- Published: November 13, 2021
- Updated: November 13, 2021
- University / College: Princeton University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 46
Julius Caesar Essay Brutus and Caesar had a lot of power already in the Roman society, but who would make a better leader? These two characters are from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare. The play takes place during 44 B. C. in ancient Rome, towards the end of the Roman republic. This selection is a tragic and historical drama. Brutus places his ideals, Rome, over his friend, Julius Caesar, and is willing to kill Caesar to protect the Republic. In the play, the two main characters, Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus, both possess leadership qualities, but if the citizens of Rome had a choice, they should most definitely choose Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar would certainly be a better choice than Marcus Brutus because Caesar doesn’t fear death, doesn’t bend the law for anyone, and cared about the citizens more than Brutus did. When Calphurnia did not want Ceasar to leave because she had an omen, Caesar refused to listen and Calphurnia speaks of what happened in the city earlier that night so that Caesar doesn’t go out. Ceasar replies to the events with “ Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come”. (727; lines 34-37) This proves that good leaders should not fear death. Another quality of Caesar’s leadership is that he doesn’t bend the rules for anyone, even when others try to convince him to do so. When Metellus approached Caesar and requested that his brother, Publius Cimber, who has been banished from Rome, be granted permission to come back. Caesar replies “ But I am constant as the Northern Star, of whose true fixed and resting quality. There is no fellow in the firmament”. (738; lines 40-44) In addition, Caesar is a better choice of a leader than Brutus because he cared a lot about the citizens. During Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral in Act III, Antony presents Caesar’s will aloud and declares that each citizen will receive and amount of his money, and proclaims that his private, royal walks and gardens are now public domain. ” To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas… Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, his private arbors and new-planted orchards, on this side Tiber; he hath left them you, and to your heirs forever, common pleasures, to walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.” (756; lines 245-252) On the contrary, Brutus did not display as many leadership qualities as Caesar did. As has been noticed, Caesar would have been a better choice of a leader in Rome. Caesar was a unique noble man and no one could have been as great as a leader than he ever was. In the play, the two main characters, Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus, both possess leadership qualities, but if the citizens of Rome had a choice, they should most definitely choose Julius Caesar. If Brutus would have done as much as Caesar did, with good intentions, then the answer would be indefinite.