The Folly Of Humanity In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

There are numerous moments throughout the play Julius Caesar that illustrates the folly of humanity. Without it, none of the play would have even been possible. From getting Brutus on the conspirators side, to Cassius’ original plot to kill Caesar, this nature is what made the foundation for the story. From the human urge to seek revenge, to the mind’s tendency to change its opinion on a matter, these traits are the two that set the stage for the fall of Caesar.

Throughout the course of the play, Julius Caesar, we are introduced to many instances of the folly of humanity. One of which is revenge. Revenge is ugly and messy, it has no bounds of where it’ll stop. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, his right hand man, Mark Antony, speaks

Then burst his mighty heart, And in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell. O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourished over us. O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel The dint of pity — these are gracious drops. Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here! Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors” (Shakespeare 3.2.178-193). Mark Antony completely turned the people against the conspirators. To the people, they were nothing more than murderers. They had killed Caesar and deserved to be punished. Mark manipulated the people into doing his dirty work for him. As the people were parading the streets, marching towards Brutus’ house, with torches and Caesar’s body, Mark Antony said, “Now let it work! Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt” (Shakespeare 3.2.253-254a). We saw his true intentions in this line, Mark Antony overall had used the situation to his advantage. That cunningness, that ambition for revenge, is what made not only him, but the mob human as well. But what made the mob work in his favor was their ability to be easily swayed and

The shock of Caesar’s demise was what ultimately led to the mob. The mob was human because of their emotions and their ability to be easily swayed in either direction. When Brutus had finished his speech, originally, the plebeians were saying things like he should be the new Caesar or to give him a statue. The mob saw Brutus as such an honorable man, one who should be trusted. But as soon as they saw Caesar and heard Mark Antony’s speech, they were so easily swayed that they were going to burn down Brutus’ home. “Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live!” (Shakespeare 3.2.198-199a). The crowd instantly became enraged, not believing such an atrocity could have ever happened. They all immediately took the body and went to destroy Brutus’ home. They were human because just a moment ago they were praising Brutus, but now they all were in favor of killing him. They were easily swayed and without this human trait, Mark’s plan would have failed. Overall, only their humanity made this entire plan possible, from their ability to seek revenge, to their tendency to be easily swayed, that’s the true genius behind this