Effects of Caesar's Rise to Power

FCAs: Charlie Boshen
Content evidence quotes, cited and explained Honors English 10
Format: English Dept. Format 4 March, 2013
Style: Vobabulary Effects of Caesar’s Rise to Power The Roman's godlike worship of Caesar threatens the prominence of the Senate. To retain his dominance Mark Antony chooses to become a close ally to him. Cassius, Brutus, and the other conspirators however, plot Caesar’s demise. In the end, Mark Antony finds high esteem and the conspirators receive banishment and death. The play is an example, or maybe even a warning, that our actions and reactions have real effects. Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Cinna, Trebonius, and Cimber respond swiftly and without thought to Caesar’s rise and pay a heavy price for it in the end. Mark Antony sees the worth in being Caesar’s friend, and their friendship benefits him when Caesar is dead. In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare the principal characters' initial reactions to Caesar’s rise affect their conclusive outcomes. Caesar took advantage of his popularity among the plebeians of Rome to declare himself the Dictator for Life. His rise causes tension between him and fellow Senators because his power completes that of the Senate. The senators are afraid that their role in the government is becoming obsolete. Brutus says in his speech defending the decision to kill Caesar, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves,/ than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (Shakespeare Caesar, III.ii. 23-24) The conspirators reason that as Caesar gaines power, they would lose theirs. His assassination is not a selfless act but Brutus argues that it benefits everyone that he is dead. Whether or not it truly helps everyone or just the Senators is questionable. Mark Antony, though, takes a different approach. Mark Antony chooses to become an ally of Caesar and ultimately succeeds in the public eye. This works for him because he not only gains Caesar’s trust but also he avoids becoming a target for further assassination. Brutus says to the other conspirators about Antony, “Our course will seem too bloody/...to cut the head off and then hack the limbs/...for Antony is but a limb of Caesar...think not of him/ for he can do no more than Caesar’s arm/ when Caesar’s head is off.” (Shakespeare Caesar, II.i. 169-190) Brutus assures Cassius, who feares Antony on account of his closeness to Caesar, that he was not to be scared of. His estimation of Mark Antony is inaccurate, however. Little known to Brutus, Antony has plans of his own that go beyond being Caesar’s pet. The conspirators, who decide to bring Caesar to an end, are shocked to find contempt and anger towards them from the populous. Mark Antony reminds the public of their love for Caesar after he was killed. After his speech, the citizens of Rome, who were previously in support of Brutus, have a sudden change of heart shouting, “They were traitors: honorable men!” (III.ii. 167) and, “They were villains, murderers...” (III.ii. 169). In a final act of rage they ransack the city of Rome and said they would, “...Burn the house of Brutus!” (III.ii. 244) Antony uses Caesar’s will to enrage the citizenry, drive the conspirators out of Rome, and eventually cause Brutus’s death. In the end, Mark Antony, who carefully selects his alliance with Caesar, gains more power than those who plot to kill his friend. Antony’s assosiation with Caesar allowes him to thrive, but Brutus’ betrayal causes him to fail. An examination of who is justified in their actions allows us to truly understand how their behavior affects their fate at the end of the play. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar allows the reader to reflect who their real friends are and ask, “Who is my Brutus? Who is my Antony?” The play teaches us to be wise of other's ambitions, aware of whom our trust is endowed, and most significantly to take everything with a grain of salt.