be a characteristic of a god. ‘Yet if my name were liable to fear.’ With these
words Caesar describes himself as a man that knows no fear. This is another
way in which he displayed tyrannical instincts. Caesar also ignores the
soothsayers warning. In a way this helps to prove Brutus’ latter comment that
Caesar wouldn’t listen if he had power. Even with no power Caesar is ready to
ignore people, not listen and do as he pleases. These are typical characteristics
of a tyrant. It also makes him seem more invincible in the way that he doesn’t
need anyone else’s help.
Caesar also turns away the help of two other characters Calphurnia and
Artemidorus. In act 2 scene 2 Caesar is warned not to go to the senate by his
wife Calphurnia after she has a bad dream which she thinks is a bad omen. At
first Caesar pays no attention. He claims that he is more dangerous than danger
itself. In saying this he is making himself sound god like and better than the
ordinary. Caesar also makes another comment in this scene in an attempt to
make him sound God like. Calphurnia is sure her dream plus other strange
happenings in Rome can only mean disaster. Caesar however, arrogantly
believes that in ‘The face of Caesar, they (these threatening things) are
vanished’. I think that this can be seen as tyrannical behaviour.
However, another side to Caesar’s habit for not listening and ignoring people
can make him seem non tyrannical. In act 3 scene 1 at the senate where Caesar
ignores the warning from Artemidorus Caesar speaks the words, ‘What touches
us ourself shall be last served’. In saying this Caesar is indicating that whatever
circumstances that will affect him shall be dealt with last. This means that he is
not worrying for himself but for what may be concern for others. In other
words it seems as if Caesar is concerned with the fate of Rome, not himself.
This behaviour is not typical of a tyrant and consequently gives evidence that
Caesar did not have tyrannical instincts.
Furthermore the speeches of other characters also provide evidence for Caesar
having tyrannical instincts. Words from Cassius in act 1 scene 2 also help give
evidence that Caesar looks upon himself as better than the people of Rome. ‘
Like a Collosus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves’ With this Cassius is saying how
Caesar has become like collosus which was a huge statue and how the
insignificant men wander beneath his legs searching for dishonourable graves.
This means that he sees himself as better than ordinary men. In argument to
this it can be said that when Cassius said this he was trying to persuade Brutus
to help himself and the conspirators kill Caesar. On top of this Cassius also
showed signs of jealousy towards Caesar. Consequently it is possible that this
source of evidence has been exaggerated by Cassius in order to achieve a better
result.
Brutus makes the decision that Caesar must die because his ambition is too
dangerous. In act 2 scene 1 he describes how once Caesar has control he will
not listening and will abuse his power. Brutus gets this across to the audience
with a metaphor. He describes Caesar as a serpent in a shell. Unhatched he is
harmless but as soon he is hatched he will become mischievous. Although this
evidence gives good proof that Caesar had tyrannical instincts and only wanted
power it must be realised that Brutus said this. This means that it is based on
Brutus’ opinion of Caesar and could not be entirely true. It could just be
Brutus’ justification for killing Caesar. On the other hand it is made clear that
for this reason Caesar had to be killed. As Brutus felt so sure about this then it
could be seen as quite genuine evidence for Caesar being tyrannical. It can also
be argued that Brutus was right in saying that Caesar doesn’t listen. This is
proved countless times by Caesar when he turns away other characters’ words
of help.
Another way in which Caesar shows his tyrannical instincts is in act 2 scene 2.
In this scene Caesar has been persuaded by his wife not to go to the senate.
However, when Decius arrives he tells Caesar that the senate are going to offer
him the crown. On hearing this Caesar changes his mind and decides to go to
the senate. The way in which Caesar changed his mind on the mention that he
would be crowned proves that he wanted the crown and that he want control of
Rome.
After Caesar’s death his will is read out to a crowd of people by Mark Anthony
in Act 3 Scene 2. The content of this will is quite strange as it gives reason for
Caesar not having tyrannical instincts. In the will it is revealed that Caesar has
left 75 drachmas to each person of Rome and that he has given his private
gardens to the people. This can be viewed as strange as it wouldn’t be the
normal behaviour of a tyrant. However, it could also be argued that it wouldn’t
of mattered to Caesar what was in his will. By giving away money and his
gardens doesn’t mean that he wasn’t a tyrant because it wouldn’t of affected
him as he would’ve been dead. The content of the will would have no affected
on Caesar’s hold on Rome. It is possible that the will could have been a way to
enhance his image and popularity after his death.
It can be seen that throughout much of the first half of the play Caesar himself
and other characters give evidence of how he shows tyrannical and non
tyrannical instincts. Despite the fact that Caesar does display non tyrannical
instincts I think that the evidence for him being tyrannical far outweighs the
evidence against. I think that the scene where Caesar denies the crown three
times and then faints is one of the best examples of how he wanted the crown.
The way in which he was constantly building himself up as a better person than
everyone else also shows me his tyrannical instincts. Consequently I think they
Brutus’ decision was right and that Caesar had tyrannical instincts which
demonstrated in the play.
