Julius Caesar

Friends, Scholars, And Fellow-Sufferers, Lend Me Yours Ears, I Come To Criticize Mathematics, Not To Praise It. The Evils That Former Geniuses Invented, Lives After Them; The Good Is Lost In The Sands of Time; So It Is With Mathematics. The Noble Maths Teachers Have Told You, Mathematics Is Interesting, If It Were So, I Have Failed to Appreciate It- And Failing To Appreciate, Have Failed In it. Here, Under The Leave of The Principal And Teachers

For They Are All Honourable People, Come I To Speak Of The Ordeal Of Mathematics. Maths Is Complicating, Nauseating, And Frightening To Me But Our Maths Teachers Say, “It Is Interesting And Easy” And They Are Honourable Men. Many A Time we Are Given Sums Whose Complexities Did Leave Us Reeling, Does This Make It Interesting? When The Poor Students Failed, The Maths Teachers Routed And Roared. Mathematics Should Be Made Easier Or Abolished Yet The Maths Teachers Say “It Is Easy! ” And They Are All Capable Men. You Have All Observed During The Year,

As The Maths Teachers Walk Into The Class, The Students Sweat And Swoon. Is It Necessary? Yet Our Maths Teachers Say It Is Necessary, And Sure, They Are Capable Men. I Speak Not To Disprove What These Teachers Say; But Here I Am To Speak What I Do Know. You All Did Try To Pass Mathematics, But Without Success. Isn’t That What Causes To Hate Schooling? O’ Education! Where Is The Justification? Have All Educationists Lost Their Reason? Bear With Me, I Must Stop Now; My Fear for Mathematics Allows Me To Go No Further.

I Must Pause Till Reason Come Back To Our Educators. Till Yesterday, We Bore The Rigours Of Maths Silently But Now We Must Rethink Our Goals. It Is Not That We Need To Do Away With Mathematics, But Just Make It More Bearable. O’ Friends, If I Were To Stir You Up Against Mathematics I Should Do The School Wrong And The Maths Teachers Wrong Who You All Know Are Capable Men. I Will Not Do Them Wrong, I Rather Choose To Wrong The System,To Wrong myself And You; Than To Wrong such Honourable Men.

Julius Caesar Concession Essay Marcus Brutus was a noble man. He was loyal to himself and never did anything wrong without believing that what he was doing was right. Even though killing Julius Caesar was wicked and evil, when he did it, he had all the right intentions. Up to his very last breath, he thought that he was saving the people of Rome from an unjust ruler. He never wanted anything bad to come from it. He thought that he could bring peace to Rome Marcus Brutus, however, was very easily deceived. As long as someone told him that doing something would bring good, he would do it.

This allowed Cassius to quite easily trick Marcus Brutus into doing what he wanted him to do. And being as sneaky as Cassius was he was able to pretty easily blame it on Marcus Brutus. The fact that he could be so easily tricked made him a prime target for Cassius to do the dirty work and share the blame. It can be argues that since he was so easily manipulated that you can’t really tell how good of a person he was. But since his intentions were so noble, that he was a truly honest, noble man. Unlike the other conspirators who chose to take place in the assassination of Caesar, Marcus Brutus did it to help his people.

All of the others only took place in the assassination due to jealousy and dissatisfaction. And for Marcus Brutus, it was a big sacrifice to him as well, seeing that he and Caesar were good friends. And that that proves just how noble his intentions were. That he would kill his own friend if it meant that others could be safe. Even his enemies (Mark Antony and Octavius Caesar) respected him for the honest man that they knew that he was. He did evil things, that that did not make him an evil man. It’s like the old saying: “It’s the thought that counts” Works Cited Shakespeare, William Julius Caesar.

If Caesar had been more astute and willing to accept his own vulnerability, he might have recognized warnings around him which foreshadowed his assassination. One of the warnings, which was very important, was Artemidorus’ letter which contained names of all conspirators. This takes place in Act III scene i lines 5-10. Caesar ignored this warning by refusing to read Artemidorus’ letter, because he wanted to read it last, as he says “What touches us ourself shall be last serv’d. The second warning that he ignored was Calphurnia’s (his wife’s) dream about Caesar’s blood upon the Capitol (Act II scene ii). After he received this warning, at first he decided not to go, but then Decius came and changed his mind by interpreting the dream such a way that seems to be good. Decius said those bloods and all mean that great Rome regards you as its lifeblood. Therefore, Caesar changed his mind and decided to go to the Senate House. As you see the warnings were all around Caesar and he just had to listen to others.

The last warning that I found in the play were fortune-tellers. Before Caesar goes to Senate House, he asked soothsayers and fortune-tellers about it, and they advised him not to go out on that day (Act II scene ii). This is what they said: “Opening up the innards of a sacrifice, they couldn’t find a heart inside the beast. ” From these warnings, and assassination of Caesar, we conclude that Caesar was proud of himself, believing himself as eternal as the North Star. Through the play, we find out that he is unable to separate his public image from his private image, which lead to his death.

Also, He ignores all warnings and threats against his life, because of his ambition and seduction by the people’s increasing idealization and idolization of his image. Brutus was one of the most complex characters in this story, and his strong idealism is both his greatest advantage and his most deadly disadvantage. While Brutus lives up to Antony’s description of him as “the noblest of Romans”, his narrow vision leads him to make certain mistakes: wanting to reduce violence, he ignores Cassius’s suggestion they should kill Antony as well as Caesar.

In another moment of idealism, he again ignores Cassius’s advice and allows Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral over Caesar’s body. As a result of this action, Antony incites people to riot against him and the other conspirators. Some other bad examples of his weakness in idealism can be seen when Brutus endangers his good relationship with Cassius. In all of these, Brutus acts out of a desire to limit the self-serving aspects of his actions. Although, when looking at it ironically, we see that in each incident, he kills the cause that he wants to promote and get to.

In other parts of the play we that Brutus only agrees to kill Caesar after becoming convinced by his dear friend, Cassius, that it is necessary for the Roman Republic. This shows that Brutus is an idealist who upholds honor above everything else. As I said earlier, Brutus is a very complex character, because he is a powerful public figure, and at the same time, a husband, a good master to his servants, a dignified military leader, and a loving friend. For example, he respects his servants and therefore his servants are very good to him and respect him very much.

Also, he loves his wife, Portia, very much, that in Act II scene i we find out they have a very close connection with each other. It is important to note that he is a stoic person, because he suffers pain from his wife’s death but doesn’t show it much throughout the play. Although, at the end of play, he doesn’t act much stoic, because he commits suicide once he believes defeat in the battle. This shows that he was not able to suffer to be taken to the city as a captive and slave, and someone who’s in chains.

I believe that Brutus is this play’s tragic hero. He is a good and admirable character in the play, but because of his wrong decisions and mistakes, his actions go wrong and do not satisfy the cause; in other words, he does something almost opposite that bring about a downfall. In this play, Brutus overrules all the advices that Cassius, the great thinker of conspirators, makes, and it results tragic for conspirators. First, Cassius’ advice to kill Mark Antony as well as Caesar is ignored leading to Mark Antony becoming their greatest enemy.

Later at Caesar’s funeral, Cassius’ advice that Mark Antony should not speak is also ignored leading to Antony turning people against them (conspirators). Finally, in Act V, Brutus ignores Cassius’ advice to stay on high ground, leading to a battle in the plains of Philippi. Therefore, because of mistakes that Brutus makes, and his faults, he is considered to be the tragic hero of the play. As we find out through the play, superstition is an important part of it and a significant factor in Roman life. Characters in play all believe in omens and portents, and how your fate is de ermined by certain stars. Although there are few characters who don’t believe in soothsayers and what they say and predict. For example, Cassius says, “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars. But in ourselves, that we are underlings. ” This shows that he doesn’t agree with the belief that some people have that says the star or planet under which you were born determines your characteristics and fate. In other cases, we have Caesar telling Antony to touch Calphurnia when running, and asking Calphurnia to stand in Antony’s way, so that through his touch she may shake off her “sterile curse”.

It was a superstition that young men ran almost naked in the streets carrying light leather thongs with which they’d touch women who present themselves along the street; and because of that touch, these women ensured their fertility and an easy labor and delivery. Another superstitious event that occurred in the play was the interruption caused by soothsayer who wanted to tell Caesar “Beware the Ides of March. ” Generally “Ideas” means middle; therefore, Ides of March is 15th of March. Caesar heard him but he asked him to repeat himself.

After soothsayer repeated himself, Caesar decided that he is a dreamer, and disregarded him. This shows that even Caesar didn’t agree with beliefs that people of Rome had at that time. As it can be seen, superstition plays a role in the basic daily life of most Roman citizens; and many of them told fortune as their job. Overall, Shakespeare gives us the idea that many people try to find out about future and what it holds, such as unfortunate things, by being superstitious. For instance, Shakespeare starts Act I with a setting based upon superstition, and what goes on between soothsayers.

The element Irony is defined as the strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect. Therefore, we see that there are many cases in which irony has been used and extent into the characterization of different characters in the play. Brutus’ irony was irony of situation; he was the person in charge of the assassination of Caesar. Although there were all the conspirators, Brutus was the one who did most of the job. Not to forget Cassius, he was the thinker of conspirators; therefore, he was the main head of group.

Although Cassius’ advices would have lead to good endings, but every time Brutus changed them and overruled them; therefore, as an irony, we didn’t thought things would go differently, the way they did. Ironically, though, we can say that Brutus assassinated his friend, Caesar, to prevent one man ruling the Roman Empire. Although, this went wrong, and Octavius, one of the Triumvirs who defeated Brutus and Cassius, was later to become a Roman Emperor ruling the entire Rome alone after his victory over Mark Antony. We also find that out because he (Octavius) is the last person who finished the play (Act V).

Overall, we can conclude that irony was extent into Brutus’ character very much. In Cassius’ case, his character didn’t include much irony extent into it. He was a good thinker, and he had wise advices which were not followed correctly all the time. Therefore, things that happened after his advice was overruled are not considered to be his irony. In Julius Caesar, we have different types of Irony. The one used the most is dramatic irony, meaning the audience is aware of the character’s mistakes or misunderstandings but the character is not.

For example, Caesar’s ambition, and his popularity increasing, caused the conspirators to fear that he would take over. We, as the reader, can see Caesar’s flaws although he does not. This ironic characteristic that we see shows us how Caesar’s flaws lead to his death. Julius Caesar ignored the signs and kept going in his ambitious quest to gain power; therefore, he had a lot of irony extent into his characterization. Other than dramatic irony, we have another irony called verbal irony. Verbal irony is when the writer says one thing and means another.

In the play, Antony’s speech in Caesar’s funeral to the people who loved Brutus presents irony. Antony repeatedly kept saying “Brutus is an honorable man… “, or “Brutus is a noble man”, throughout his speech. This quote shows the irony because Antony did not mean what he was saying. His purpose was to force the people into seeing what Brutus has done without actually saying “Brutus assassinated your leader, Caesar”. What Antony did was very clever, and from that we conclude that irony has extent into his characterization very much. Finally, from all this we can conclude that Shakespeare has done an excellent job!

Would Julius Caesar be a good king? Julius Caesar takes place in ancient Rome in 44 B. C. He was never technically king, but he came close to having the powers of a king, but he got killed before he could become one. He is very arrogant throughout the story while he is still alive. He is pretty stubborn while being p retty manipulative Just like almost every character in the play. I don’t feel like he will be a good king just because of his arrogance. He also had his good qualities like being a military astermind.

Caesar shows us his arrogance throughout the play. For example in Act 1 Scene 2 he says “Such men as he be never at heart’s ease Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, and therefore are they very dangerous. I rather tell thee what is to be fear’d than what I fear, for always I am Caesar” . In this quote we can see that is Caesar unashamed of how arrogant he is being. This arrogance would cause him to do other errors like he did later in the story like ignoring his wife’s dream

He was great ruler because he led Rome in the right direction, but by doing so, in the process he was an arrogant and selfish ruler. He was great for Rome as a ruler but not for the people. Just like Brutus said in Act 2 Scene 1 “And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg which, natch’d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, and ill shell. ” Here Brutus is comparing Caesar to a “Serpent’s Egg” that is should be destroyed before it hatches and becomes dangerous if he becomes king.

They are not afraid of him ecause he is a tyrant but will become one if he becomes the king of Rome. In the book Julius Caesar manipulation seems like a varsity sport. In Act 2 Scene 1 Caesar really deceives the Romans. He is putting a show and refusing that he doesn’t want the crown, even though he would secretly love it deep inside. He thinks that refusal to the crown in front of the public is a smart political tactic to get people to love him and think he less ambitious or for lack of better word desperate.

This is also a form of reverse hycology as Caesar is using it to make the crowd like him and even consider making him king as he is not greedy and hungry for it. In conclusion Caesar would be a great king for Rome but not for the Romans. He is a genius in warfare but is very arrogant which cost him his life. If he was king his arrogance would definitely be his downfall. And the romans would find out that he was manipulating them, it was Just a matter of time. He would be a very good war chief of be a ruler with Pompey but not a king all by himself.

Despite the word ‘honor’ being used frequently in the play, there is little evidence of it actually being demonstrated in the play. Do you agree? In Shakespearean’ Julius Caesar the idea of honor was a central element to the play. By definition honor involves a sense of self-sacrifice and the quality of knowing and doing something morally right; although this definition was challenged by characters trying to balance personal honor and national honor. Many circumstances in the play occurred due to the characters attempting to be honorable and others acting in spite of it.

Although the word honor was mentioned numerous times there was little evidence of characters actually displaying this trait. This essay will explore characters that didn’t show honor and had negative traits but also cover the little honor that was shown, by characters such as Brutes. Honor was spoken about more than it was shown but there is still some evidence of honor displayed in this play. Many characters in the play, Julius Caesar, did not show honor towards others in many different situations.

There was a large use of the word honor, especially in the scene here Antonym was addressing the audience, but the word was overused and sarcastic. “For Brutes is an honorable man, So are they all, all honorable men” (3. 2. 74) Antonym stated that all the conspirators were honorable and by this he was trying to persuade the audience to disagree with this statement. This speech mentioned honor numerous times but there was no sincerity about it being displayed. All the conspirators apparently killed Caesar for all of Rome but we know that especially with Cassias and Case, that they did it not only for Rome but for themselves. L was born free as Caesar; so were you; We both have fed as well, and e can both; Endure the winter’s cold as well as he” (1. 2. 97) Cassias was Jealous of Career’s power and therefore the killing of Caesar from the view of Cassias and Case was dishonorable. Also Decides convinced and lied to Caesar about coming to the senate and played on Caesar weaknesses which was dishonorable. To honor someone in this play sometimes meant that it would be dishonorable to others. This was displayed a lot in the play as characters struggled to choose between personal and national honor.

What was right for the city was wrong for Caesar, which is what al the conspirators positions. They had to choose, especially Brutes, to honor their friend or their city. With the influences of Cassias for Brutes the choice was made and it was an honorable act in the eyes of some but obviously the murder of a friend was quite the opposite. This was also a problem with Antonym; “Career’s spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side, come hot from hell” (3. 1. 270) Antonym needed to honor the memory of his close friend by killing the conspirators.

This could be seen as an honorable act because he needed to stand by his friend but it as also a savage act of proclaiming war with many causing numerous deaths, such as Brutes, Tinnitus, Case and many more. Therefore the act of being honorable was diminished as it wasn’t an honorable act to all. Honor was a trait spoken about more than displayed but there was some displays of honorable and righteous actions. Brutes was a very honorable character throughout the whole play and was the only character who stuck by his values. Set honor in one eye and death I’ the rather die than be dishonorable and throughout the play he displays this many mimes. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. ” (3. 2. 22) He talks about honoring Rome over honoring his friend Caesar. Some may say this is dishonorable but Brutes never had bad intentions and Just wanted what was best for everyone. In Brute’s speech he wanted to tell the audience what happened honestly and he made an effort with Antonym also, although that didn’t end up being a wise decision. Even at the end, when Brutes committed suicide, it was about honor.

He did not want to be captured and paraded through his fellow Romans so he had Strata, “a fellow of a good respect”, to assist him to kill himself and to calm the ghost of Caesar. From studying many characters in Julius Caesar, it is obvious that honor is a central concept in the play. Although this is the case, having examined the characters and their actions honorable actions are not shown in most situations. While this is the case with the majority of characters, there is the exception of Brutes and some characters who attempt to have good intentions and act honorably. Overall honor is spoken about a lot more then it is displayed.

Nunc ea cognosce, quae maxime exoptas: rem publicam funditus amisimus, adeo ut C. Cato, adolescens nullius consilli, sed tamen civis Romanus et Cato, vix vivus effugerit, quod, cum Gabinium de ambitu vellet postulare neque praetores diebus aliquot adiri possent vel potestatem sui facerent, in concionem escendit et Pompeium privatum dictatorem appellavit: propius nihil est factum, quam ut occideretur. 2 Ex hoc, qui sit status totius rei publicae, videre potes. 3 16. Nostrae tamen causae non videntur homines defuturi: mirandum in modum profitentur, offerunt se, pollicentur. 5 Equidem cum spe sum maxima, tum maiore etiam animo, spe, superiores fore nos, animo, ut in hac re publica ne casum quidem ullum pertimescam. 6 Sed tamen se res sic habet: si diem nobis Clodius dixerit, tota Italia concurret, ut multiplicata gloria discedamus; sin autem vi agere conabitur, spero fore studiis non solum amicorum, sed etiam alienorum ut vi resistamus. 7 Omnes et se et suos amicos clientes, libertos servos, pecunias denique suas pollicentur. Nostra antiqua manus bonorum ardet studio nostri atque amore; si qui antea aut alienores fuerant aut languidiores, nunc horum regum odio se cum bonis coniungunt. 9 Pompeius omnia pollicetur et Caesar, quibus ego ita credo, ut nihil de mea comparatione deminuam. 10 Tribuni pl. 11 designati sunt nobis amici; consules se optimos ostendunt; praetores habemus amicissimos et acerrimos cives Domitium, Nigidium, Memmium, Lentulum; bonos etiam alios, sed hos singulares: quare magnum fac animum habeas et spem bonam; de singulis tamen rebus, quae quotidie gerantur, faciam te crebro certiorem.

Now for the news that you chiefly desire. We have so completely lost the constitution that Cato,[11] a young man of no sense, but yet a Roman citizen and a Cato, scarcely got off with his life because, having determined to prosecute Gabinius for bribery, when the praetors could not be approached for several days, and refused to admit anyone to their presence, he mounted the rostra in public meeting and called Pompey an “unofficial dictator. ” No one ever had a narrower escape of being killed. From this you may see the state of the whole Republic. People, however, show no inclination to desert my cause.

They make wonderful professions, offers of service, and promises: and, indeed, I have the highest hopes and even greater spirit–so that I hope to get the better in the struggle, and feel confident in my mind that, in the present state of the Republic, I need not fear even an accident. However, the matter stands thus: if Clodius gives notice of an action against me, the whole of Italy will rush to my support, so that I shall come off with many times greater glory than before; but if he attempts the use of violence, I hope, by the zeal not only of friends but also of opponents, to be able to meet force with force.

All promise me the aid of themselves, their friends, clients, freedmen, slaves, and, finally, of their money. Our old regiment of loyalists is warm in its zeal and attachment to me. If there were any who had formerly been comparatively hostile or lukewarm, they are now uniting themselves with the loyalists from hatred to these despots. Pompey makes every sort of promise, and so does Caesar: but my confidence in them is not enough to induce me to drop any of my preparations.

The tribunes-designate are friendly to us. The consuls-designate make excellent professions. Some of the new praetors are very friendly and very brave citizens-Domitius, Nigidius, Memmius, Lentulus[12]–the others are loyalists also, but these are eminently so. Wherefore keep a good heart and high hopes. However, I will keep you constantly informed on particular events as they occur from day to day.

Kaya Lawrance Mrs. Ham Honors English 2 March 7th, 2012 Julius Caesar Cause and Effect Essay: A Leader’s Fateful Decision: Decisions. Decisions are what make the world go round. Without them, time would be frozen, never moving forward. They are the choices people make that determine our future. Some decisions are hard, some are easy. But, no matter what decisions are made, they will always end with the same result: an effect. So, it’s important that people go through the decision making process to eventually come to a final choice. Everyone has to make many decisions every day that affect our lives.

Julius Caesar also had to make many decisions that had substantial results. But, only one of his decisions stood out from all the others. Only one decision would determine his rue fate. This essay will talk about the causes and effects of Julius Caesar’s significant decision to be present at the Senate meeting or not. This determines his tragic fate in a matter of life or death. Caesar had to make the fateful decision of going to the Senate meeting or not. Although almost every sign warns him against going to the meeting, he makes the stubborn decision to go anyways, which eventually leads to his violent, timeless death.

This decision has many powerful effects on the people, the conspirators, and Rome. But, it also has many causes or events that led up to it. So, some questions come up: Do the events that led up to Caesar’s decision overweigh the effects of his choice? Or vice versa? The main question is: which choice is the better choice? Causes: There are many causes of Caesar’s final decision. Many of these causes, though, may be better identified as warnings or signs against his attendance at the Senate meeting. At the beginning of the book, Caesar appears at a race in which he is confronted by a Soothsayer telling him, “Beware of the Ides of March. (1. 2. 21) He thinks nothing of it and tells the Soothsayer to move on. Caesar remains blind of this warning while Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators plot his hematic murder. Dramatic Irony is when the readers know what something that the character does not know. Dramatic Irony applies to this because readers know that the conspirators are plotting to kill Caesar while he is not aware that they are. Another “warning sign” that he should not go to the Senate meeting occurs on March 15 (Ides of March) right before the meeting.

Calphurnia describes how she has had strange and frightful dreams of Caesar’s stature pouring our blood while happy citizens of Rome bathe their hands in it. Calphurnia sees this as an omen, and since she does not usually believe in omens, she is frightened by them now and believes this one to be a true omen. A servant also warns Caesar, “They would not have you to stir forth today. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, they could not find a heart within the beast. “(2. 2. 40-42) This is another warning sign for the reason of finding a fault or difference in a sacrificed animal meant bad luck in his time.

Although he ignores the Servant’s news out of his own confident arrogance, he decides to stay because of his wife’s unsettling whim. But after Decius appears with plans to escort Caesar to the Senate House, Decius convinces him to go with quick and sly words. “This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was all a vision fair and fortunate. Your stature spouting blood in many pipes, in which so many smiling Romans bathed, signifies that from you great Rome shall suck reviving blood, and that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.

This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified,”(2. 2. 87-94) Decius lies through his teeth to change Caesar’s mind. He describes how the people will think he is a coward for not going, and how he would receive the crown if he went. The arrogant Caesar changed his mind in a heartbeat, blinded by his fear of looking foolish. Effects: The effects of Caesar’s decision to go to the Senate meeting were great, affecting all of Rome in many ways over a long period of time. Of course the main effect of this is his own death.

If he would have only listened to the soothsayers warning, taken Calphurnia’s warnings into consideration, listened to the servants message, and had just allowed fear to overpower his over confidence – he would have stayed home and lived. He could then see how blind he had been all along. He would be able to see his true self without the mask of arrogance and complete foolishness. But, fate is inescapable. Even if he had not decided to go to the Senate, he would have met his final resting place – somehow. So, do the events that led up to Caesar’s decision overweigh the effects of his choice?

Yes, the causes or events that led up to his death are very good reasons why Caesar should not have gone to the Senate meeting. There were many warnings against him going and Calphurnia’s dream almost made it so clear that he shouldn’t go that it was just foolish to go. Caesar knew that it was a bad idea to go and that the effects of going could be bad. He knew something bad was going to happen, yet his own wretched personality destroyed his life. Two lessons can be learned from this event: 1. don’t allow the faults of your own personality affect your better judgment. 2. “Men at some time are masters of their fates. “(1. 2. 146)