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Essay / Analysis of the character of Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare's play
The early writings of William Shakespeare aim to advance a philosophy of history. He asks how kingdoms are built and destroyed. The author approaches theater as a tool capable of elucidating key events by studying important actors. For example, Julius Caesar highlights this corruption which transformed the great senatorial government of Rome into a totalitarian empire. Its main character represents a leader who struggles between the forces of moral principles within himself and the political authority of a corrupt government. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Julius Caesar is inspired by his greatness, his victories, but has conflicts within himself. Caesar displays a benevolent side towards the Roman people, amidst the suspicions of the conspirators. It seemed that his goal was that of Rome, his wife, the people and the noble Brutus, his friend. But he struggles to choose between caring for the Roman people or marveling at the glory he has and using it for his own benefit. Caesar plunges into this glory and his pride in having such power torments him. “Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.” Julius Caesar ended up letting this fame cloud his opinions, his judgment and his morals. Such power made him dangerous for the Senate. Greed and ambition are flaws he endures because he has a lot of power while striving to stay true to himself. Julius Caesar's pride affects his ethics; he wins the favor of the Roman people to gain power. He becomes ignorant and eager for glorification. His loyalty to Brutus, his trust in the senators before him, made him vulnerable. Rome undergoes political conflicts. Julius Caesar had gained so much fame through victories that the politicians in his senate hated him. These politicians weren't too fond of the Roman commoners whom Caesar seemed to like. Two senators, Cassius and Brutus, especially wanted to end Caesar's reign and were, according to them, ambitious. “We will have to look at Caesar’s ambition / For we will shake him.” But the people saw Caesar as an alternative to government corruption in Rome. Even though he appeared to be breaking the law, Brutus's idealistic views and Cassius's jealousy pointed to extremes in ending his rule. Rome's senatorial government valued republican political norms. The people were in no way against Caesar, his senators were. For the Senate elite, a dictatorship destroyed their old traditional values; they feared Caesar. This fear leads to political instability. The corrupt government of Rome only made matters worse by trying to justify the reasons for Caesar's murder and destroying the power he could have used for Rome's glory. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayJulius Caesar is a unique character in William Shakespeare's play. The struggle between morality and authority asks whether Caesar brought good to Rome or caused the downfall of the republic, whether he was heroic or ambitious. His triumphant exploits, while exercising totalitarian control over ethnic groups, strengthened the Roman republic and his dictatorial rule converted Rome into an empire. The reign of Julius Caesar is not only considered one of the most fascinating, but rather one of the most revolutionary of his time. Works Cited: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Facts about childhood obesity. Food Research and Action Center. (2022). National School Meals Program. Excerpt from