The assassination of Julius Caesar was probably one of those few moments that
literally changed the course of history. Many historians agree that Caesar might
have been just another military dictator such as the generals Sulla and Marius, who
are, in comparison with Caesar, unknown; a successful general, but incompetent at
reforming the Roman res publica1 .
The assassination of the title character is also the central moment in Shakespeare’s
drama “Julius Caesar“. His death causes the change of scene (away from Rome)
and the change from a relatively stable res publica to civil war. The play presents
the major protagonists of these events: Casca, Cassius, Brutus, Caesar, Marc
Antony and, to a lesser degree, the Roman public.
The Roman people are a background before which the main characters act and by
whomthey (i.e. the people) are manipulated more or less successfully. The reasons
the assassins and their antagonists have, pretend to have or do not have for what
they do become apparent in what they tell the man-in-the-street. Occasionally,
when we hear them talk to a close friend or to themselves, we find matters are not
as simple as the public is made to believe. Brutus has doubts about the attack,
Cassius‘ aim is not the welfare of the res publica, Marc Antony fakes friendship
with the conspirators.
We see that there are certain political as well as moral ambiguities in the
assassination of Julius Caesar as Shakespeare presents it. In this paper, we will first
look at the Roman people as the background, then examine the character and
motives of Casca, Cassius and finally Brutus. [...]
1 I use the expression “res publica“ because its English equivalent, the “common-wealth“, has
other connotations; I also tried to avoid the word “state“.
Table of Contents
1. The turning-point (of a dagger)
2. The Roman public
3. Casca – a member of the conspiracy
4. Cassius – mastermind of the conspiracy
5. Brutus – figurehead of the conspiracy
6. Marc Antony vs Brutus – the speeches in 3.2
7. The failure of the conspiracy
Objectives and Key Themes
This academic paper examines the moral and political ambiguities surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar as presented in William Shakespeare's drama, focusing on the character motivations of the conspirators and the fickleness of the Roman public.
- Analysis of the Roman public as a manipulatable background force.
- Character study of the key conspirators: Casca, Cassius, and Brutus.
- Evaluation of the rhetoric and relative effectiveness of the funeral orations by Brutus and Marc Antony.
- Exploration of the role of political anachronism and idealism in the conspiracy's failure.
- Insights into the 2001 Royal Shakespeare Company production regarding audience involvement.
Excerpt from the Book
1. The turning - point (of a dagger)
The assassination of Julius Caesar was probably one of those few moments that literally changed the course of history. Many historians agree that Caesar might have been just another military dictator such as the generals Sulla and Marius, who are, in comparison with Caesar, unknown; a successful general, but incompetent at reforming the Roman res publica.
The assassination of the title character is also the central moment in Shakespeare’s drama “Julius Caesar“. His death causes the change of scene (away from Rome) and the change from a relatively stable res publica to civil war. The play presents the major protagonists of these events: Casca, Cassius, Brutus, Caesar, Marc Antony and, to a lesser degree, the Roman public.
The Roman people are a background before which the main characters act and by whom they (i.e. the people) are manipulated more or less successfully. The reasons the assassins and their antagonists have, pretend to have or do not have for what they do become apparent in what they tell the man-in-the-street. Occasionally, when we hear them talk to a close friend or to themselves, we find matters are not as simple as the public is made to believe. Brutus has doubts about the attack, Cassius‘ aim is not the welfare of the res publica, Marc Antony fakes friendship with the conspirators.
We see that there are certain political as well as moral ambiguities in the assassination of Julius Caesar as Shakespeare presents it. In this paper, we will first look at the Roman people as the background, then examine the character and motives of Casca, Cassius and finally Brutus.
Chapter Summaries
1. The turning-point (of a dagger): Introduces the historical and dramatic significance of Caesar's assassination and outlines the paper's approach to analyzing the major characters and the public.
2. The Roman public: Examines the fickleness of the Roman populace and their vulnerability to manipulation by political figures.
3. Casca – a member of the conspiracy: Analyzes Casca's cautious nature and the lack of a clear personal motive beyond a general grudge against Caesar.
4. Cassius – mastermind of the conspiracy: Explores Cassius's subversive and manipulative character, driven largely by envy and a desire for supreme power.
5. Brutus – figurehead of the conspiracy: Discusses Brutus's idealistic commitment to the Roman republic and the tragic disconnect between his moral values and the political reality.
6. Marc Antony vs Brutus – the speeches in 3.2: Compares the rhetorical strategies of the funeral orations and explains why Marc Antony’s speech ultimately proves more successful in inciting the public.
7. The failure of the conspiracy: Concludes that the conspiracy failed because it was driven by anachronistic idealism and lacked genuine support from the Roman people.
Keywords
Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare, Roman Republic, Assassination, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Marc Antony, Rhetoric, Political Manipulation, Moral Ambiguity, Conspiracy, The Roman Public, Stoicism, Royal Shakespeare Company.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the moral and political complexities of the assassination of Julius Caesar, analyzing how the conspirators' motivations and the behavior of the Roman public lead to the failure of the plot.
Who are the central characters analyzed in the work?
The study centers on the character profiles of the three conspirators—Casca, Cassius, and Brutus—as well as the role of the Roman public and Marc Antony.
What is the author's argument regarding the conspiracy's failure?
The author argues that the conspiracy was doomed because it was motivated by anachronistic ideals and could not secure the lasting support of a fickle public that was easily swayed by political rhetoric.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a close literary analysis of Shakespeare's text, supplemented by insights from a 2001 stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company to discuss the effects of the performance on the audience.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body investigates the background of the Roman public, the psychological profiles of the conspirators, and a detailed rhetorical comparison of the funeral speeches given by Brutus and Marc Antony.
Which keywords define this academic work?
Key terms include Julius Caesar, political manipulation, rhetoric, Brutus, Cassius, and the inherent fickleness of the public as portrayed by Shakespeare.
How does the 2001 Stratford production influence the author's perspective?
The production's decision to integrate the audience as "Roman citizens" provides a practical, real-time example of how effectively Marc Antony manipulates public opinion.
Why does the author consider Brutus an "anachronism"?
Brutus is labeled an anachronism because his political beliefs and values correspond to an earlier era of the Roman Republic that no longer exists in the time the play is set.
What is the significance of the comparison between Cassius and Aeneas?
The author highlights this comparison to show how Cassius attempts to elevate his own status by framing himself as a heroic rescuer, revealing his envy toward Caesar's divine-like popularity.
- Quote paper
- Martin Klinkhardt (Author), 2001, "Remember March, the Ides of March remember" - Moral and political ambiguities of the assassination of Julius Caesar, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/25505
