Julius Caesar Essay, Research Paper

All people have definite concepts of self. In different situations, one may feel short, tall, smart, slow, fast, talkative, reserved, etceteras. These self-concepts are usually very different than how others opinions of us. Depending on one’s actions, words or even tone of voice, one may misrepresent oneself and be misinterpreted. One may be so arrogant or so humble that they prevent themselves from seeing themselves through others’ eyes. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar presents himself as one being a strong, noble, and righteous man; but, thanks to his inadequate listening ability and inability to project his true motives in performing certain actions eventually brings about his tragic downfall.

Julius Caesar believed that people needed one strong ruler in order to have maximum production and proper function of a society. He believed that he possessed many, if not all, of the characteristics required of a great leader. He spoke to others in a way which he believed exhibited authority, told people why he should be the one to lead them, and thought that his own advice was best.

His unwillingness to listen to others is received as arrogance. Though already warned by the soothsayer to “beware the ides of March,” Caesar refuses to heed advice to stay home from Calpurnia, his wife, because he feels that she is trying to keep him from obtaining power and status. Calpurnia believes Caesar to be a prince and is convinced that some falling meteors are warnings of a prince’s death. When she hears her husband boast that he is more dangerous than danger itself, she recognizes that this is simple arrogance, and tells him so, saying, “Alas, my lord/ Your wisdom is consumed in confidence (Act II, scene 2).” In response to her criticism and humble petitions, Caesar momentarily agrees to pacify her. However, when he changes his mind and decides to leave against her admonitions, she reluctantly, but obediently fetches Caesar’s robe and he departs for the Senate, and his meeting with fate.

Caesar’s greatest character flaw, however, is thinking that he is far above others and somehow invincible. When he compares his own perseverance with that of the North Star, saying “But I am as constant as the northern star/Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality/there is no fellow in the firmament (Act III, Scene 1), ” he pushes the envelope too far. It is here that his murderers descend him upon. When Caesar compares himself to a heavenly body, Brutus’ fear about Caesar becoming intoxicated with power begins show truth, and his conspirators feel they must kill him. When faced with death, however, Caesar’s’ humanity is restored to him. The dying Caesar is not the egotistical and power-hungry man who has just spoken from the throne. For a moment, he is only an idealist who cherishes the noble love of a friend more than anything in the world. When he sees Brutus, whom he loves best, among his betrayers, he relinquishes his hold on the world and utters, “Then fall Caesar (Act III, scene1).”

Caesar feels that Brutus is noble to him and does the right thing, regardless of personal danger. On the Ides of March, as Caesar was assassinated, Caesar’s last line is: “Et tu, Brute?–Then fall, Caesar.”(Act 3, scene 1). This shows that Caesar would not die without Brutus’ stab. Caesar realizes that there must be a noble reason for this assassination if Brutus was in it. This again shows how much Caesar respects Brutus.

As we go through life, we must learn to be perceptive of other people’s thoughts and feelings, of not just what is going on around us, but also of their attitudes toward us. We must take time to understand why people feel about us the way they do and, if need be, make the changes which will make us better able to move productively through life. If Caesar had listened to others more, he would have continued to live a long, productive life, and not have been so susceptible to the actions and wants of others.