Power Hunger in Roman Politics: Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Caesar of Julius Caesar by Shakespeare uses a third person style of voice, which leads to conspirators stabbing him due to his arrogant tone. His focus on himself also demonstrates the emphasis on climbing for power in Rome‘s politics As Caesar addresses the Senate, his reference to himself in third person gives the conspirators reason to murder him due to his pride. Caesar opens his speech by asking “what is now amiss, that Caesar and his Senate must redress?”  He suggests that he has complete power over the Senate, and that Caesar is great enough so that anything that comes to him must be of great importance His very introduction gives the conspirators an opening to have a rational feeling of dislike towards him.

Later in the passage, Caesar states that he could be “well moved, if I were youImen pleading for Publius’s release],.but I am as constant as the northern star”

With this, Caesar implies that he is no ordinary man, but one who has a sense ofjustice that will never allow his personal opinion to sway his decisions The rest of the Senate is left with growing anger, as Caesar suggests that they are weak Cassius and his men are left with justification for their plan,as Caesar proves himself much too conceited for the position of king, Caesar‘s arrogance reflects the ruthless game for power in Rome‘s politicst Regardless of his physical and mental flaws that come with every human, Caesar insists that “Caesar doth not wrong”  He explains himself to be all-knowing and always right, which foreshadows his future as a tyrant as a king of Rome, Caesar not only wants to be the king, but to be the most powerful, most reasonable ruler, with no space for arguments on his thinking or actions.

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He also tells Metellus that he will not subject himself to flattery, and would only “spurn thee like a cur out of my way”

To Caesar, people who oppose him are no issue, and are only meant to be shoved from his path. Therefore, Caesar is giving a taste of what is to come after his crowning, which motivates the conspirators to kill him before he gains too much power. His humility shown when he refuses the crown three times before his true coronation is an act, and his true colors only appear once he truly receives the crown in the Senate. Caesar degrading the people in the Senate shows his true ambition- to gain ultimate power for himself. Caesar’s use of third person motivates the conspirators to ultimately kill him as his real self is revealed. The outcome of Julius Caesar’s pride gives the audience the message that too much arrogance will lead to death, just as stupidity is also unable to avoid bad results, As we near Thanksgiving, we must all realize the value of gratefulness for what we have- if only Caesar had been satisfied with his place, perhaps he could have lead himself to a great future instead of his body being butchered by one of his best friends.