Theme in Shakepeare’s Julius Caesar
Mechella Davis
Thesis
In Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the central theme and idea of the play is that power corrupts and changes people and can be easily abused.
Characterization
BRUTUS
"...He would be crowned:
How that might change his nature, there's the
question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder,
[...]
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatched, would, as his kind, grow
mischievous,
And kill him in the shell...(2.1.12-15; 33-36)
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This quote paints the picture of a Caesar that will by a tyrant leader and cause Rome a lot of problems by becoming something of evil. It shows that Caesar could be a horrible person as soon as he gets power, and that it is a matter of time when Caesar is crowned and complete disaster is faced in the Republic of Rome.
Metaphor
BRUTUS
"...That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is..."
(1.2,21-27)
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This quote makes one think of a literal ladder and how the more you climb a ladder, the more difficult it is for one to be able to see beneath them. Brutus applies that to his situation with Caesar and how Caesar is metaphorically climbing a ladder in the social hierarchy, and the higher Caesar climbs, the more he wouldn't be able to see the classes beneath him and the problems they go through on a daily basis. Caesar would then be a tyrant, tearing Rome down from the inside.
Symbolism
CASSIUS
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
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Cassius tried to tell compare Caesar to Colossus, or Constantine the Great, who removed the importance of Roman gods to create a culture where Christians could feel at home. It was vastly unliked, but since Constantine was emperor, there wasn't much that could be done to change his decision, making him unpopular with the masses that still believed in the polytheistic religion. A huge statue of Constantine was build, and it was supposed to tower over Rome, showing his power, and that is what Cassius is saying; if Caesar became emperor of Rome, the regular people would be small compared to him in power and pretty much had to fall in line and watch the destruction of Caesar's path.