“I saw Marc Antony offer him a crown…and, as I told you, he put it by once. But for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time. He put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had, almost, choked Caesar; for he swounded and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air.” ( I, ii, 250-265).
When Caesar turned down the crown and did not consider himself worthy, he won respect of the people. They liked that Caesar asked for their opinion of his worthiness of the crown. Caesar’s good leadership qualities allowed him to have the respect and honor of the people. The people followed Caesar and appreciated his rule. This factor helped prepare Rome to continue on without Caesar. Caesar led Rome to success, and passed his qualities on after his rule. Caesar passed on his ambition to Marcus Brutus who wanted the best for Rome. He did what ever he thought was right, as long as it was to benefit Rome. Rome was where his true loyalty remained. Antony commented on the strength and loyalty of Brutus, “He, only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a man!’” (V, iv, 78-82). Brutus’s loyalty gave him ambition to improve Rome. Antony had Caesar’s ability to gather respect from the people. He, like Caesar, was a wonderful speaker, and drew respect from the crowd. During Antony’s speech in Act III, scene ii, Antony spoke after Caesar’s death, and drew supporters of the conspirators to his cause. He received respect and support to continue Rome’s legacy. Octavius Caesar had Caesar’s honor. He was honorable and respected by others. He was also very noble, “Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie, most like a soldier, ordered honorably.” (V, iv, 85-86) although Brutus was an enemy of Octavius, Octavius allowed Brutus’s body to lie in his tent, so in the morning, he could receive a proper burial. Caesar did a good job of preparing the future leaders of Rome to continue the legacy of Rome.
Irony plays a large role in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Ironically, both Brutus and Cassius honored Caesar before their deaths. They honored him, but killed him, then killed themselves. Caesar’s abilities were passed on into him, causing his killers to die for their deeds, as did he. One example of dramatic irony is that the audience knew Caesar’s death was coming, but because Caesar was arrogant, he did not listen to any of the warnings. Instead, Caesar ignored them, and was assassinated shortly after he claimed himself the supreme ruler until his death. Then, when he died, the conspirators bathed themselves in his blood, as Calpurnia had told would happen, but Caesar had ignored her warning, and listened to Decius instead. Situational irony is when Cassius killed himself before knowing that his friend was not being murdered by the enemy, but being accepted by his army. Caesar’s arrogance and pride got in the way of his good judgment, causing him to ignore all the warnings of his upcoming death. Also, Cassius killed himself before finding out all of the facts; he just assumed he knew what was going on. Irony helped demonstrate that leaders leave behind the strength, will and intelligence to lead, along with overall preparation to carry on.
Clearly, in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Caesar was a strong leader, and prepared Rome to continue its reign without him. Caesar’s strength as a true leader helped Rome continue to lead without him because he prepared Rome with people who had the strength and will to carry on. Caesar passed on his traits of nobility, honor, ambition, and loyalty to the future leaders of Rome. Throughout the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the statement by Walter Lippmann is proven true: “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.”
Irony plays a large role in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Ironically, both Brutus and Cassius honored Caesar before their deaths. They honored him, but killed him, then killed themselves. Caesar’s abilities were passed on into him, causing his killers to die for their deeds, as did he. One example of dramatic irony is that the audience knew Caesar’s death was coming, but because Caesar was arrogant, he did not listen to any of the warnings. Instead, Caesar ignored them, and was assassinated shortly after he claimed himself the supreme ruler until his death. Then, when he died, the conspirators bathed themselves in his blood, as Calpurnia had told would happen, but Caesar had ignored her warning, and listened to Decius instead. Situational irony is when Cassius killed himself before knowing that his friend was not being murdered by the enemy, but being accepted by his army. Caesar’s arrogance and pride got in the way of his good judgment, causing him to ignore all the warnings of his upcoming death. Also, Cassius killed himself before finding out all of the facts; he just assumed he knew what was going on. Irony helped demonstrate that leaders leave behind the strength, will and intelligence toe lead, along with overall preparation to carry on.
