Monthly Archives: November 2015

The Walking Shakespeare: A Comparison of Main Characters

by Kristin Lynch (Circle 1)

Julius Caesar is a play that presents a competition between two forms of government. Caesar represents the monarch way of doing things and Brutus and his crew represent the democratic way of deciding the fate of the people. As I got two know each character throughout acts 1-4 I began to analyze each man’s character and characteristics of leadership roles. I could not help but to draw parallels between these two men’s leadership characteristics and that of Shane and Rick from AMC’s hit show The Walking Dead. Two men; one no better than the other. Both have faced violence and war. Both see each other as a brother or close friends. Both have very different ideas about what is best for the people.

Shane like Caesar is viewed by the people as more then capable to rule. He appears just as modest as he needs to and has kept them safe so far so, he must be a great ruler. Both Caesar and Shane consider themselves more valuable than any other person and are said to become irrational and feared when given positions of power.  Both characters make decisions with personal intent and to subtlety manipulate the people in to thinking they are genuinely modest. Like when Shane went crazy and broke the chain on the barn (because he was mad). But, made it look like he was just oh so eager to protect the people. Comparatively Caesar pushed the crown aside in front of a crowed three times, appearing to be thinking about what is best for the people. But, clearly thinks he would be the best to rule; he refers to himself as something like a god. Both characters will go to great lengths to save face and prove their leadership. For example, Caesar trusts his wife when she tells him not to go to the capital. However, he ignores his wife’s prophesy to prove his capability of receiving the crown. Both characters become a target as soon as some of the people closer to their environment start to catch on to how fake they are. One by one, the group of high ranked folks in both Shake spears play and the TV series see the men as completely arrogant and weekend from power. At the moment of death for each character we see a very calm approach to their extinction. Rick slowly removes his gun and starts handing it over to Shane as a way of manipulating Shane in to thinking he can trust him while obtaining a position to kill. The conspirators do the exact same. The men (except Brutus) kneel down in front of Caesar and plead for the release of someone. It is then, when the heads of men without brains are the biggest they are the weakest. Both Caesar and Shane are stabbed by a friend for the greater good.

The parallels between Brutus and Rick are also pretty cool to explore. Brutus and Rick know how they truly feel about their hot headed friend, but they wait for other friends to bring it up to them before they start making plans to do something about it. These characters are ultimately pushed to the point of killing for the greater good, but they don’t want to at fist. Rick has to (kill) now that he sees Shane for as violent as he feared anyone would become. Brutus feels he has to (kill) because he knows what Caesar is capable of and has to make a move before he gets the crown and possibly does something stupid. Both Rick and Brutus are known for being honorable and it is ultimately their honor (Caesars to Rome/the people, Ricks to Lori/the people) that causes them to kill not in cold blood but in sacrifice to assure fairness for everyone. Brutus tells Antony in Act3 Scene1, “Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him, Have thus proceeded”. This line pin points the emotions of Ricks and Brutus’s  character so well. These men are not killers. They loved their friend, but he was corrupt. As Brutus puts it something like I love Rome more, Rick says something like I killed my best friend for you people!

Continuing our Discussion on Monarchy versus Republic

by Andrea Stowell (Circle 2)

Yesterday in class we all had the opportunity to discuss in our small groups whether we think the type of government in Julius Caesar is a monarchy or republic. I know that my group in particular had a hard time agreeing on an answer as we all had different opinions. Although both sides could be easily argued and I am still not 100% confident with my answer, I would say that it is a monarchy rather than republic solely based on the rhetoric used throughout the play. Within my blog I will clearly side with the idea of the government being a monarchy, but if necessary, will counter my notion and make sure to recognize both sides. The purpose of this blog is to further the discussion of the question asked in class yesterday and to provide reasoning as to why I am convinced it is more so a monarchy rather than republic. Feel free to agree or disagree, as I am interested to see what others have to say!

From the beginning of the play certain characters demonstrate powerful authority. Antony makes Caesar’s authority clear by saying, “I shall remember: When Caesar says ‘Do this’, it is performed” (1.2. 11-12). The reason people had such negative opinions about him was because he was so controlling and gaining too much power. If this was not a problem he would not have been such a threat and maybe not even killed. A republic is form of government in which supreme power is held by the people and has an elected president or leader. Why would the people choose Caesar if they were afraid of him? To counter this idea one could easily argue that he became greedy and changed over time, but I still believe something could have been done to prevent this from happening. Regardless of what happened before his death, Caesar was still feared based on his fast rise of unpopular power.

After watching Antony perform his oration it confirmed my personal opinion of the government being a monarchy over republic and is perfect evidence to support this idea. Before Antony gave his speech Brutus spoke to the crowd of people and convinced them that Caesar’s death was a good thing and that they should all happy it is over with. It does not take much to persuade them, which backfires on him once Antony is given the chance to speak. Antony knows exactly what he is saying and what needs to be said to get the crowd to be on his side. When reading the play it did not occur to me that he was being tricky, but after watching it, it could not have been more obvious. He was also sneaky by flaunting Caesar’s will knowing it would reel everyone in. I view this part of the play to be Antony’s way of controlling the people of Rome without them thinking anything of it. They might think they have their own opinions and are in control of everything when in reality Antony is.

The Power and Paranoia of the People

by John Weaver (Circle 4)

Just from reading the first two acts of the play, it’s already easy to see just how much power the normal people/citizens in Julius Caesar can potentially have. Within the first scene of the play, small hints are given in the form of Flavius and Murellus scolding “mechanicals” and their lack of proper work attire simply because Caesar has returned from the successful defeat of Pompey, which Flavius is disgusted by. “And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now strew flowers in his way that comes in triumph of Pompey’s blood” (1.1 46-50)? In Flavius’ eyes, this is only made worse of an insult when it is discovered that Caesar’s supporters have been adorning his statues with imperial crowns, implying that they want him as a monarch, to which Flavius is quick to tell Murellus, “Disrobe the images if you do find them decked with ceremonies” (1.1 63-64).

No one is more concerned about the people of Rome than Cassius who tries to understand the logic behind why they would be so quick to create an exalted and god like figure in Caesar when he is just an ordinary man that required the help of another, being Cassius himself.  “But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!” Ay, as Aeneas our great ancestor did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder the old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber did I tried Caesar (1.2. 112-127). Cassius also laments or at least points out the fact that despite what he did for Caesar, Caesar is the one to rise up to obtain power, despite how he was the one saved. “And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature, and must bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him (1.2. 117-120). While not directly aimed at the people of Rome, it is important to note that Cassius is attempting to understand how they could let someone who needed to be rescued to be the one who will rule them all.

Most scathing and important of all of Cassius’ logic directed towards the people of Rome comes in his convincing of Casca to join his cause against Caesar when he says “Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf but that he sees the Romans are but sheep. He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome. What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves for the base matter to illuminate so a vile a thing as Caesar” (1.3. 103-110). Compare this sort of mentality seen with Richard III where a want to be ruler has to actively win the people over who are to some degree do not fully trust Richard and do not afford him much power to a sheep like mentality that Cassius describes leaves the people clamoring for a strong leader that they will follow without question and even if Caesar did not start out a tyrant with those types of factors around him, it would only be a matter of time.