Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare talks about how the upperclassmen had more authority than the lower. Education and authority progressed for the patricians which gave them more power than the plebeians, while the plebeians sought political equality with the patricians to have the same amount of authority as them. The citizens fear the potential of one man gaining too much power, instead they would have an oligarchy. As Rome grew in size and power, the importance of the family as the central unit within Roman society began to deteriorate. With this declined, the old Roman system of education carried out the families. The new educational system began to center more on the one encountered by the Romans. A Roman student would progress through schools just as a student …show more content…
A citizen had to make a choice between his loyalty and social conscience. However, Roman women had a limited form of citizenship. They were not allowed to vote or stand for civil or public office. Women had the right to own property, to engage in business, and to obtain a divorce, but their legal rights varied over time. People probably wonder who the patricians really are, well they are rich and powerful and govern the city from the Senate. Most patricians had a family farm in the country and a number of villas in pleasant spots in central Italy or in the south. Town and country houses were beautifully built and designed for their owner’s comfort. At any time, a patrician could stand for election as a tribune, or political leader, generally one who championed the rights of the common people against the Senate. In the play, Brutus and Antony gave speeches to the civilians. “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; / I come not to bury Caesar, but to praise him.” (iii, ii, 73-74). The only reason the commoners listened to them was because they are more looked upon then the commoners and they showed respect to the