Julius Caesar Downfall

Throughout earthly history, only a few men have ever truly earned the title of “the greatest ruler of all time;” and, according to many people, the great Roman General Julius Caesar has earned such title. However, such title may not be all so truthful. According to William Shakespeare’s renowned play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, there may be other three individuals who could possibly compare, or even exceed, the great Roman General. Marcus Brutus, Caius Cassius, and Mark Antony are such men who could possible earn such noble title, even if they are viewed as Caesar’s infamous murderers and friends. However, Caius Cassius surpasses them all with his cunning, perceptive, and prudent manner; making him the fairest of them all. An honorable leader

Cassius’s ability to understand people’s feelings is what makes him so great at manipulating others. Although it may seem cruel of him, to take advantage of people’s feelings, it is because of his deep understanding of human psychology that he is a great strategist and philosopher. While trying to convince Brutus to join his cause, Cassius said that “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” (Shakespeare 1. 2. 139-141). What Cassius means by this observation is that the Roman people, including himself, are servile to such weak men, such as Caesar, by choice, for oneself is the only thing that can change one’s fate. However, Cassius does not encourage Brutus encouraging sentences to him out of a sheer good will, but it is, yet again, a ploy to get him to join his cause. Cassius observers the effect of his words on Brutus and use it to his advantage. As he also says to Brutus: “Well, honor is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be in awe of such a thing as I myself” (Shakespeare 1. 2. 92-96). Although it may seem a display of wounded pride, Cassius suicide threat can also be interpreted as a strategy for Brutus to once again join his cause, being that Cassius is aware of Brutus’s affection

However, that is not the case of the noble Caius Cassius. For one of Cassius most notorious trait is his prudent nature that causes men to fear him or to be, at the very least, wary of him. Caesar believes that Cassius’s is a man not to be meddled with, for he is too smart for anyone’s good, therefore a dangerous man. And a dangerous man he is, for he is the main conspirator of Caesar’s untimely death. However, Cassius is only dangerous to his enemies, considering he is an extremely cautious man and would never intentionally try to bring harm to his comrades. Cassius observes from afar and analyzes the situation to a great extent, then plans his next move that would be the most beneficial to him. For example, when the conspirators were at Brutus’s house planning Caesar’s murder Cassius suggested that they should kill Antony along with Caesar, as he says, “I think it is not meet Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him a shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means, if he improve them, may well stretch so far as to annoy us all; which to prevent, let Antony and Caesar fall together” (Shakespeare 2. 1. 155-161). Cassius suggests killing Antony along with Caesar as a safety measure against a possible insurrection after Caesar’s death. But Brutus decides against it, for he does not want