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Misused Of Power In Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar
Having a lot of power could corrupt people and turn them into bad. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare illustrates Julius Caesar, a successful general and politician, is assassinated by a group of conspirators who feared his growing power. In the play, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare explores the theme of misused power through the characters Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, and finally through Cassius.

The author portrays the theme of misused power through the character Julius Caesar. He is a character admired and loved by the people of Rome. In the play, people see him as a good leader and a Roman general who has done much for Rome. However, Caesar’s desire for power blinded him to the danger around him. The soothsayer warns Caesar to …show more content…

He is portrayed as a loyal follower of Caesar. During Caesar’s funeral, Anthony uses his position of power to manipulate the people of Rome and turn them against the conspirators by giving a speech. He used Caesar’s will to manipulate them. Mark Anthony tells Lepidus, “But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house; Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine How to cut off some charge in legacies” (Shakespeare 4.1.9-11). This quote by Mark Antony to Lepidus is saying how he wanted to find a way to reduce Caesar’s gift to the people so he could keep it. This quote shows that Mark Antony got selfish after manipulating the people to turn against the conspirators. After Antony gains more power, he orders to kill several innocent people, such as Cicero and works to sabotage the power of Brutus and the other conspirators. Antony states, “These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked” (Shakespeare 4.1.1-2). In this scene, Antony is ordering Lepidus to create a list of people who are not fully supporting them so they can kill them. This indicates that Antony is willing to sacrifice innocent lives to achieve his goals. This reveals that his misuse of power led to violence and fear in Rome. His actions ultimately led to a civil war. Antony’s misuse of power can be seen through his manipulation of the Roman people, his desire to change Caesar’s will, and his cruel

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The opening scene serves as way of foreshadowing the events of the play by placing the power within the hands of the people. Shakespeare does so by dedicating a whole scene to individuals who collectively become the catalyst of the shift in Roman leadership in the play. Not known to both the reader and the characters involved in the scene, but their opinionated banter on whether or not to celebrate Caesar is one of the central themes in the play. Similar to other history plays like Richard II and Henry VI, Julius Caesar showcases the dilemma that war brings and the divisions of opinions by the public. The dilemma lies in the juxtaposition of what is good for the individual against what is good for the nation state.

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(III.ii.26­-28) In this sense, it shows that Brutus cares about Caesar, but when it seems to be affecting the country he loves, he will take any measures to stop it. As one standing in the midst of the crowd, it would appear through logic that Brutus did not kill Caesar out of anything personal, but rather he was slain to prevent a dominating ruler from forming. On the other hand, Antony takes the very words that defended Brutus, and makes them his downfall. Antony brings the plebeians back to the time where," I thrice presented him a kingly crown,/which he did thrice refuse.

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By refusing to read the will several times and admitting that what it contains will cause the people to have such a great love for Caesar that knowing he is now dead will be unbearable, Antony ignites curiosity in the people and furthermore, a subconscious feeling of respect and graciousness toward Caesar. Basically, Antony uses Caesar’s will to convince the people that Caesar was a selfless, kind-hearted man and those who killed him should be ashamed and punished for killing an innocent man. Through Antony’s use of paralipsis, he is able to plant a seed of admiration for Caesar and one of hate for the conspirators in the hearts of the plebeians. In his speech to the citizens, Antony also asks many rhetorical questions to cause his audience to pause and reflect on how they really feel, or how Antony wants them to feel, about certain people and events that have recently become important. In one instance.

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He is stating that he is willing to lose his life for the sake of Rome’s. He is putting is loyalty for his country above his friendship. Antony has a different view on a way to gain over the audience. He is reading a fake will to the people that states that Caesar has given money and land to every person, he is making the audience feel guilty. By making the people feel guilty he is going to have them go on his side.

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And, sure, he is an honorable man.” Here, Antony is inquiring the civil men with questions leading to obvious answers whether or not the actions that Caesar has performed was him being selfish or just him being considerate. This quote highlights that the civilians start to realize that Brutus deceived them when he declared that the reason they killed Caesar was because he was doing it in honor of his country, but when Antony announces well known facts about the consideration he took with the Romans, it shows that he cared very deeply about them. The Romans comprehend the lies that had been told to them, so they started to riot by killing the Congressmen involved in the conspiracy. Accordingly, Antony shows the Romans the obvious truth that had been in front of them this whole time, so they’re able to understand that Caesar has been there for them this entire

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