With Close reference to Act 1-3 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, illustrate the theme of loyalty/ betrayal.

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With Close reference to Act 1-3 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, illustrate the theme of loyalty/ betrayal.

The theme of loyalty and betrayal is a recurring one in the Shakespearean play ‘Julius Caesar’. ‘Julius Caesar’ paints a vivid picture of loyalty and betrayal all the time throughout the play as it explores the dark sides of the world of politics. I will explore and show in the coming paragraphs how the theme of loyalty and betrayal is indeed an recurring theme in this play.

Firstly, in Act one Scene One, we learnt that Julius Caesar has returned to Rome after triumphing Pompey, his old alliance, and his sons in a war and the plebeians had carved out a holiday just to see him. Many examples of loyalty and betrayal can already be seen here. The most obvious will be Julius Caesar’s betrayal and, eventually, triumph over his old alliance ad arch-rival Pompey. Both of them were good friends, and had worked together before but Julius Caesar had turned the tables on Pompey and won a war that is over ‘Pompey’s Blood’. Julius Caesar betrayed his old friend, Pompey, to advance his political career in the Roman arena. This is clearly an act of betrayal.

Next, the plebeians who had been ardent supporters of Pompey, had betrayed him by rallying their support behind his one-time friend and betrayer, Julius Caesar. Marullus and Flavius showed this very clearly by stating incidents like how they ‘[climbed] to the chimney top just to see Great Pompey pass by in his chariot’ but now they ‘culled [themselves] a holiday’ over victory that was stained with Pompey’s blood. This urn of support marked the betrayal of the plebeians to Pompey, and loyalty to Caesar. The fact that they would have a holiday just to see Julius Caesar showed the extent of their servant loyalty.

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Another would be Marullus and Flavius’s loyalty towards Pompey. Although Pompey had indeed fallen under Julius Caesar and his honours had now been swept into the ways of time, Marullus and Flavius still kept their loyalty to Pompey and did not deflect to Julius Caesar’s camp at all. This properly states the loyalty towards Pompey. In Act One Scene One alone, much can already be told about the theme loyalty and betrayal.

Secondly, in Act One Scene Two, one obvious loyalty, almost reverence, would be Antony’s loyalty towards Julius Caesar. To Antony, Julius Caesar’s words were absolute, which ...

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