Thursday, May 14, 2020

Self Righteousness In Julius Caesar - 1066 Words

It appears that the largest conflict surrounding William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar seems to be the uncertainty concerning the exact role that Caesar himself is meant to fulfill within the play. It is truly unknown whether he was meant to be the domineering tyrant that need desperately to be stopped in the interest of the greater good or the vulnerable victim of Brutus’ lineage-driven self righteousness. The unknown significance of Caesar’s hearing impediment and his disregard for both the prophecy and letter regarding his death only obscures his already indeterminate role even further. In his essay, â€Å"‘Wisdom Consumed in Confidence’: An Examination of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar†, Douglas L. Peterson attempts to address these two large†¦show more content†¦The first belief he discusses is one in which Caesar’s statement is to be read figuratively. Caesar does not pretend to be hard of hearing and is not truly deaf. Instead, he is simply telling Antony that if he supports Caesar and wishes to reap the benefits that shall come from the affiliation, then he should remain on Caesar’s good side (Peterson). This belief does not seem overly unreasonable, as the proposed interpretation fits coherently within the conversation being held between Caesar and Antony at the time. Yet, Peterson does not seem convinced. He then introduces a second popular belief surrounding Caesar’s ear, that his partial deafness comes as a result of the epileptic seizure he suffered earlier on in the play (Peterson). It was a common belief at the time of Shakespeare that temporary deafness that occurs as the result of an epileptic seizure affects the left ear more often than not. Peterson finds this belief to be the most agreeable, yet still does not commit to it as the most correct interpretation. The final belief that he explains seems to sit most comfortably with him. This final belief explains how Caesar s poke his line about being deaf proverbially to express his belief that Antony’s estimation of Cassius is vacuous. A common proverb of the Elizabethan Era of Shakespeare used the imagery of being partially deaf to show disregard for an opinion that is not sensible andShow MoreRelatedHonor : A Tragic Hero1399 Words   |  6 PagesTragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus takes the role of the tragic hero. Brutus’s honor, nobility, and self-righteousness makes him â€Å"a tragic figure, if not the hero† (Catherine C. Dominic). As the play opens, Brutus is known as a Roman nobleman and a member of one of the most illustrious families in Rome. He is first seen in Act I, scene ii, as one of Caesar’s â€Å"close friends† who is part of his entourage. But while alone with Cassius he is persuaded into taking a part in the assassination of Caesar. He isRead MoreComparision of Alexander the Great and Augustus Ceasar2530 Words   |  10 PagesAlexander thought of himself as the son of Greek god Zeus. Augustus was the first emperor of Rome who brought peace and stability to the Roman Empire. He was the grandson of the sister of Julius Caesar. His original name was Caius Octavius, but when he was adopted by the Julian gens (44 B.C.) he became Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian). He was named (given the title) Augustus later when he became the First Emperor or Rome by the senate. Augustus was seen as both a military leader as well as a religiousRead MoreEmersons Self Reliance5249 Words   |  21 PagesR.W. Emersons Self-Reliance The essay has three major divisions: the importance of self-reliance (paragraphs 1-17), self-reliance and the individual (paragraphs 18-32), and self-reliance and society (paragraphs 33-50). As a whole, it promotes self-reliance as an ideal, even a virtue, and contrasts it with various modes of dependence or conformity. Self-Reliance Paragraphs 1-17. The Importance of Self-Reliance. Emerson begins his major work on individualism by asserting the importance ofRead More Comparing the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire Essay2782 Words   |  12 Pagesto power through the removal of city-states and a Republic governed by a group of aristocratic consuls and Senate; instead, once the Roman Empire started to grow and become more powerful, an authoritarian monarchy ruled the people. For example, Julius Caesars’ son, Augustus, concentrated authority within the period of peace and minimal military expansion known as the Pax Romana. Emperors such as Augustus were known to be semi divine, but unlike the Han’s Mandate of Heaven, the Romans were civil rulersRead MoreThe New Hero of Aeneas Essay2008 Words   |  9 Pagestoil of beginning the life of Rome (I, 33). Once again, when Venus complains that her son Aeneas is unjustly treated, Jupiter replies not only by promising that all will be well for Aeneas but by giving a prophetic sketch of Roman history to Juli us Caesar. This reward, which the ancestor is to receive, is much more than his own success or glory, more even than his settlement in Italy. It is the assurance of the Roman destiny, of universal and unending dominion: To Romans I set no boundary in

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.