Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” is a tragedy that tells the story of the assassination of the Roman dictator and its aftermath. The play explores themes of power, loyalty, betrayal, and political intrigue, and has been studied and performed for centuries. In this page of sample essays, we will delve into the various aspects of “Julius Caesar”, examining its characters, themes, language, and historical context to gain a deeper understanding of this classic work of literature. We will also explore the play’s relevance to contemporary society and how its themes continue to resonate with audiences today.
“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It’s people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages.” -Banksy, Wall and Piece. This quote is referencing the fact that the rules do not always stand for what is right which speaks volumes … Read more
Luc Nguyen The bible contains the the saying “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”.The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare explores the connection of hubris and downfall as Roman senators conspire to kill the emperor Julius Caesar. Caesar’s pride is his defining characteristic and the main catalyst of all … Read more
“You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight. This quote can be assimilates to Brutus in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar. In a way he died as a hero but he did live long enough and saw himself becoming the villain. Throughout the play, … Read more
William Shakespeare illustrates the concept of tragedy through Julius Caesar by taking the audience back in time to a compelling event in Roman history that begins with a man who “was a successful general who conquered territories outside of Rome and helped turn Rome into a large empire.” When one thinks of tragedy they often … Read more
The greatest empire led by the greatest politician, ruler and military general, Julius Caesar led the Roman Empire to one of the greatest periods of its life span. A tragedy play by William Shakespeare. Unfortunately, he also let it to the greatest demise. Caesar has triumphed in a big war and was returning to Rome. … Read more
William Shakespeare is an amazing author who was able to write an amazing play called The Tragedy of Julius Caesar in which he wrote a scene that had Brutus and Antony make speeches at the funeral of Julius Caesar. In the funeral speech, both men had different points to achieve when talking to the audience; … Read more
The general feelings and behavioural traits of gender inequality, honour and loyalty of humankind are flawed by William Shakespeare’s in his play Julius Caesar (1599). Shakespeare explores issues relating to human nature and power through characterisation. This is illustrated through insignificance of women such as Portia and Calpurnia, and the honour and loyalty of Brutus … Read more
In the written play by William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar is the tragedy of Julius Caesar’s murder. Most critics argue Brutus most identifies as the tragic hero of the story but we overlook one character as a tragic hero for not meeting the requirements. It’s Julius Caesar himself who is truly the tragic hero of the … Read more
Jorge 2 Kenneth Jorge Professor Richard Salerno Global 1H Period H 20 May 2018 Fourth Quarter Project The play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, was based on the actual historical events that occurred during the rule of Julius Caesar and is said to be written in 1599. Julius Caesar was a Roman statesman, military … Read more
Idealism is a powerful tool to break oneself into their own reality. Having too much of this can cause you to hurt yourself and others as well. Brutus was known to be a very honorable man. With that came the tragic flaw of being too idealistic, breaking away reality and making his own. Brutus stabbed … Read more
The title of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is often criticized, argued that it should be titled Brutus, as Marcus Brutus is the tragic hero. However, the title is appropriate, as Julius Caesar, though insignificant as an actor in the play since he dies in Act 3 having a minimal amount of lines, impacts the characters in … Read more
Brutus: the protagonist of Shakespeare���s Julius Caesar From the beginning of the play, it becomes quite clear that not Julius Caesar but Brutus is the protagonist even though the title of the play is Julius Caesar. This is not difficult to prove because we can see, know and understand Brutus��� motives and the way he … Read more
William Shakespeare plays are held in high regard till this day because they continue to give us insight into important political motifs, social interactions, and ideas of hierarchy. These ideas are constructed and successfully placed on many of Shakespeare plays and the same can be said for Coriolanus and Julius Caesar. The play Coriolanus follows … Read more
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus qualifies to be a tragic hero more than any other character in the play. Ideally, almost every story has a tragic hero. From a Shakespearean tragic hero perspective, following the model established by Aristotle, tragic heroes are upstanding figures, well-spoken by everyone, … Read more
Introduction: The analysis is from the outside looking in to represent an audience viewing a work of art. The speech exposes characters in the play and shows hypocrisy the same way we use art to express such political sentiments. The painting represents the picture that Antony paints with his speech, and the details in the … Read more
Both Coriolanus and Julius Caesar are popular tragedies of Shakespeare that use the Roman politics of the historical period they are based on to emphasise moral dilemmas and ethical questions surrounding the politics of the time through its characters. Whilst they are dramatized depictions of these events, Shakespeare’s clear goal through these two plays was … Read more
In the play Julius Caesar Sometimes it takes deception to convince a crowd to side with someone. Both Brutus and Marc Antony make just such attempts in Act III, scene 2 of Shakespeare’s play. In Act III, Scene 1, the senators murder Caesar because they suspect that he may become a tyrant. Marc Antony was … Read more
Closing Argument Mark Antony’s Intentions Righteous avenger or opportunistic tyrant? In the play, “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”, by William Shakespeare, it is up to opinion to decide Mark Antony’s true nature. Although he plots to avenge Julius Caesar’s death by targeting the conspirators, which can be seen as extremely loyal because Caesar was a … Read more
Julius Caesar was a popular Roman political leader of the Roman Republic. There is a large debate to whether Julius Caesar was responsible for his own death. Julius Caesar was born on the 13th of July, 100 BC and died 15th March 44 BC, the cause of his death was assassination by a group of … Read more
‘All Roads Lead to Rome.’ This famous quote illustrates how extensive and powerful Roman Empire was. Such tremendous land and enormous power started from one person who is called Octavian Gaius Julius Caesar. Some people may contend that he was too dogmatic and atrocious to carry a giant empire. However, he had great generalship and … Read more
Intertextual perspectives reveal the attitudes, perceptions and point of view of composers which inspire new conceptual understandings. Both, Machiavelli’s The Prince and William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar study the ambition to obtain power and maintain it, intertwined with issues such as morals and ethics. The issue of personal morality underpins the examination both texts provide. The … Read more
There are many lessons that can be derived from the study of powerful, significant rulers. These impactful leaders are none other than Julius Caesar (from Italy) and Yitzhak Rabin (from Israel). While some may perceive their common traits as merely being assassinated by political dissidents in both their regimes, these two figures have more similarities … Read more
William Shakespeare is famous for his use of tragedy as a style in most of his plays. This is also seen in his play “Julius Caesar” which involves a tragic hero who ends up facing a tragic event as the play comes to an end. Caesar is killed by Brutus, who is also a character … Read more
In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, tragic flaws determine both Caesar and Brutus’s fate. Both characters are proud to a fault, leaving them open to manipulation which leads to their ultimate demise. While their motivations are different, their weaknesses are similar. Both paradoxical figures adhere to strict ideals that betray their intuition. Right before … Read more
In Poetics, Aristotle explains what a successful tragedy has: plot, character, thought, diction, song, and spectacle. He also describes what a tragic hero is and other elements that should be considered like catharsis and peripeteia. His lens can be focused in on the famous works Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Euripides’ Medea. Although Aristotle’s definition … Read more
Shakespeare Essay Question – Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is as much about Elizabethan politics as it is about those of ancient Rome.
When writing an essay on Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” here are some important themes, topics, ideas, and points to consider:
Power and politics: “Julius Caesar” is a play that explores the dynamics of power and politics in ancient Rome, with its characters vying for control and influence. Analyzing the play’s portrayal of power and politics and its relevance to contemporary politics can be a fruitful topic for exploration.
Loyalty and betrayal: The play also deals with themes of loyalty and betrayal, with characters switching allegiances and betraying each other for personal gain. Examining the role of loyalty and betrayal in the play and how they contribute to the tragedy can provide insight into the characters and their motivations.
Fate and free will: The play raises questions about fate and free will, with characters questioning whether they have control over their own destinies or are subject to the whims of fate. Exploring the play’s treatment of these themes and how they contribute to the tragic outcome can be an interesting topic for analysis.
Rhetoric and persuasion: “Julius Caesar” is also a play that explores the power of rhetoric and persuasion, with characters using language to sway others to their side. Analyzing the use of rhetoric and persuasion in the play and its relevance to contemporary society can be a fruitful topic for exploration.
Historical context: “Julius Caesar” was written during the Elizabethan era, and analyzing its historical context can provide a deeper understanding of the play and its themes. Examining the political, social, and cultural context in which the play was written can help to shed light on its significance and meaning.
Tragedy and catharsis: “Julius Caesar” is a tragedy, and analyzing its tragic elements and how they contribute to the audience’s catharsis can be an interesting topic for exploration.
By exploring these themes, topics, ideas, and points when writing an essay on “Julius Caesar,” you can provide a comprehensive analysis of the play and its significance.
