The Loss Of Power In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Life is a series of equilibriums: chaos and order, peace and war, success and failure, life and death. These opposing forces produce a balance that delivers life to the universe. It’s no coincidence that certain actions cause eerily similar reactions. Without a doubt, “what goes around comes around,” is an accurate statement. In addition, it’s a statement William Shakespeare would certainly agree with. Julius Caesar, by Shakespeare, contains multiple scenes where power transfers from one character to another. But, the sheer number of transfers isn’t the focus of this paper. The similarity between each transfer is. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare shows that you lose power the same way you attain it. The character, Julius Caesar (Caesar), exemplifies

Shakespeare demonstrates this with the infamous stabbing scene. First, understand that Caesar is stabbed inside of the Capitol—location matters. The Capitol is both where the senate resides and where people propose petitions (3.1.11-12). Therefore, the Capitol symbolizes the public. The fact that Caesar’s bloody execution occurs in a space that’s designed to address and acknowledge the needs of the people is monumental. The location, then insinuates that Caesar is inadequate at aiding the people, and must be removed. The same public who empower Caesar, also remove his power. The public’s celebration of Caesar transforms into the public’s condemnation of Caesar. Moving along, the intimacy of Caesar’s relationship with some of the conspirators is also notable. Specifically, Brutus, who profusely praises Caesar throughout the early scenes of the play: “And, to speak truth of Caesar/I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason” (2.1.19-21). The element of intimacy is integral because intimacy is what permits the ambush. If Caesar is as suspicious of the conspirators in totality as he is of Cassius, then the opportunity to impale Caesar probably never arises. The love and celebration Caesar receives from the public dulls his senses. Caesar is no longer alert, and thus stabbed because he falsely believes the people still love and celebrate him, when they no longer do. His final words capture his surprise impeccably: “Et tu, Brute? – Then fall, Caesar!” (3.1.77). In his final moment, Caesar asks a question, however, the question is rhetorical. The following line “Then fall, Caesar,” operates as his answer. Caesar knows that the people have empowered him, which is why he acquiesces to his death—he realizes the people no longer favor him. And