader in Ancient Rome, named Julius Caesar, and the people who are responsible for his death. The story depicts the conflicts that arise between the conspirators prior to Ceasar’s death. Shakespeare develops plot through internal and external conflict to illustrate Brutus’ clash between responsibility and personal morals. When it comes to internal struggles, Brutus is torn. From a personal perspective, he loves Caesar. and values his friendship. Also, Caesar has always been forgiving and friendly to Brutus. …show more content…

There is conflict between Brutus and Cassius, based on their differences in relationship with Caesar. Brutus, is attempting to make decisions based on what he believes will be the best for his family reputation, and the Republic, whilst not hurting Caesar at the same time. While, Cassius is driven by his selfish desires for power. The conspirators convince Brutus that Caesar wants to be king, which calls into question the basics and morals of the Republic. To quote the play, Caesar is "a serpent 's egg" and so he must be killed “in the shell.” The same point can be made in view of the Republic itself. Brutus feels that he needs to defend the Republic, because there is no one else to do so. Brutus also finds himself having to defend his actions to the citizens of the Republic. Brutus states in his speech at the funeral procession in honor of his dear friend turned enemy, Julius Ceasar, “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar 's, to him I say that Brutus ' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

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Should Marcus Brutus join the conspiracy against Julius Caesar? In Act II Brutus is battling an internal conflict on whether or not he should save his dear friend or potentially save the Republic from the power abuse they expect from Caesar. Marcus Brutus should join the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Caesar will be too powerful to be removed from power if they wait to assassinate him once he has been crowned, Brutus wants to follow the path of his ancestors and continue his family’s legacy and impact on Rome, and Brutus chooses the best interest of the people over his own best interest. Julius Caesar will be too powerful to be removed from power if they wait to assassinate him when he has demonstrated any abuse of power, so in order to save the Republic from the potential threat they must kill him now as he is weak and vulnerable.

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He may have defended what he did to Caesar, but he wasn't sympathetic about it. Brutus chose his loyalty to his country over his best friend and maybe what was right. Some people say that Brutus was even naive about what he did. There can be other parts of his flaw that make Brutus the dramatic character, besides what he did and who he is

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In their introductory scene a discussion is taking place about Caesar's claim to the throne. Through this discussion the audience learns a lot about Cassius and Brutus’s values . It is revealed that Brutus is an honorable man who believes in the general good of mankind. He states,  (1.2 84-89)“ What is it that you would impart to me?/ If it be aught toward the general good, / Set honour in one eye and death

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Some playwrights choose to write plays about historical events, among them there is The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a play that describes the downfall of the rule of Julius Caesar, but is also a play that is not as truthful as it first impressionably is, a complete truthful account of Julius Caesar’s assassination and the events leading up to it. In order to greater attract the audience, Shakespeare, along with other playwrights, relied on adding historical inaccuracies to add the necessary suspense. Thus, Shakespeare strayed away from historical events occurring during Caesar’s lifetime, implementing inaccuracy into the story. Shakespeare based one of his most well-known plays, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, on historical events that includes

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In Act 3 Scene 2 Brutus said during his speech, “If that friend then demands to know why Brutus turned against Caesar, this is my answer: Not because I cared for Caesar less, but because I cared for Rome more”. Brutus had courage to kill Caesar, not because he wanted to, but for the good of Rome and its people. During the entirety of the story, Brutus

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Brutus believes that Caesar will do more harm than good to the people, and reap benefits for himself. Brutus has already said this, but had said it in his own words, (II, i, 12-14). He has no clue if Caesar will use his power for the good and betterment for the people, or use it for his own needs and other

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/ I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well.” (1.2.85-86, 89). Brutus explains his fears that Caesar may love power more than Rome. Brutus loves Caesar, but would not allow him to rise to power and then turn his back on the people of Rome. What Brutus has said really goes to further prove how honorable

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(II, i, 53-55) which allows to say that he wants Rome to be just and do whatever it takes to maintain it away from any threat. Indeed, Brutus states this very clearly when he says, “If it’s for the good of all Romans, I’d do it even if it meant my death. Let the gods give me good luck only as long as I love honor more than I fear death.” (I, ii, 86-88), he explicitly says that the good of the majority is over any feeling or personal benefit which in this case is the love of Caesar for him and viceversa, and the throne. To conclude, Brutus is a complex character that is characterized by three recurrent traits: his well-intention, his hypocrisy, and his naivet.

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Brutus was a lifetime friend of Caesar 's that was deceived by a man that feared tyranny to betray Caesars trust and become an accomplice to his murder. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.” (III, II, 21-22). Brutus loved Rome more than Caesar and he

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Proving a Tragic Hero A character who makes a judgement or error that inevitably leads to his or her own destruction, defines a tragic hero, according to Aristotle. In William Shakespeare’s writings, one character generally identifies as a tragic hero. Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, comes from the true events that took place in Rome during the time that Caesar rose and gained power as dictator. After Pompey’s death in Egypt; caused by each of their power-hungry desires, Caesar declared himself dictator of Rome.

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Julius Caesar, is a play based on the true events that occurred in Roman history. The play follows the fictional lives of Caesar and his people leading up to, and after his assassination. Several characters can be labeled as both villainous and heroic at different points in the play due to their actions, however, this does not apply to the character of Marcus Junius Brutus, who remains a hero through the entire play. Brutus is a hero for several reasons, The first reason Brutus is considered to be a hero is because he continuously stands up for what he believes in. Secondly, it is clear that Brutus is a hero because he kills himself as a sacrifice to the roman public.

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Brutus is without a doubt the most noble character in this play. Nonetheless, his impeccable sense of morality also blindfolds him to other people’s sordid motives and makes him easy to be manipulated. Indeed, Brutus is easily manipulated by Cassius in Act 1, Scene 2. In hope to convince Brutus to join the conspirators, Cassius says “Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (1.2.150-152). As a result, Brutus starts to believes that it is his job to murder Caesar, as he says in Act 2, Scene 1: “It must be by his death: and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general” (2.1.14-16).

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Brutus’ words emphasize his devotion to his country above Caesar. He is exceptionally passionate about his beloved Rome, trumping his love for Caesar. As another example of his allegiance, Brutus says, “Brutus had rather be a villager/ Than to repute himself a son of Rome/ Under these hard conditions as this time.” (1.2.181-183) In essence, this quote implies that the depths of Brutus’ loyalty for Rome is fathomless enough to make him utterly selfless and give up his power for the sake of Rome. His righteous philosophy has strengthened his loyalty to his country, developing his selflessness.

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In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a tragedy, William Shakespeare creates facades for the historical figures he uses as characters. Although the audience knows the disguises for most characters, they have no choice but to watch them fail. The decline of powerful politicians makes this play a tragedy. In order to remain strong to the citizens of Rome and their enemies, Cassius, Caesar and Antony put up facades to mask their motives.

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He is losing all of his honorable traits, including the ones he earned in his political position as senator, by going against his fellow senator, Caesar. This affects the work as a whole because of the themes of the play, ambition, and conflict, have a strong impact on what Shakespeare is ultimately trying to express between the main characters. Ambition has an effect on the plot because Caesar is a very ambitious man. This alone and the numerous letters Brutus has been receiving leads him to think that he is no good for Rome, Caesar’s ambition worries Brutus. Cassius is a man of great ambition also.

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