What Is Lincoln's Claim Of Power In Julius Caesar

Abraham Lincoln once proclaimed “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” One important term in Lincoln’s statement is stand, which means to endure a test without being effected. Another significant part of Lincoln’s statement is the word test, which means to exhibit one’s capabilities by putting them under strain. In entirety, Lincoln is saying that in order to see one’s true personality and limits, give them power. Moreover, in his statement, Lincoln insinuates that when one is presented with power they often change for the worse. Lastly, when analyzing William Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln’s assertion can be proven true through Shakespeare’s use of Brutus’s characterization and how he becomes dishonorable when given power.

For example, Cassius presents Brutus with the power to choose whether or not to join the conspiracy. Cassius convinces Brutus to join his efforts to kill Julius Caesar at the Forum during the footrace for the feast of Lupercal (I.ii.56-178). This clearly manifests Brutus becoming dishonorable because he decides to murder one of his friends because Cassius sways him into thinking he would rise to power. Before Cassius convinces him, Brutus was Caesar’s friend and never considers killing Caesar or deems Caesar as ambitious. This impacts the tragedy because Shakespeare includes the theme in the play that power changes people to a lesser quality than they were before; when Brutus has power he goes from being high quality and honorable to low quality and dishonorable. The portrayal of Brutus reveals that the Lens is true because Shakespeare shows that he becomes power-hungry when he is given the power to