ipl-logo

Julius Caesar Fate Vs Free Will

1004 Words5 Pages

Caesar Essay Fate and free will are the two aspects that seem to rule one’s life. They weave their hands into the choices that are made. The way one acts are based on these two important ideologies. Shakespeare approaches these ideas in a way that creates a dual mindset. In Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare uses his characters to argue that fate and free will are equally important ideologies that need to be prevalent in society. Fate is an important concept in Julius Caesar. William Shakespeare argues that fate is a determining factor for life and that death is predetermined. Near the start of the play, the soothsayer tells Caesar, “Beware the ides of March” (1.2.28). This is the first instance in which death is foretold. The soothsayer …show more content…

When free will and fate coexist, life becomes worth living. Shakespeare points out many times that death is foreseeable. This knowledge could destroy a person and cause them to not be able to enjoy what they have left. Caesar is an example of this idea. He was confronted by many people telling him he was going to die. He told his wife, “Cowards die many times before their deaths, / but the valiant taste of death but once. / … /It seems to me most strange that men should fear/ Seeing that death…/ Will come when it will come,” (2.2.34-39). This statement by Caesar emphasizes his view on fate. Shakespeare shows that if death is predetermined, and death is nigh, why would someone live in fear. He tells the reader that fate is what shapes life. If a fate is known, let it guide the journey, not overcome it. Free will is what makes the journey to the fate exciting. If one is valiant and able to overcome the trivial emotion of fear, their life would be very enjoyable because of their free will. Their choices put them on a path to victory. Brutus also finds this same realization, but much later in the play. Near the end of the play, Brutus is conversing with Cassius about their fate in the world. They fear they have nothing left and should just leave now. Brutus says, “But it sufficeth that the day will end, /And then the end is known,” (5.1.135-136). Brutus realizes that the end of the day will come. It is as inevitable as their fates. What one does with their days shows their character. Knowing that death will come soon is no reason to hang back and miss out on living. The truly courageous ones are the ones who make a great and honorable life for themselves, while still having a deadly prophecy hanging over their head. Free will allows one to transcend the boundaries of fate, which will be forever hovering

Show More
Related
509 Words | 3 Pages

Many people sacrifice their lives and die in the play Julius Caesar. Many of those who did not,were willing to die for their convictions. This essay will examine every catastrophe, including suicides and homicides. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste death but once. "

Read More
443 Words | 2 Pages

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet there is a predetermined destiny set for both Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare begins his play with a sonnet foreshadowing the ending. In Act 1 Scene 1 Prince Escalus’s punishment is emphasized, implying that his scolding of the feuding families will be useful later. Romeo predicts his own downfall in a dream he has.

Read More
524 Words | 3 Pages

In Romeo and Juliet, a play written by William Shakespeare in 1595, has a common theme of Free Will vs. Fate throughout the play. We see it in Act I, III, and IV of the play. It doesn’t just happen between the two main characters of Romeo and Juliet; but also Paris, the man intended to marry Juliet, Lord and Lady Capulet, and Friar Lawrence. The first clear portrayal of this theme is in Act I Scene II, when Lord Capulet is talking to Paris of marrying Juliet. This is the first time we hear of Juliet losing her free will.

Read More
882 Words | 4 Pages

In view of, Caesar becoming to ambitious, Brutus kills him. As Brutus begins to speak out at the funeral he asks,“Had you rather Caesar living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead to all free men?”(Shakespeare 42). With this

Read More
492 Words | 2 Pages

In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare both main characters Romeo and Juliet die at the end. They were warned several times over the play not to fall in love but didn't listened and that lead to them deciding on their own to kill themselves. Fate is when you can't control your future. Some may say their deaths was fates fault but this is inaccurate because they both chose to kill them selves. They chose their own destiny.

Read More
399 Words | 2 Pages

Furthermore,people have to be insightful on knowing the opportunity brought from fate. Brutus and Cassius discussed the final they faced of war with Octavian and Marcus Antonius. Cassius was nagging that that they put together their forces at Sardis. They were going to take ownership of the secure location and get some breath. The quote reveals that Brutus thinks that power was a force that ebbs and flows in time , and that one must go with the flow.

Read More
472 Words | 2 Pages

At the beginning of the story, Romeo was convinced to go to a party. However, he did not want to go, saying, “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date (Shakespeare).” Romeo knew that night would lead to his final days. This is one quote that shows the inevitable hand of fate in the play. Obviously Romeo was a very melodramatic character, and in one instance said, “My life were better ended by their hate than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love (Shakespeare).”

Read More
882 Words | 4 Pages

Though the characters in the play seem to believe and to be completely convinced that something greater, such as “fate,” is controlling them, they only choose to do so since they do not want to take responsibility for the actions they have done. Throughout the play, Shakespeare argues between fate and free will acting upon the characters. Early in the play, the chorus immediately introduces the readers to a pair of “star-crossed lovers,” who later take their lives as quoted in the Prologue. The role of fate in the play is described to the reader as a “greater power” that’s complied within the characters and that is out of their reach and already “written in the stars.”

Read More
1200 Words | 5 Pages

In “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”, Caesar’s main flaw is his arrogance and ambition, which both led to his doom. His overconfidence and self-love blinded him of the sharp thorns growing from his sides which were masked with loyalty and care. Viciously assassinated by the closest people in his heart, Julius Caesar had been known for centuries as the blind conceited man. On the other hand, loyalty conflicted Brutus, who is argued to be the protagonist of the tragedy. Although he was loyal to Caesar, he was loyal to his nation too and thought that the death of Caesar would be for the best for the nation.

Read More
1619 Words | 7 Pages

The ideas of fate and freewill have been debated on for years. Citizens of the twenty-first century often believe that life is a combination of fate and personal choices. The truth is, the question has gone through all of our minds whether we know of it or not. Are our lives predetermined or do we pave our own paths? To this day, when something goes wrong in my life, my parents often tell me “it was meant to be.”

Read More
1233 Words | 5 Pages

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves”, is a quote by the man himself, William Shakespeare, concerning human responsibility, otherwise known as the capability of completing an obligation, or duty sufficiently. These commitments or duties play a role in how a situation will play out, and dictate the consequences that follow. The choices made from the beginning to the end in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet are all examples of how people’s decisions, primarily those of Tybalt, Mercutio and Friar Lawrence, lead to a heartbreaking fallout. The pressure and burden weighing down the young lovers ultimately overwhelms them, causing an expeditious chain reaction. The influences behind each character’s ill-considered judgments,

Read More
951 Words | 4 Pages

In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare includes prophets, omens, and natural phenomenon that point to the tragic end of the three main characters: Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Writing a play based on such a well known historical event, Shakespeare’s audience would have known the outline of the events before entering the theater. Therefore, the inclusion of the omens would have served as a reminder for his audience. Though the omens suggest a sense of predetermination that would have satisfied the historical outlook of the audience, it is abundantly clear that it is the choices that those characters make that dooms them. Ultimately, Shakespeare suggests that it is the flaws of the main characters that leads

Read More
1409 Words | 6 Pages

Loyalty in “Julius Caesar” Within “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, differing types of loyalty are thoroughly dissected and debated. Loyalty is a strong feeling of allegiance. Shakespeare employs different examples of loyalty to affect his characters’ judgement and decision-making. Loyalty to friends is being faithful and devoted to an individual, whereas loyalty to one’s country is doing what is right for the well being of a country and civilians.

Read More
442 Words | 2 Pages

Fate versus free will – this is one of the many philosophies that William Shakespeare examines in Julius Caesar. There are two interesting forces, fate and free will throughout the play that are fighting for control over men. Fate was shown in the many prophecies and omens that characters viewed throughout Act II. Free will was the characters ability to overcome their fate. Shakespeare shows a delicate balance between the two forces.

Read More
1057 Words | 5 Pages

The theme of Fate vs. Free Will is dominant in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; however the theme of fate is more significant than free will. In the play both Romeo and Juliet meeting was contributed by fate as Shakespeare mentioned in the prologue that Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers that were meant to meet, fall in love and their death would be the reason for the feud to end between the two families. Fate was the reason Capulet’s servant asked Romeo and Benvolio to help him read the invitation for him that contained all the names of the people that were invited to the ball Capulet hosted. “…If you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine.

Read More

More about Julius Caesar Fate Vs Free Will

Open Document