Theme in Shakepeare’s Julius Caesar
Kane Du
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, a major theme is your closest allies can turn against you when you least expect it. The book shows many examples of this theme of friendship and betrayal from the events leading up to Caesar's assassination. The character Brutus is the prime example of the theme. Brutus was the closest to Caesar but ends up killing him in fear that Caesar will become overwhelmed with power. This is shown when Caesar says “Et Tu, Brute?”(Act III, scene i, 77), which means that Caesar thought Brutus was his loyal friend. Even though Caesar knows people may turn against him, he still had a blind eye to his senate and friend. Caesar says “I do not know the man i should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius.”(Act I, scene i, 200-201) This foreshadowing shows that Cassius will the one to kill Caesar. Even though Caesar suspects Cassius, he should not be the one to kill him since he is the senate. Cassius also convinces Brutus to betray Caesar, which shows how even strong friendships can be broken. In Brutus’s soliloquy, he says “I know no personal cause to spurn him… and kill him in the shell.”(Act II, scene ii, 11-34) It shows Brutus likes Caesar, but still ends with the decision to betray him.
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, a major theme is your closest allies can turn against you when you least expect it.
“I do not know the man i should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius.”(Act I, scene i, 200-201)
“I know no personal cause to spurn him… and kill him in the shell.”(Act II, scene ii, 11-34)