Tempest: Parallels Between Cassius And Antonio

Task 1: Cassius and Antonio
Cassius and Antonio have many parallels despite being from two different plays. Antonio and Cassius are characters who are hungry for power. Antonio is motivated by envy and drive for power. Prospero is the rightful duke of Milan, yet Antonio stole that title from his brother, Prospero. Stealing Prospero's dukedom was not enough to satisfy Antonio’s ambition. Cassius also wants power and is willing to steal power from others. His envy of Caesar drives him to steal it. Cassius’s envy is shown here: "Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world /Like a Colossus, and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs and peep about" (1.2.142-144).” (Cassius.) Antonio loves to start trouble, he convinces Sebastian to murder his brother. “Their plot against the King, their lack of remorse, & their wickedness in general characterize them as bad seeds”(Sebastian). Antonio feels no sign of remorse for his actions.
Cassius is able to convince honorable Brutus that they must kill Caesar. Cassius prides himself with this manipulation. Antonio is the exact same in the Tempest. A good example is when he is trying to convince Sebastian to kill his dad so he can seize power. But Antonio’s best use of his manipulation power is when he seized the right of dukeship of Milan. Antonio uses Alonso, the king of Naples to help carry out his overthrowing of Prospero (Temp 1.2.121-132). Though they are master manipulators, neither would have committed these actions if they did not envy the person with power. Envy is the driving force for Cassius and