The Destruction Of Virtue In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Although it is in our laws to to punish death with death, perhaps this should not be the penalty in this case. Caesar was not the perfect Senator, nor the perfect leader. His sin was that he subverted our laws. He was putting the power and influence of this body in trouble. Perhaps, it can be said that he was too powerful for his own good. Caesar could have been dictator for life. Was this what the Republic needed? He constantly undermined this Senate. When Bibulus was his co-consul, Bibulis was driven to staying at home, simply issuing edicts that the omens were unfavourable. Our laws call for two consuls, not for one to simply out power the other and become a consul on his own.
The conspirators may not have shown the best way to issue their
grievances. Maybe this deed was done to preserve the Republican system and our liberty. It can be said that the conspirators were misguided in their plans as they left other powerful officials alive. Marcus Antonius is clearly alive and can be said to now be just as powerful. He may want to have the conspirators murdered as it will help him with the people and also get rid of his rivals. Caesar had enough power to be considered a tyrant. He appointed senators and brought in people that supported him. Essentially taking away the people’s right to vote. Perhaps the murder of Julius Caesar will contribute to the common good and to the return of the old ways. The conspirators were misguided in their approach to the problem. They should have asked for a meeting within the Senate and aired out their grievances with Caesar, asked for accommodations and negotiated, in hopes that a compromise would arrive. These men risked everything for what they believed was principle and patriotism. They should not be punished in such severe ways. The real crime here is not that they killed a tyrant, it is that they were not savvy enough to develop a plan to re-establish the republic. As if they thought the gods would come down and magically fix their problems.
This obviously did not happen and instead chaos ensued. They simply thought just killing Caesar would save the republic and the Roman government. They thought that by ending the authoritative rule of Caesar, they would be letting the people be in charge of the government again. Their intentions were not those of malice, but to restore this republic to its glory days and give it back to the people. Caesar has violated our Roman ideals and our politics. His regnum (kingship), went against our laws and his murder can in some ways be seen as justified.
Perhaps the murderers should not be killed, but simply exiled for their wrongdoing.
The conspirators may not have shown the best way to issue their
grievances. Maybe this deed was done to preserve the Republican system and our liberty. It can be said that the conspirators were misguided in their plans as they left other powerful officials alive. Marcus Antonius is clearly alive and can be said to now be just as powerful. He may want to have the conspirators murdered as it will help him with the people and also get rid of his rivals. Caesar had enough power to be considered a tyrant. He appointed senators and brought in people that supported him. Essentially taking away the people’s right to vote. Perhaps the murder of Julius Caesar will contribute to the common good and to the return of the old ways. The conspirators were misguided in their approach to the problem. They should have asked for a meeting within the Senate and aired out their grievances with Caesar, asked for accommodations and negotiated, in hopes that a compromise would arrive. These men risked everything for what they believed was principle and patriotism. They should not be punished in such severe ways. The real crime here is not that they killed a tyrant, it is that they were not savvy enough to develop a plan to re-establish the republic. As if they thought the gods would come down and magically fix their problems.
This obviously did not happen and instead chaos ensued. They simply thought just killing Caesar would save the republic and the Roman government. They thought that by ending the authoritative rule of Caesar, they would be letting the people be in charge of the government again. Their intentions were not those of malice, but to restore this republic to its glory days and give it back to the people. Caesar has violated our Roman ideals and our politics. His regnum (kingship), went against our laws and his murder can in some ways be seen as justified.
Perhaps the murderers should not be killed, but simply exiled for their wrongdoing.