Loyalty In The Play 'Julius Caesar' By William Shakespeare
The tragic play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare develops characters to show an appearance of loyalty in order to deceive an enemy. The theme of deception is supported through interactions between Cassius and Brutus, the conspirators and Caesar, and Antony and the conspirators. It is ironic that the characters that deceive others in this play are actually being deceived themselves.
As the leader of the conspirators who want Caesar dead, Cassius feels the Brutus needs to be a member of this cause and is willing to manipulate and deceive to ensure his involvement. Cassius appears to be loyal by pretending to be concerned for Rome and what will happen to the citizens if Caesar is appointed King. He deceives Brutus because he and the conspirators are afraid they will lose freedom and influence if Caesar becomes King. They are envious of Caesar. …show more content…
Once he is reassured of his safety, Antony appears to be loyal to the conspirators by shaking their hands and seems willing to listen to their reason for killing Caesar. However, he plans to deceive the conspirators because he feels Caesar has been wrongly murdered and wants revenge for his death. “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!” Antony deceives them by gaining permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral and using his funeral speech to manipulate the Roman audience. In his speech he keeps calling the conspirators “honourable men” but proves them to be the exact opposite. He feels that Caesar’s death is, “the ruins of the noblest man.”Antony then shares the contents of Caesar’s will which proved Caesar wasn’t ambitious because the Roman citizens were his heirs. This causes the citizens to seek out the conspirators to kill them for their murderous actions. Antony’s successful deception leads to the death of Brutus and revenge for Caesar’s
As the leader of the conspirators who want Caesar dead, Cassius feels the Brutus needs to be a member of this cause and is willing to manipulate and deceive to ensure his involvement. Cassius appears to be loyal by pretending to be concerned for Rome and what will happen to the citizens if Caesar is appointed King. He deceives Brutus because he and the conspirators are afraid they will lose freedom and influence if Caesar becomes King. They are envious of Caesar. …show more content…
Once he is reassured of his safety, Antony appears to be loyal to the conspirators by shaking their hands and seems willing to listen to their reason for killing Caesar. However, he plans to deceive the conspirators because he feels Caesar has been wrongly murdered and wants revenge for his death. “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!” Antony deceives them by gaining permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral and using his funeral speech to manipulate the Roman audience. In his speech he keeps calling the conspirators “honourable men” but proves them to be the exact opposite. He feels that Caesar’s death is, “the ruins of the noblest man.”Antony then shares the contents of Caesar’s will which proved Caesar wasn’t ambitious because the Roman citizens were his heirs. This causes the citizens to seek out the conspirators to kill them for their murderous actions. Antony’s successful deception leads to the death of Brutus and revenge for Caesar’s