Julius Caesar is a Roman Empire ruler known as a braggart as a
result of his pride and arrogance; he is a complex man with strengths and
weaknesses, overall; he is a great man who commands and receives respect from
all.
In the play, Caesar sometimes allows his pride to get in his
way, sometimes making him appear foolish. For example, after his military
victory over Pompey, he proudly rides into the city and enjoys the show of pomp
given to him. It is very clear that he definitely wants to be the next Emperor
of Rome; he comes up with a smart idea. He would like the populace to love him
like they did Pompey, so in order to get them on his side, he rejects the crown
offered him three times. Casa reports that, “… 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 he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped…” (1.2. 239-241)
In each of these rejections, he reveals that he is less reluctant. Even in the
refusals, Caesar seems pompous and false, relishing the attention that the
people give him, and glorifying his own false
humility.
Caesar’s pride made him ignore warnings that are given to him by the
Soothsayer and his wife, Calpurnia; somewhat revealing his weak character as
well as foreshadow his death. In Act I Scene 2, as Caesar passes by, the
Soothsayer calls out to him to “beware the Ides of March.” (1.2.23), but calls
him a “dreamer” and states “let us leave him. Pass,” (1.2.24) as if he is not
important. Shakespeare uses allusion to emphasize a historical fact in
Rome:
The
Ides of March is a date on the Roman calendar (Idus Martias)
corresponding with the date of March 15. It
was
a
fateful date for religious observance, and the day Caesar is killed. He also
disregards Calpurnia’s dreams, nightmares, omens of the night, and pleas for him
not to go to the Senate, when he
tells Decius “She dreamt tonight she saw my statute, Which,
like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood…(2.2.76-78 ).
He eventually dismisses these warnings because he feels that they are
superstitious. Caesar also contradicts himself when he instructs his wife to
take part in a superstitious cure for infertility; and for Antony to remember to
touch her when he states, “Forget not in your speed, Antonius, To touch
Calpurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off
their sterile curse.” (1.2.8-11). These all go to show that Caesar is so
arrogant that he believes he is infallible, thus proving he does not see his own
weakness.
When
Caesar is seen for the first time returning from his war victory, he is praised
by the multitude. Therefore, as
arrogant and prideful as Caesar may be, he is still a great man, who is very
well respected. For example, When
Caesar is seen for the first time returning from his war victory, he is praised
by the multitude. In Act I Scene I, the second Citizen tells Flavius,
“But indeed, sir,
we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.”(1.1.30-31)
Although, some people like Flavius and Marullus did not like Caesar, some other
people like the common men of Rome greatly appreciate him and rejoice over his
military strength. Shakespeare uses Act 1 Scene 1 to portray the theme of
fickleness among the commoners.
It
is very clear that Shakespeare presents Caesar as the protagonist of the play;
a great man who is arrogant and
imperfect, but who is liked by multitudes of his people.
More importantly, the entire play revolves around him. The first three acts
focus on the conspirators’ desire to get rid of him and the last two acts are a
reaction to his death. At first, he is introduced as a great, but arrogant man,
and he dies a great, but arrogant man; even the conspirators, who know his
weaknesses, acknowledge his greatness.
result of his pride and arrogance; he is a complex man with strengths and
weaknesses, overall; he is a great man who commands and receives respect from
all.
In the play, Caesar sometimes allows his pride to get in his
way, sometimes making him appear foolish. For example, after his military
victory over Pompey, he proudly rides into the city and enjoys the show of pomp
given to him. It is very clear that he definitely wants to be the next Emperor
of Rome; he comes up with a smart idea. He would like the populace to love him
like they did Pompey, so in order to get them on his side, he rejects the crown
offered him three times. Casa reports that, “… 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 he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped…” (1.2. 239-241)
In each of these rejections, he reveals that he is less reluctant. Even in the
refusals, Caesar seems pompous and false, relishing the attention that the
people give him, and glorifying his own false
humility.
Caesar’s pride made him ignore warnings that are given to him by the
Soothsayer and his wife, Calpurnia; somewhat revealing his weak character as
well as foreshadow his death. In Act I Scene 2, as Caesar passes by, the
Soothsayer calls out to him to “beware the Ides of March.” (1.2.23), but calls
him a “dreamer” and states “let us leave him. Pass,” (1.2.24) as if he is not
important. Shakespeare uses allusion to emphasize a historical fact in
Rome:
The
Ides of March is a date on the Roman calendar (Idus Martias)
corresponding with the date of March 15. It
was
a
fateful date for religious observance, and the day Caesar is killed. He also
disregards Calpurnia’s dreams, nightmares, omens of the night, and pleas for him
not to go to the Senate, when he
tells Decius “She dreamt tonight she saw my statute, Which,
like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood…(2.2.76-78 ).
He eventually dismisses these warnings because he feels that they are
superstitious. Caesar also contradicts himself when he instructs his wife to
take part in a superstitious cure for infertility; and for Antony to remember to
touch her when he states, “Forget not in your speed, Antonius, To touch
Calpurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off
their sterile curse.” (1.2.8-11). These all go to show that Caesar is so
arrogant that he believes he is infallible, thus proving he does not see his own
weakness.
When
Caesar is seen for the first time returning from his war victory, he is praised
by the multitude. Therefore, as
arrogant and prideful as Caesar may be, he is still a great man, who is very
well respected. For example, When
Caesar is seen for the first time returning from his war victory, he is praised
by the multitude. In Act I Scene I, the second Citizen tells Flavius,
“But indeed, sir,
we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.”(1.1.30-31)
Although, some people like Flavius and Marullus did not like Caesar, some other
people like the common men of Rome greatly appreciate him and rejoice over his
military strength. Shakespeare uses Act 1 Scene 1 to portray the theme of
fickleness among the commoners.
It
is very clear that Shakespeare presents Caesar as the protagonist of the play;
a great man who is arrogant and
imperfect, but who is liked by multitudes of his people.
More importantly, the entire play revolves around him. The first three acts
focus on the conspirators’ desire to get rid of him and the last two acts are a
reaction to his death. At first, he is introduced as a great, but arrogant man,
and he dies a great, but arrogant man; even the conspirators, who know his
weaknesses, acknowledge his greatness.