GCSE: Julius Caesar
- Marked by Teachers essays 6
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The Gender Transformation of Caesar
5 star(s)Call it my fear." (2.2.50). Caesar agrees to this arrangement temporarily with a veiled acknowledgment of the reality- a rhetorical question relating to the fact that he is "afeard to tell the graybeards the truth" (2.2.67). Caesar then immediately displays his weak resolution when Decius easily persuades him to reverse his earlier decision, and he proceeds to greet the senators, demonstrating another hazardous trait associated with women, inconstancy. Portia similarly behaves in accession with the low expectation of women and demonstrates "how weak a thing/ The heart of woman is!"
- Word count: 1750
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Compare Brutus and Antonys speeches in Act III Scene 2 of Julius Caesar. Analyse the dramatic effects created by Shakespeares use of language
4 star(s)Using a chiasm (repeating words in a different way) makes Brutus' words more emphatic. From line 22 onwards Brutus is explaining his reasons for killing Caesar. Brutus uses memorable sentences such as: "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." Here Brutus is stating that he did indeed care about Caesar. However, he was prepared to sacrifice Caesar's life for the benefit of Roman citizens. Brutus maintains a consistent pattern where he presents Caesar's action and then his own reaction: "As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but as he was ambitious, I slew him".
- Word count: 1218
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'Antony's use of rhetoric in Act3, Scene2 is more effective than Brutus'.
4 star(s)An example of pathos2 is,'...I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong (who you all know) are honourable men. I will not do them wrong; I rather choose, to wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, then to wrong such honourable men.' This quote in some ways appears at first glance to be pro-Brutus but the undertones are more malicious and if said in grief3, could evoke powerful emotional reactions from the audience which is one of Antony's main objectives, so to make the plebeians4 turn against the conspirators in their, and at the sight of Antony's grief.
- Word count: 1187
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How is Brutus Presented as a Tragic Hero
4 star(s)I believe this flaw to be the fact that he is too noble; this leads to naivety and allows him to be deceived by the other characters in the play to his downfall. He is na�ve of some of Cassius' true character even though he is his friend. He is also over trusting of Mark Antony which is clearly shown in act 3 scene 1 where he makes the mistake of allowing Antony to make a speech at Caesar's funeral, even though his fellow conspirators advise him otherwise: 'Brutus, a word with you.
- Word count: 1205
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"The Noblest Roman of them all." How Accurate an Assessment is this of the Character Brutus?
3 star(s)In trying to solve a problem, he had inadvertently created one and caused great unrest in Rome and the outer lying territories. So this raises the question, does Brutus deserve the title of "Noblest Roman of them all" or was he nothing more than a naive politician who replaced one corrupt system with another? Before the actual murder, Brutus was a great friend of his target and had not actually joined the conspiracy. He was in great favour with him but was starting to feel Caesar was going too far and getting too much power.
- Word count: 1312
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Why is Antony a more effective speaker than Brutus?
3 star(s)He is also very careful and manipulative with his speech as he makes sure that he is able to go on with it long enough to sway the public's opinion towards him. Antony effectively uses repetition in his speech. Constantly he mentions Brutus to be an 'honourable man.' By repeating Brutus to be honourable, as the plebeians are convinced he is, Antony is able to make it sound worthless as it begins to sound tiresome and so causes the plebeians to question Brutus nobility.
- Word count: 809
