“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. ”- Ralph Waldo Emerson. Oftentimes, people set goals for themselves to accomplish. These goals creates great desire and ambition which fuels all actions. However, when the ambition in question becomes the individual’s sole focus, the outcomes can be negative, both for the individual, as well as for surrounding parties. The excessive ambition and desire of characters in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, leads to their downfall. Characters such as Cassius Longinus, Marcus Brutus and Julius Caesar obsess over the end goal without care of how they get there and the consequences that follow.
Cassius Longinus’ love for Rome is his sole focus, and when this focus becomes excessive, it impairs his judgment resulting in his downfall. When Caesar returns from the battle against Gaius Pompey, Cassius becomes aware of Caesar’s desire of becoming King. With the intention of saving Rome from the disaster Caesar may cause, he begins to lead a conspiracy against him. He
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In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus has a great love for his city, Rome, like no other man. He wants great things for his city and is not willing to let anyone lead Rome into misfortune. With this intention, when Julius Caesar becomes king, Brutus is not pleased. He believes Rome will suffer under the commands of Caesar. Therefore, without consideration of the possible consequences, his ambitions and desires for the good of Rome drives him to take the life of his own best friend. Patently, this leads Marcus Brutus to battle against Mark Antony and Octavius, in which he ultimately dies. For the simple reason that he lets ambition and desires overshadow his good purpose, he has to pay the price through his own