Julius Caesar as a Political Play
The theme of Julius Caesar as suggested by several critics is the triumph of Caesarism over Republicanism. Shakespeare undoubtedly points to the inevitability of Caesarism as the solution of the political problem of Rome. Shakespeare makes it clear that the situation of Rome requires the strong hand of a single master mind. He takes isolated hints from Plutarch and amplifies them and works them out in his conception of the situation. The plebeians are represented as fickle-minded and violent, greedy and irrational. They have shouted for Pompey; they strew flowers for Caesar; they cheer when their favorite refuses the crown; they wish to crown his better parts in his murderer; they will not hear a word against Brutus; they rush off to set fire to his house; they tear a man to pieces on account of his name and hold Caesar beyond parallel on account of his bequest.
Again nothing better is found with aristocrat
Cassius who is actuated by jealousy. He confesses that had he been in Caesars
good graces, he would have been on Caesars side. Further the strain of
servility is more apparent in Decius and Casca. Cassius seeks to win Antony by
promising him an equal voice in disposing of the dignities. Envy, ambition,
greed are the governing principles of the governing classes.
Moreover, we cannot say that the pla’s theme is
Republicanism versus Caesarism. Brutus and his comrades speak of republicanism
but it is nowhere shown as the dominant motive Cassius speaks of republicanism
in order to excite Brutus against Caesar, but his jealousy of Caesars greatness
is more apparent. Caesars lack of affection for him has driven him to conspire
against him. Brutus soliloquy in the starlit orchard, again shows his confused
thinking. He goes against Caesar because of a hypothetical threat to the
freedom of Rome. Brutus would not grudge his kingship, if Caesar were as good a
monarch as he now appears to be. Therefore, we cannot say for certain that
Brutus’s republican sympathy is genuine.
You Can also Read: Political Connections in the Poem "Pied Beauty".
To sum up, Shakespeare’s main interest lies not in
the political problems but in the evolution of his characters. Shakespeare is
mainly concerned with the spiritual problems of his characters and he
delineates the subtle workings of the minds of the main characters as pulsating
individuals with paradoxical qualities. Caesar is proud, majestic and great but
he has weaknesses such as deafness, superstition and fondness for flattery.
Cassius is jealous but he has a craving for love and friendship. Brutus is
noble but he is a confused intellectual. He is a stoic but he commits suicide
to avoid capture. Thus Shakespeare has humanized all these characters by
projecting their contradictions and weaknesses.
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