How Does Shakespeare Use Metaphors In Julius Caesar

Act I, scene ii, lines 53-162 of Julius Caesar helps set the conspiracy to kill Caesar and the rest of the play into motion. Cassius attempts to convince Brutus that Caesar doesn’t deserve power because he is no stronger than them. This scene takes place around a holiday called Lupercal after Caesar has defeated Pompey and it appears that he may soon become king. Shakespeare uses metaphors, similes, and imagery to convince turn Brutus to the side of the conspiracy and prove that Caesar isn’t fit to hold power.

Metaphors are used to attempt to make Brutus more receptive to what Cassius intends to say. The speech starts out with Cassius flattering Brutus and trying to convince him he is important. When Cassius asks Brutus “Can you see your face?”

The whole point of this speech for Cassius is to convince Brutus that Caesar is too powerful and needs to be removed from power, so he makes clear how he thinks the democracy and the people are being taken over by this one man. He says Caesar “doth bestride the narrow world/ Like a Colossus” (I.ii.136/137) while they just stumble around at his feet. Brutus doesn’t appreciate that this much power is apparently going to one man, and this causes him to start considering the side of the conspirators. The honor that Cassius has already emphasized makes Brutus think that everything he does needs to be for the benefit of Rome, and by comparing Caesar to a huge statue he makes Brutus think about how Caesar is probably not good for Rome. As if putting all the power in one man’s hands isn’t enough to bring Brutus into the plot against Caesar, Cassius also shows that Caesar isn’t a good man to be in power

Cassius tells Brutus about a time at which he and Caesar were at a river and Caesar challenged him to a race. He puts in many details about the river, and then continues this when he describes how Caesar failed to make it across. He brings this up to reveal to Brutus the weakness of Caesar, as surely such a weak man could not be let take the power and decisions onto his shoulders. Cassius knows that the honor he has tried to show Brutus will not allow Brutus to let something bad for his country, even indirectly. Brutus will be compelled to do the best he can for the people who have placed their faith in him. “ 'Tis true, this god did shake;/ His coward lips did from their colour fly,” says Cassius, again reminding Brutus in just one statement that Caesar is too powerful even though he is not strong. The things Cassius says are meant to resonate with Brutus, and in the end the honor that Cassius has used against him and the growing belief that Caesar does not make a good ruler, particularly since they shouldn’t place the power in one man’s hands, convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy. Metaphors, similes, and imagery are used to convince Brutus that Caesar is not a powerful leader and someone like him needs to push Caesar out of power. This is important because it starts Brutus thinking about how they could just kill Caesar and do away with their problems. Brutus joining