Decision Making In Julius Caesar Essay, Research Paper

Making the right decisions is an ongoing struggle for man, because making decisions is never easy, and the wrong decision can lead to endless perils. Decisions must be made when dealing with power, loyalty, and trust. Yet, unlike other decisions, ones that are about these three fields are the most important, due to the risk involved, and because of the consequences that might follow. Power- power is the complete domination of others, and since all men want to dominate those around them, power is valued as one of the most important possessions.

Power is highly sought after, thus the correct decisions must be made to obtain it, and this is clearly proven by Shakespeare?s ?Julius Caesar?. Power is obtained much easier than it is kept. ?Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!? The conspirators celebrate the death of Caesar, because they believe that they make the right decision in killing him, and so far they have, but the decision to spare Mark Antony is one that will haunt them in the end. Power is not always beneficial, it can be a very dangerous possession. ?You shall not stir out of your house today.? Calphurnia makes the decision to persuade Caesar to stay home, and not go to the Senate meeting. When one has power, there are those who want it, like Brutus and the other conspirators. Calphurnia makes the right decision, yet Caesar makes the wrong one by deciding to go anyway, and thus he seals his own fate. Lastly, power disturbs a man?s normal thought process. ?No, Cassius, no.? Brutus makes the decision to ignore Cassius? ideas, time and time again. This is because of his quest for power, it blocks his normal thought process, and sense of reasoning, causing him to make irrational decisions. The two characters with the most power, Brutus and Caesar, do not make very wise decisions, and that is why neither of them survive. Loyalty goes hand-in-hand with power, and one that has trouble balancing his power is sure to have problems with loyalty.

Loyalty is one of the feelings that is used the most in Shakespeare?s ?Julius Caesar?, this is shown by the numerous people that are loyal to either Caesar or Brutus. Having followers that are 100 percent loyal is imperative. ?When Caesar says ?Do this,? it is performed.? Caesar?s decision to recognize Antony?s loyalty is very wise, since it will be Antony who eventually avenges Caesar?s death. People can change who they are loyal to in a brief instant. ?Live, Brutus, live, live!? The citizens of Rome are angry with Brutus for killing Caesar, but after a short speech they have forgotten about Caesar, and are now praising Brutus. Brutus? decision to let Antony speak last is a costly one, he should have realized how vulnerable the crowd is, and that they are easily influenced. Loyalty must be kept on the correct level for it to be useful. ?Good night, my lord.? Cassius? shows loyalty to Brutus, yet unlike Antony he does not take his loyalty to extremes. Loyalty must be kept on an ind

ividual basis or the followers can turn into mindless zombies, doing whatever their leader says, no matter how pointless. Loyalty is essential to a leader?s rule yet how he handles loyalty makes all the difference. Trust is another belief that is demonstrated fully in ?Julius Caesar?.

Trust is very similar to loyalty, but it also has its own characteristics, and consequences, which make it a totally different belief. Who one trusts in imperative. ?Et tu, Brute?? Caesar trusts Brutus and this turns out to result in his death. This is very much like loyalty, one must be sure in deciding who to place his trust in. Yet, unlike loyalty, trust is a gamble. ?Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar.? Caesar also trusts Antony and that is a very smart decision, since Antonty will never take advantage of him, and he will also avenge his death. Lastly, trust resembles loyalty in one final way, it can be taken away very quickly. ? O mighty Caesar, dost thou lie so low??. Brutus? decision to kill Caesar results in Antony losing his trust in him. Brutus should have thought about this, for he will never regain Antony?s trust. Trust must be valued as a great possession, so often trust is taken for granted and is only missed when peril is imminent.

In the course of man?s life he will have to make many decisions, and some will decide his future. Power, loyalty, and trust, are essential, yet obtaining them is only the beginning, managing them is a much harder task. For one to succeed he must realize how much power is beneficial and how much is dangerous. Loyalty helps one?s cause immensely, yet one must not take the loyalty of his followers to the extreme. Trust is one of the most important assets a man can have, he must be careful, and not take it for granted. Man must always be prepared for these times when a decision must be made, because, as seen in Shakespeare?s ?Julius Caesar?, one irrational decision can be man?s last.