Literary scholars have debated for centuries about the question of who exactly is the protagonist of this play. The seemingly simple answer to this question would be Julius Caesar himself—after all, the play is named after him, and the events of the play all relate to him. However, Caesar only appears in three scenes (four if the ghost is included), hence apparently making him an unlikely choice for the protagonist who is supposed to be the main character. Meanwhile, Brutus, who is in the play much more often than Caesar (and actually lasts until the final scene), is not the title character of the play and is listed not only after Caesar but after the entire triumvirate and some senators who barely appear in the play. Determining the protagonist is one of the many engaging issues presented in the play.
The play begins in Rome in 44 B.C. on the Feast of Lupercal, in honor of the god Pan. Caesar has become the most powerful man in the Roman Republic and is eager to become king. When Caesar turns to hear the voice “Shriller than all the music”, these prophetic words are now immediately dismissed by Casca as the words of a “dreamer” and the procession continues along its way. This is another effective technique used by Shakespeare as it is almost like the long-slow-road to doom for Caesar.
In this scene, Shakespeare uses dramatic events to suggest what could happen later on in the play. The example we come to is foreshadowing, where the unknown soothsayer comes to Caesar and tells him to “Beware the Ides of March”. This builds up tension as the readers receive the feeling that something important could happen on the 15th of March. This is supported by the fact that in stories like these, it is usually the most unlikely character to hold the key to what is to come; in this case, the Soothsayer. Another case of foreshadowing is in act two, scene two where Calphurnia wakes up Caesar after awakening from a terrible nightmare. She tells Caesar, “You shall not stir out of your house today”, which means that she wants Caesar to stay at home as she thinks her dream foretells doom. Calphurnia succeeds in convincing Caesar not to go to the Capitol on the “ides of March”, which is tomorrow. However her plans are shattered when Decius Brutus arrives and persuades Caesar to go to the Capitol, as he should not be scared of his wife’s superstitions. The use of foreshadowing is clever in this scene as it gives us a subtle hint of what might happen in the play.
In act 3, Caesar arrogantly tells the soothsayer that today is the “ides of March”, but the soothsayer replies, “the day is not over yet…”. Shakespeare builds up tension in the minds of the readers as we wait if Caesar will live or die. Artemidorus nearly warns Caesar but Decius Brutus prevents this. Popilius wishes the conspirators good luck, scaring them that Caesar may already know their plans. For me, the next scene is the tensest and dramatic scene in the whole play as it is presented in the most meticulous manner. The language is straightforward and the characters are intensed. Shakespeare builds suspense as the readers are waiting to see what happens next. Metellus Cimber petitions to Caesar to lift his brother’s banishment. Caesar refuses and as a result, the conspirators kill Julius Caesar.
Literary devices are used by Shakespeare to make the action more clear and to collapse the actual historical time between scenes and acts. For example, the historical event that took place in act 1 scene 1 is the defeat by Caesar of Pompey’s son at Munda, Spain, in September 54BC. Afterwards, we have the celebration of Caesar’s triumph in February 44BC, and finally, his assassination in March 44BC. However, all these scenes happen in the first three acts without any time passing.
Another effective use of language is the description of Lipedius and the no mention of sex. This way, the teachers can effectively teach the language and explore the characters and partners without any embarrassment.
In terms of imagery, the first part of Act 1 Scene 3, where Shakespeare uses and provides a detailed analysis of the principle image patterns in Julius Caesar. For example, the storm and its supernatural elements, blood and fire. In addition, Shakespeare goes on to show how each set of images portray contradictory meanings which adds to the ambiguity of the play. For example, to the sounds of thunder and lightening, Cicero appears wondering why Casca should be so breathless and staring at him so much. Casca now explains why, describing "scolding winds", an "ambitious ocean swell " with "rage and foam," and "threatening clouds:", all suggesting in Cassius' words either "civil strife in heaven,", "Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction" this suggesting that Caesar's actions are causing strife in nature, a widely held belief at the time to be proof that something must be wrong.
After the killing of Caesar takes place, Antony, Caesar’s close advisor, confronts the conspirators. He cordially shakes their hand, which they think is a symbol of agreement between the conspirators and Antony. However Antony shakes their hand as a sign that he will take revenge for what they did. Antony tells Brutus that he wants to speak in Caesar’s funeral, and after Brutus has a discussion with Cassius, he gives permission for Antony to speak during the funeral. Both Brutus and Antony speak in the funeral in hopes of persuading the people to agree with their reasoning on Caesar’s murder. Even though both characters’ speeches have an effect on the citizens, Antony’s speech appeals to the people’s emotions and persuades them against the conspirators.
The first person to speak in the funeral is Brutus. He tries to explain to the people that killing Caesar is only going to help the people of Rome. He tries to appeal to the citizens’ reason and national pride. He explains his reasons and is straightforward. For example in his speech he says, “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer- not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Brutus clearly states to the citizen’s that he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. Brutus is indeed persuasive, but not as persuasive as Antony. When Antony speaks to the people of Rome, he tries to appeal to their emotions. His speech is more powerful than Brutus’s because he appeals to their emotions and not to their reason. This is seen in his speech when he says, “If you have tears prepare to shed them now.” From his use of words, he is able to alter the citizens’ opinion. Both of the characters had an effect on the people.
Antony expresses his personal beliefs while speaking, which greatly influences the citizens. Brutus was able to have some effect on the people because his logic and reasoning appealed to them. However, Antony doesn’t affect the people just with his speech, but he also uses examples to show the people that Caesar’s death was immoral and unjust. For example, in the play he shows the citizens Caesar’s body and says, “For Brutus as you know was Caesar’s angel, Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!” This convinces the people that Brutus is an evil person because he killed Caesar. Antony tells the people how much Caesar loved them when he says,” When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.” This indeed appeals to their emotions. In addition, when Antony speaks to the people he uses reverse psychology and is manipulative. He mentions that Caesar’s will somehow benefit the people; however he doesn’t tell the people what’s written in it. By using reverse psychology, Antony is able to achieve his main goal- a revolt against the conspirators. Antony makes the people feel sadness and pain towards Caesar’s murder while Brutus just convinces the people that the murder was moral and necessary.
This in fact shows that the people agree with Antony, and they will soon turn against Brutus and the other conspirators. Both Brutus and Antony were able to persuade the people of Rome with their speeches. Brutus’s logic ultimately failed. Antony, however, appealed to the citizens’ emotions. The manner in which he presented his speech persuaded the people to go against the conspirators that killed Caesar.
The plot, the symbolism entwined, and the diversity and roles of each character play a very important part to the effect the play has. If these three characteristics are not included in a story or play, I do not understand the full context, nor am I interested in it. Overall, I find that these three are the most important characteristics of good literature, and "Julius Caesar" clearly contained them all. Not surprisingly, Caesar's death is avenged in the end, with the two of the conspirators' double suicide.
As superstition is inter-twined within the basis of the entire play, we can reasonably conclude that it is because of this irrational belief of why certain events occur and how to avoid them, that Caesar is retired and eventually avenged. In the words of Caesar's devoted follower and Companion Mark Antony, "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to the world, 'This was a man!'" Julius Caesar had changed the nature of the Roman Empire, he had swept away the old, corrupt system of the late Roman republic and had set an example to future Roman emperors as well as other future European leaders to live up to.
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