Corruption: The Story of Representative Democracies
Julius Caesar, Shakespeare’s play about that arrogant Roman guy who almost became emperor, or more formally known as, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. That’s right, he dies in the middle of the book. But, what lead to his death, was it greed, the work of some so-called vigilante, or even some oversized egos? The answer is D, all of the above. In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, he criticises representative democracies by displaying severe corruption and for not acting the best interest of the people.
In Representative democracies, or republics, like the U.S. and Ancient Rome, officials make decisions representing their group. But, the reality presents quite a quandary. In Julius Caesar, the elected officials are virtually all noblemen, like Antony and Brutus, of affluent backgrounds and sometimes questionable moral compass. They 're not exactly peers of the poor and those enslaved, who have no say in the elections. Shakespeare first questions the severe corruption that occurs in the inner circles of the government, out of the public’s view. Casca, who seems to be cold politician says, “O, he sits high in all the people 's hearts,/And that which would appear offense in us.” To him, there is to be a balance between deception and honor, which politicians have to expertly maintain. “His countenance, like richest alchemy,/ Will change to virtue and to worthiness” (1.3.162-165). They act under the notion that people