Julius Caesar 2 Essay, Research Paper

Who s The Noblest of the Main Characters in Julius Caesar?

When attempting to get a read on all the characters of the play Julius

Caesar and which one has the smallest flaws you need to look at each

character and evaluate them individually. You have to consider if Aristotle

would consider them noble or not. You have to decipher if the characters are

being noble for the right reasons. You have to also look at which characters

exhibit positive virtues and which ones don t. Aristotle says, virtue or

excellence is a characteristic involving choice, and that it consists in

observing the mean relative to us, a mean which is defined by a rationale

principal, such as a man of practical wisdom would use to determine it. It is

the mean by reference to the two vices: the once of excess and the other of

deficiency. It is, moreover, a mean because some vices exceed and fall short

of what is required in emotion and in action, whereas virtue finds and chooses

a median. Hence in respect of it s essence and definition of its essential

nature virtue is a mean, but in regard to goodness and excellence it is an

extreme (Aristotle 1107a, 1-8). None of the main characters are truly noble

or virtuous but no one really is. Of all the main characters I find that Brutus

has the least amount of flaws. But he too is not deficient of flaws. In order to

prove my point I will give reasons why some of the other characters cannot

be considered the noblest of them all.

The almighty, egotistical and borderline arrogant Julius Caesar had his

flaws. Caesar proved to be deficient in fear while also exhibiting excessive

courage. In attempting to prove how courageous he was, Caesar wanted to

prove a point to Cassuis by jumping into the flooded Tiber river. Caesar said

to Cassuis, Dar st thou, Cassuis, now Leap in with me into this angry flood,

And swim to yonder point(Shakespeare, 1.2-102-104)? After they jumped

into the water a dismayed Cassius describes what happens next, Upon the

word, Accout red as I was, I plunged in And bode him follow: so indeed he

did. The torrent roared, and we did buffet it with lusty sinews, throwing it

aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy. But eve we could arrive

the. point proposed, Caesar cried Help me Cassuis or I sink(Shakespeare

1.2, 104-111)! Cassius then saved his life. Caesars whole point of jumping

into the raging flood was to prove how courageous he was, but he was nearly

killed for his reckless behavior. Aristotle would say, there is no name that

describes a man who exceeds in fearlessness – many virtues and vices have

no name; but a man who exceeds in confidence is reckless (Aristotle 1107b).

If Aristotle were Roman at this time he would be more than a tad leery of

having Caesar as leader due to his reckless behavior. A reckless leader

would be characterized basically the same way as an Ignorant soldier. Caesar

sure acted like he could tame the flooded Tiber River, but once he realized he

made a great mistake he called for help. After studying Caesar it actually

surprised me that he would actually belittle himself and call for assistance in a

near death situation. I find it funny in reading the play further that Caesar is

threatened by Cassius now, this man has one large male ego working against

him. If I were to categorize Caesar according to Aristotle s definitions of the

various types of soldiers I would say without a doubt that he resemble an

ignorant soldier the most. Aristotle defines the term ignorant soldier as

people who act in ignorance of their danger give the impression of being

courageous. …..Once the ignorant realize, however, that the situation is not

what they suspected it was, they are deceived and run away (Aristotle, 1117a

20-25). As I already mentioned Caesar is fearful of his lean, athletic body.

Caesar says Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men, and

such as sleep a-nights, Yond Cassuis has a lean and hungry look: He thinks

too much: such men are dangerous (Shakespeare 1.2, 192-195). Caesar is

clearly fearful of Cassuis, but when Antony reassures him not to be fearful he

quickly shot back, But I fear him not. Yet if my name were liable to fear I

do not know the man I shall avoid (Shakespeare 1.2, 198-200). Sounds

kinda like Caesar is reassuring himself and others around him that he is way

too mighty to be fearful of anyone. Once again Caesar is acting with excess

confidence, he truly believes Cassius is a threat to him, we all know Cassius

is a threat, but he will not let others around him know he is fearful of

anything. His recklessness and overconfidence finally got the best of him

though. He truly believes he s invincible and that fear itself should terrified

of the all-worldly Julius Caesar. When his wife, Calphurnia, urges him to

stay in because she had these premonitions of his death and demise and that

there s danger out there for him Caesar rebuked, The gods do this in shame

of cowardice: Caesar should be a beast without a heart if he should stay at

home today for fear, no, Caesar shall not; Danger knows full well that Caesar

is more dangerous than he. We are two lions littered in one day, And I the

elder and more terrible, And Caesar shall go forth (Shakespeare 2.2, 40-47).

Caesar is highly attracted to honor and being courageous he s almost

obsessed with it. Its almost like he s going out of his way to keep his

reputation for being a fearless warrior. Aristotle would say, the more we are

naturally attracted to anything the more opposed to the median does this thing

appear to be (1109a 10-15). I would say that Caesar is way past the median

as far confidence and courage go.

Antony is not without his flaws as well and isn t the noblest Roman of

them all. His speech to the crown incites a riot and thus kills many of people.

Antony also seems to be very selfish in giving out the money that Caesar

proposed in his will. Antony says, But Lepidus, go you to Caesars house:

Fetch the will nither, and we shall determine How to cut some change in

legacies (Shakespeare 4.1 6-9). I feel that Antony s rule will be marked by

extreme tyranny, much worse than Caesars rule. He has shown he doesn t

have much compassion for the lives of people nor does he seem to want to

give out too large a share of money to the people. He seems very self

indulgent. Aristotle says, a man who revels in every pleasure and abstains

from none becomes self indulgent while he who avoids every pleasure like a

boor becomes what might be called insensitive. Thus we see self control and

courage are destroyed by excess and by defiancy and are preserved by the

mean (Aristotle, 1104a 23-27). Antony seems already to be very self

indulgent and there s no way a self indulgent person should be considered the

noblest of them all.

The last character I will mention and the one who I feel is the noblest

of them all is Brutus. None of the characters I mentioned earlier is truly

virtuous and neither is Brutus. But, the thing that sets Brutus apart from the

others is that his deficiencies are minimal compared to Caesar and Antony.

His major flaw is that he loves the name of honor more than anything. He

reaffirms my belief when he was talking to Cassius about what the people

would say if he was to dethrone Caesar. ……..What is it that you would

impart to me? If it aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye and

death I the Other, And I will look at both indifferently; For let the gods so

speed me, as I love the name of honor more than I fear death (Shakespeare

1.2 85). This isn t necessarily a terrible thing though. Brutus, doesn t care if

the people choose Caesar and his is killed for it, he is more concerned about

the honor that will bestow his name for dying for what he believed to be the

right thing.

While Caesar best exemplified the ignorant soldier, I believe that

Brutus resembles the citizen soldier the most. The citizen soldier is a soldier

who fights for the honor that may bestow him. They will stand there till the

very bitter end. Aristotle says of citizen soldiers, they stand their ground

and die. For citizens, flight is disgraceful and death preferable to saving ones

life on these terms(Aristotle, 1116b 17-20). Why do they stand their ground?

They do so for honor, which is much better than the other traits many soldiers

exhibit. Brutus also shows how much his honor means to him, and what

others think of him when he is talking to Cassius about what would happen if

they lost this battle against Antony and his army. No, Cassius, no; think not,

thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome he bears too

great a mind. But this same day Must end that work the ides of March begun;

And whether we shall meet again I know not. Therefore our everlasting

farewell take. Forever, and forever, farewell Cassius! if we do meet again,

why we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well

made (Shakespeare 5.2, 110). Brutus was having a terrible time dealing with

the thought that Antony would take him prisoner and parade through the

streets using him as a trophy, thus giving Antony triumph in this battle. He

has let it be know that he will either win this battle or die honorably. He

decided that then and there he would rather kill himself for the sake of honor

rather than be a medal for Antony. This takes courage to knowingly die for

something you believe to be just. Brutus knew that he would be a prisoner

and would die at the hands of Antony anyhow, so he thought it would be

more honorable to die fighting for the end of tyranny, which Antony surely

would have kept as the rule of Rome. I believe that he is thinking that the

people of Rome will look at him after he is dead as a true hero. A man who

decided to end his life rather than live in a tyrannical rule. Brutus states, I

shall have glory by this loosing day More than Octavius and Mark Antony by

this vile conquest shall attain unto (Shakespeare 5.5, 36).

Brutus did everything he did for what he believed was the best for all

of Rome. He didn t like the tyranny rule that Caesar had maintained. He

decided he would take the chance that the people would accept his decision

to take the life of Caesar to end tyranny. His big mishap was to let Antony

speak at the funeral. If he hadn t let him do that everything would have been

fine. He trusted the word of Antony too great. As I have stated Brutus was

with flaws, but his flaws are lesser to the others I have discussed. Caesar

was a egotistical ruler who let the power of his throne get to his head. I

believe that he truly sensed danger but he didn t want to let others know he

had fears. Antony was basically a clone to Caesar, he would have probably

kept the tyranny as the rule. He showed signs of being extremely greedy

when he wanted to change the will. As for Brutus, I think he should have

died fighting for what he believed in, but he was fearful he wouldn t die. His

only drawback was that he coveted honor so. If Aristotle had to choose who

he wanted as a ruler I am very confident he would choose Brutus, as he is

closer to being a truly noble man than the others.