The first associations with William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are generally the main characters Caesar and Brutus and the consequent conflict between loyalty to a friend and the common good. Furthermore there are the conspirators or other important characters known from history, but there is an important “figure” which is more essential than it seems at first sight: the plebs.
A major part of the play is about Brutus´ struggle about the common good. In
fact he never puts this into concrete terms. “For the good of Rome” (JC 3.3.45) should be the same as ‘for the good of the plebeians’, since they are the biggest group of people living in Rome. What exactly Brutus meant by that stays vague. In contrast to this it is obvious that in the end the plebeians not only lose their beloved Caesar but also the most important thing in a community: peace. Cassius characterizes the plebs “sheep” (JC 1.3.105), “trash” (JC 1.3.108) and “offal” (JC 1.3.109). Nevertheless the plebs are at the same time (evident) reason for the conspiracy and reason for its failure, thus symbols of the ambiguity of the conspirators intentions. Their characteristics are crucial for the process of the tragedy.
In the following chapters I am going to characterize the plebeians on the basis of their development in the course of the play, focusing on the three scenes in which they appear and then subsequently elaborate their attributes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. "Home, You Idle Creatures"
3. Funeral of Caesar – Birth of the Mob
3.1 "Be Patient till the Last"
3.2 "You gentle Romans."
3.3 "We will be satisfied"
4. "Tear Him to Pieces"
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the characterization and development of the plebeians in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. It explores how this collective group functions as a central, albeit often overlooked, element in the political tragedy, analyzing their shifting influence and evolving nature throughout the play.
- Analysis of the initial representation of the plebeians as individual citizens.
- Examination of the psychological manipulation exerted by both Brutus and Antony.
- Investigation of the transition from organized social group to an uncontrollable mob.
- Evaluation of the plebeians' role in the downfall of the conspiracy and the onset of civil war.
- Interpretation of the murder of Cinna the poet as a climax of collective violence.
Excerpt from the Book
"Home, You Idle Creatures"
The first scene is also the first appearance of the plebs in the play. The two tribunes of the plebs Murellus and Flavius encounter certain citizens on the streets, not wearing their traditional work clothing. Instead the people seem to be on their way to an exceedingly event: Caesar's triumphal procession. A debate between these two groups rises which gives an insight into the conflicts of interest and disputes which dominate the play.
"Hence" (JC 1.1.1) is the first word in Julius Caesar and creates the mood of the whole play. It is aggressive, even inimical to the so called "commoners" (stage directions Act 1 Scene 1) and introduces the rigid social hierarchy based on the law of the jungle. Flavius outranks the plebeians, he is a tribune of the plebs, their supposed leader, that is why he thinks he has the right to address them first and in a rude way: "Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home!" (JC 1.1.1). He and Murellus clearly do not represent the will of the people in this scene but want them to go by the rules they dictate to these "naughty knave[s]" (JC 1.1.14). Oliver Arnold describes this as "the fundamental incompatibility between representational politics and the direct participation of the people in political life.", so the reader is under the impression that there is an incompatibility of interests right at the beginning of the play.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the thesis that the plebeians are an essential but neglected "figure" in the play and establishes the plan to trace their character development across three key scenes.
2. "Home, You Idle Creatures": This section examines the initial clash between the tribunes and the plebeians, highlighting the rigid social hierarchy and the emergence of political conflict.
3. Funeral of Caesar – Birth of the Mob: This chapter analyzes how the transition from organized group to a mob is facilitated through the funeral speeches of Brutus and Antony.
3.1 "Be Patient till the Last": This subsection explores Brutus's attempt to justify the assassination to the public by appealing to their sense of Roman honor and common good.
3.2 "You gentle Romans.": This subsection details how Antony successfully manipulates the crowd's emotions through repetition and rhetorical skill.
3.3 "We will be satisfied": This subsection discusses the outcome of the rhetorical battles and the shift toward chaotic mob behavior driven by a desire for a leader.
4. "Tear Him to Pieces": This chapter focuses on the climax of the plebeians' development as a destructive force through the murder of Cinna the poet.
5. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming the plebeians' role as a decisive influence that ultimately falls victim to the political vacuum left by the collapse of Roman values.
Keywords
William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Plebeians, Roman Republic, Political Rhetoric, Mob Psychology, Brutus, Antony, Social Hierarchy, Civil War, Collective Violence, Characterization, Theatre, Manipulation, Cinna.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic work?
The work provides a detailed character study of the plebeians (the common people) in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, focusing on their evolution from specific social actors to an irrational mob.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The study centers on political power dynamics, the influence of rhetoric on the masses, social class conflicts, and the transition of collective behavior in a failing political system.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that the plebeians are not merely a backdrop but a crucial force that significantly impacts the tragic trajectory of the play.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper uses a text-based analysis, examining key dialogue and character interactions across specific scenes to draw conclusions about the development of the plebeian group.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the initial encounter in Act 1, the funeral orations in Act 3, and the final escalation into violence ending in the murder of Cinna the poet.
Which keywords best characterize the analysis?
The core keywords include Julius Caesar, mob psychology, political manipulation, rhetoric, social hierarchy, and collective violence.
Why does the author focus on the murder of Cinna the poet?
The murder of Cinna is analyzed as the ultimate manifestation of the "mimesis of collective violence," marking the final descent of the mob into total irrationality and loss of individual agency.
How does the author characterize the influence of Brutus and Antony?
Brutus is described as appealing to reason and civic duty, whereas Antony is portrayed as a master manipulator who effectively sways the plebeians' emotions, ultimately leading to their radical shift in loyalty.
- Citar trabajo
- Lisa Blanke (Autor), 2012, A Characterization of the Plebs in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/264210
