Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar portrays the tragic flaws that affect a person's life. Shakespeare uses the character of Cassius to portray greed and jealousy. The Roman senator is obsessed with power, and his greed leads him to desire the power Caesar has, Through a series of brutal events, Cassius manipulates a conspiracy that will get the other Roman senators and Brutus to murder Caesar solely for his throne. The senators believe they are engaging in an act for the good of Rome, but they are too blind to realize Cassius's actual intentions. Although Cassius seems heartless, he becomes sympathetic after Caesars death, but his desire for power still drives him to acquire the power Rome holds. Greed and jealousy can consume a person, and cause them to make non moral decisions.

Although Caesar is powerful, and has achieved to march Rome to many victories, he remains arrogant; this leads him to his death. A soothsayer, who is revered in Rome, warns Caesar to beware of the ides of March; suggesting that will be the day he dies. Yet, Caesar is dismissive of the soothsayer, pushing him away. "He is a dreamer, let us leave him. Pass."(Act I, Scene II, Line 24). Caesar acts as if he were already king, an even believes he is god-like. Also Caesar's arrogance leads to Cassius's decision to devise a conspiracy. The conspiracy implies Caesar is gaining too much power, and is not using that power for the good of Rome. Cassius confronts Brutus, hoping to manipulate him into thinking Caesar is evil. "For who so firm that cannot be seduced?"(Act I, Scene II, Line 308). To ensure Brutus's involvement, Cassius writes false letters and signs them as people of Rome to further convince Brutus of the logic of his conspiracy. "Writing, all tending to the great opinion... obscurely Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at" (Act I, Scene II, Line 314-316).

"In favor's like the work we have in hand, [most] bloody, fiery, and most terrible"(Act I, Scene III, Line 129-130). Finally, Cassius has effectively recruited each senator to fulfill his plans of murdering Caesar. Cassius also fully persuaded Brutus to kill Caesar for the sake of Rome's honor. Brutus now has become engulfed in Cassius's conspiracy. Regardless of any loyalty, Brutus is determined to ruthlessly murder Caesar under any circumstance. "Let's kill him boldly..." (Act II, Scene I, Line 173). Even though Brutus allowed Cassius to persuade him to kill Caesar, he still is an honorable character because of his tragic flaws and by murdering Caesar for the honor of Rome.

"So oft as that shall be, so often shall the knot of us be called [then] men that gave their country