Free Essays on Julius Caesar

Caesar was born into the Julian gens, one of Rome's oldest patrician families. He was often a member of the more popular Democratic Party. He benefitted from the patronage of his uncle by marriage, Caius Marius. In 82 B.C. he refused to divorce Cornelia, the wealthy daughter of Cornelius Cinna, he was proscribed and he fled from Rome. He returned in 78 B.C. when Sulla died and began his political career. He quickly gained popularity, and in 74 B.C. he went to repulse a Cappadocian army. When he returned he helped advance the position of Pompey, the virtual head of the popular party. Caesar gained the status of military tribune before 70 B.C. and was quaestor in farther Spain in 69 B.C. He aided Pompey in gaining complete control of the war in the East. When he returned to Rome in 68 B.C. he was recognized as the head of the popular party in Pompey?s absence. His praise of Marius and Cinna made him popular with the people, but in return he earned the hatred of the Senate. In 63 B.C. he was elected pontifex maximus {high priest}, allegedly by heavy bribes. Later he reformed the calendar, which was one of the greatest contributions of history. Between 81 and 79 Caesar served on the personal staff of Marcus Minucius Thermus, who was praetor in Asia Minor. When Sulla died (78) Caesar felt it safe to go back to Italy. There he took up the profession of criminal law. That was a normal thing to do, while Caesar stayed far from politics. In 75 He went to Rhodes for higher learning, and was caught by pirates who were asking the usual tariff. He raised the prize and promised to kill his captors. After Ransom was paid Caesar got some ships and crucified the pirates. He then continued his studies but they were again interrupted when Mithridates of Pontus attacked Asia Minor a second time (74). On his own funds and will raised a small army to defend some towns, giving the official roman commander Lucullus time to organi... Free Essays on Julius Caesar Free Essays on Julius Caesar In the tragedy of Julius Caesar, after the death of Caesar both Brutus and Antony spoke at Caesar’s funeral. Brutus finished his speech trying to convince the crowd that they did the right thing to kill Caesar because he was ambitious. Antony then enters with Caesar’s corpse awaiting his turn to speak to the Roman citizens. Antony begins by praising Caesar even though he claims that his intent is not to praise him, but to speak as a friend at Caesar’s funeral. As he continues to speak, it is clear that Antony uses physical evidence and emotions so the crowd can be persuaded to help in getting revenge for Caesars death. Antony praises Caesar even though he claims that his intent is not to praise but to speak as a friend. Antony says â€Å". . . when that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept –â€Å" to let the citizens think that Caesar loved them. He used rhetorical sentences to play with the citizens’ minds. â€Å". . . If I were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong.† He says this in order to prove Brutus and Cassius wrong without making himself look like he is going against them. Antony pretends to like the conspirators so that they do not kill him so that he can get revenge for Caesar’s death. Antony tells them that he is not trying to convince them to go against the conspirators, but that is what he is doing by using physical evidence. It becomes clear that Antony understands the feelings of the mob because he knows what they want and what they are expecting. He cries and one the citizens has sympathy towards him which then convinces the rest of the citizens to feel the same. Antony used physical evidence and emotions, which persuaded them to go against the conspirators. â€Å"But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar- I found it in his closet- ‘tis his will.† but he then says he will not read it. Antony menti... Free Essays on Julius Caesar Julius Caesar – Power In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, a group of men conspire to assassinate Caesar; a man they feel will destroy the Roman Empire if he is given such power. They feel he is not worthy of being an emperor. They are worried about the corruptive abuse of so much power. These men are also driven by the desire of having more power. William Gaddis said, â€Å"Power does not corrupt people; people corrupt power.†(Gaddis, William). Qtd. In Sweeney, K. Power Statements. Lecture Handout, English I. Lawrenceville: Notre Dame High School, 6 May 2002. This is clear in Julius Caesar. The desire and fear of power corrupt every character. The conspirators fear they will lose their free will and live under a tyrant. They also have the desire to increase their own power. Brutus, a close friend of Caesar, chooses to kill Caesar to prevent the fall of the Empire. He believes it is only for the good of the country and that he knows Caesar will become corrupted by power but ambition and praise also turn around his head. Caesar proves his conspirators right by becoming the tyrant they feared. Power and corruption play a big role in this story. As Brutus struggled with the decision of whether or not to join Cassius and kill his friend Caesar, he made a statement about Caesar’s character. â€Å"But tis a common proof. That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round. He then unto the ladder turns his back; Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees: By which he did ascend†¦(II, I, 22-27). In this statement, he means that he believes if Caesar climbs the ladder to power, he will certainly rule as a dictator disregarding the common people as insignificant. As much as Brutus might truly believe this to be true about his friend, Brutus also gets caught up in the lure of power. He becomes easily swayed when Cassius flatters Brutus in his effort ... Free Essays on Julius Caesar Caesar was born into the Julian gens, one of Rome's oldest patrician families. He was often a member of the more popular Democratic Party. He benefitted from the patronage of his uncle by marriage, Caius Marius. In 82 B.C. he refused to divorce Cornelia, the wealthy daughter of Cornelius Cinna, he was proscribed and he fled from Rome. He returned in 78 B.C. when Sulla died and began his political career. He quickly gained popularity, and in 74 B.C. he went to repulse a Cappadocian army. When he returned he helped advance the position of Pompey, the virtual head of the popular party. Caesar gained the status of military tribune before 70 B.C. and was quaestor in farther Spain in 69 B.C. He aided Pompey in gaining complete control of the war in the East. When he returned to Rome in 68 B.C. he was recognized as the head of the popular party in Pompey?s absence. His praise of Marius and Cinna made him popular with the people, but in return he earned the hatred of the Senate. In 63 B.C. he was elected pontifex maximus {high priest}, allegedly by heavy bribes. Later he reformed the calendar, which was one of the greatest contributions of history. Between 81 and 79 Caesar served on the personal staff of Marcus Minucius Thermus, who was praetor in Asia Minor. When Sulla died (78) Caesar felt it safe to go back to Italy. There he took up the profession of criminal law. That was a normal thing to do, while Caesar stayed far from politics. In 75 He went to Rhodes for higher learning, and was caught by pirates who were asking the usual tariff. He raised the prize and promised to kill his captors. After Ransom was paid Caesar got some ships and crucified the pirates. He then continued his studies but they were again interrupted when Mithridates of Pontus attacked Asia Minor a second time (74). On his own funds and will raised a small army to defend some towns, giving the official roman commander Lucullus time to organi...