Julius caesar

Act 1 of Julius Caesar begins on the streets of ancient Rome during the high holiday of Lupercal. Citizens all over Rome are not only celebrating the holiday, but also celebrating Caesar’s return from Egypt. While celebrating with his fellow Romans, Caesar gets an oracular warning from a soothsayer who tells him to “Beware of the ides of March”. As Caesar is celebrating his return and impending crowning, Cassius is plotting to murder Caesar because he’s jealous and feels that Caesar is no better than him, so why should he get the crown while he has nothing. Cassius’s first step in the plot against Caesar is to try to sway Brutus away from Caesar and onto the conspirator side. He does this by playing on Brutus’s rectitude and saying that Caesar has no honor, and that when he becomes dictator he will ruin Rome. After meeting with Cassius, Brutus is still not entirely convinced about whether or not to join the conspiracy. He is conflicted (torn) by his loyalty to Caesar and the future of Rome with Caesar’s growing power. Knowing that he must do the right thing, Brutus acts prudently and informs Cassius that he will weigh his options. Cassius knows that Brutus has not been swayed to his side, so he plans to send Brutus forged letters from the people of Rome that state their love and respect for Brutus in hopes that this will show him that Caesar is not the only one loved and respected by the people.

There are many themes revealed in Julius Caesar including; Pride, Superstition and honor, but the most significant theme is manipulation. One of the many manipulation tactics used in Julius Caesar is flattery, this is apparent when Cassius tries to persuade Brutus to join the conspiracy. Cassius says to Brutus, “Where many of the best respect in Rome/Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus/And groaning underneath this age’s yoke/Have wish’s that noble Brutus had his eyes.” When Cassius says this to Brutus what he’s trying to do is stroke Brutus’s ego by telling him that the people of Rome want Brutus to be their ruler and not Caesar. Not only is he saying that the people of Rome want Brutus to be their leader, but he’s also saying that Caesar doesn’t respect him or think of him as honorable which plays on Brutus’s most treasured virtue, his honor. After Brutus leaves, Cassius knows that Brutus isn’t going to just join the conspiracy with alacrity all of a sudden, so he devises a plan to lure Brutus in. He says, “I will this night/ in several hands, in at his windows throw/ as if they came from several citizens/ writings, all tending to the great opinion/that Rome holds of his name.” What Cassius plans to do is give Brutus fake letters from the people(citizens) of Rome that beg of him to take Caesar off the throne because they want their noble, chaste, kind Brutus to rule Rome. Cassius is not only trying to ameliorate Brutus’s confidence in himself, but tear down Brutus’s respect for Caesar because Cassius knows that Brutus’s loyalty for Caesar exists partly because he believes that the people of Rome only honor and love Caesar so he proves to him that this is not so.