Julius Caesar

             In Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" there are events and characters that are developed in such a way that the audience is left to question the ideals of nobility and honour in politics. It is put forward that "things are not always as they appear." One example of this is the character Mark Antony, who, at the beginning, is underestimated as a shallow,menial citizen by a contemporary, Brutus, but by the end, Brutus is proven wrong. Shakespeare presents a gradual, astute revelation of Mark Antony's character in "Julius Caesar."
             "Julius Caesar" begins with a triumph in Rome. Caesar has been offered the crown, is elevated to an almost godlike status in Roman society, and continues to rise. Cassius concocts a conspiracy to murder Caesar. Amongst others, "the honourable man" Brutus joins him, of no selfish reason, but in order to save the Roman Republic. Mark Antony turns public opinion against these conspirators after Caesar's death. The state is divided, and they end up fighting at Philippi. Consequentially, Mark Antony emerges the victor, no longer "spaniel fawning" after the suicides of both Brutus and Cassius.
             This seemingly subservient Antony is introduced to the audience for the first time by the side of Caesar's rather inflated ego. He says very little, and when he does utter, the audience is given the impression that he his merely speaking for the reassurance or benefit of Caesar, as opposed to the open self-expression of the other characters in the scene; "Fear him not, Caesar, he's not dangerous. He is a noble Roman, and well given." (referring to Cassius, act I, sc. ii.) Brutus is a man who trusts his first impressions of Antony; "for Antony, is but a limb of Caesar." (Act II, Sc.i) This is clearly an attempt to depersonalise Antony on Brutus' part, a "limb" being ineffectual when severed from the body, i...

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Julius Caesar. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 01:30, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/72596.html