Julius Caesar Friendship

In modern society, a friend is portrayed as “a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard”. Throughout the play, Julius Caesar, the characters view friendship in completely different ways. The friendships are tested when the conspirators make the decision to kill a prominent leader in Rome. As a result, some are very loyal, while others don’t view friendship as a very important aspect in life. When the conspirators are faced with the decision of whether or not to kill Caesar, their true personalities come alive and their friendships are questioned. In many situations, their conflicts result in tragedy and relationships are destroyed. In the play, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, he shows diversity in the friendships

The relationship between Julius Caesar and Brutus is one that shows betrayal, resulting in a weak friendship. Even though Brutus was a loyal friend to Caesar, his loyalty to Rome was more important. In a conversation with Cassius, Brutus says, “I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king” (Shakespeare1.2.80). This quote simply shows that Brutus doesn’t think Caesar has the qualities of being a good king. Brutus’ worried tone during this time helps to show how much more important Rome and its people are to him. A true friend wouldn’t be apprehensive of his friend’s capabilities; instead they would be happy for them and be a great supporter. Sadly, because this was not the case for Brutus, he joined with the other conspirators and stabbed Caesar to death. After killing his friend and washing his hands in his blood, he defends his actions by stating, "If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of

Initially, it is Cassius who definitely seems in control and able to manipulate Brutus, exploiting his fears of the potential dangers of Caesar's ever-increasing power for his own purposes. Cassius wants Brutus on the side of the conspirators, as he is a respected and well-renowned person. Therefore, Cassius made use of the naivety and innocence of Brutus for his own purposes, using such lines as the following quote to exaggerate Caesar's power and the danger that might come from that power, “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves” (Shakespeare 3.2. 135-138). This line deliberately over-emphasizes the power of Caesar by comparing him to the Colossus, an ancient wonder of the world, a massive statue that towered over everybody. Against such power, everybody else is made to feel tiny and undersized by comparison. With such lines, Cassius is able to win Brutus over to his cause. However, Cassius does not hold the reins of power throughout the whole play, as after this, he defers to the judgment of Brutus in a number of key decisions that prove to be fatal for both him and the conspirators. The first of this is the decision to not kill Mark Antony, which Cassius tries to arrange. He is silent when Brutus insists that Mark Antony is left alive,