Understanding Themes
Through the first III Acts, a themes have emerged based upon the events in the play, and character choices. After Caesar's death, what is learned through his inability to listen to the one's around him? Why is it false to see him as "excepting death".
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As Caesar learns that he will die, his ability shows that his insecurity is persuaded by others. His persuaded “friends” have betrayed him and plotted a death on him. Caesar’s great power shows a struggle between some of his fellow citizen, this allowed the people to corrupt his power by killing him. To what Caesar thinks, he’s the best, and as a result he doesn’t listen to the beloved ones around him. A great example is Calpurnia, he warns Caesar so many times that something will go wrong. Caesar listens, but is still persuaded that the people will think him as a coward, if he doesn’t do his job. It’s false to see him accept his death because he doesn’t know what’s to happen. The audience knows he’s going to die, but Caesar is only following the plot. The conclusion of his death is created by the audience.
A static character is a character who essentially does not change throughout the play. Julius Caesar is an immaculate example this type of figure as depicted by William Shakespeare. In his monologue right before his death in Act 3 when he exclaims, “But I am constant as the Northern Star, /Of whose true fixed and resting quality/There is no fellow in the firmament” (lines 66-68). By this statement that Caesar affirms, his inability to listen to one's around him is clearly shown. By him upholding his values of being static and not paying a attention or giving regard to the words of his fellow citizens, and family, his demise was sure to com. Listening to the words of the soothsayer and taking in account the dreams of his wife, over his public appearance would have saved the life of Julius Caesar. His intentions were always to win the hearts of the people, which meant that he was not to be fearing death, in any sense, in order for him to be a powerful, persuasive, and commanding leader. Caesar I believe is accepting of his death, not in the form that it would be his primary way out, but to look genuine and strong in front of his fellow Romans, death could be accepted (this is also stated when he claims that, cowards die many times, but the strong only face death once).
Caesar’s death shows that he was unable to listen to others. Caesar was warned many times that his death was approaching. In the very first scene of the play, the soothsayer told him to “Beware the ides of March”, but he paid the warning no heed. Caesar was then warned again of his death through his wife’s dream. But again, he managed to ignore what he had been told. Caesar viewed himself as a god, an immortal. He did not believe that he could be killed. He did not accept his impeding fate; he simply ignored it because of his feeling of superiority. Caesar was indeed destined to die, but it was not because there was no way he could have been prevented it. Caesar was destined to die because of his overconfidence and his belief that he was superior to all other men. He died because of his inability to listen to others.
In life and in literature, it is often seen that characters and people bring death upon themselves. Caesar, from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, is a prime example of this tragedy. For Caesar, his death is brought upon himself because of a lack of trust and decisiveness. In replacement of these qualities, Caesar illustrated his superior stubbornness. As a result of not changing, Shakespeare decided to get rid of Julius Caesar, so he had him killed. He was a static figure. At many points throughout the first three acts, it seems that Caesar is actually accepting death. The truth is that he is accepting his own death, but he is only rejecting life as a coward. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once"(39). Sometimes, characters find themselves "between a rock and a hard place". Although their choices may not be great, they still must choose one in order for the story to progress and develop.
Through caesars lack of listening of the people around him, the reader can better understand that Caesars character is portrayed as a static character. This is developed more clearly when caesar is killed by the group of conspirators. It it is shown in many other shakespear stories that if a character does not change then the character is killed off. When caeser decides to go to the ceremony, he is not necessarily accepting his death. "cowards die many times before their deaths" (39). Caeser would much rather die than be a coward when not going to the ceremony.
Caesar’s inability to heed warnings from others eventually leads to his death. Many a time Caesar is warned to not go to the senate meeting. He believes though that if he doesn’t go to the senate house that he will look like a coward. Caesar in this story did not change at all making him a static character. Shakespeare as in my of his works of literature, kills off characters who do not change, killed Caesar. As shown in "Cowards die many times before their deaths "(39) he is stubborn and will not change. One example of this is when Calpurnia tells him many times to not go to the senate house. Also the soothsayer tells him to beware of the Ides of March but he does not listen. Caesar’s stubbornness impedes him from changing throughout the story.
It is easy to mistake him for accepting death because he barely fightas back. The reason for that is because he trusted these people. He did acknowledge at least some of the threats, but his biggest concern was to not die a coward. When being stabbed, he didn't just stand there and accept it, he was in shock that his friend betrayed him.
Caesar’s inability to listen to others warnings eventually leads to his bloody death. Although Caesar is told to watch out for the conspirators he chooses not to listen, this not only leads to his death but it gives one and insight into his true character traits. Caesar goes to the senate house even though he is aware that something bad could happen, so he does not look like a coward. Showing that Caesar primarily cares about his image and peoples opinions. The once strong untouchable is Caesar is weak and unable to change.
Caesar does not seem to know that he will be murdered even though he has been warned many times about the ides of march. He does not seem to be stupid, to get to his position he needed to be cunning and intelligent. Caesar's tragic flaw is that he trusts his friends with his life and they kill him for it. The saying "keep your enemies close and your friends even closer," would apply to this flaw. Caesar is too trusting of the men around him. In Caesar's views men are the most trusting and women are nothing, yet was it not his wife who warned him about his death. Even though the soothsayer warned Caesar he did not listen and died for it. Did Caesar deserve to die, was he truly a dictator or a tyrant? History is written by those who are victorious so one may never know. For Caesar in the ides of march there was no vene, vidi, vici.
Through Caesar's inability to listen to others around him, he became assassinated. Instead of trusting or listening to those who loved and feared for Caesar's death, Caesar chose to remain an obstinate character. He chose his pride and honor over his life. Although it is relatively easy to view Caesar's stubbornness as his accepting of death, this is not the case. Caesar, when disregarding others warning around him, was not a way of him accepting death, but simply him being unable to let go of his pride and arrogance. Caesar did not simply accept death because he did not really believe that he was going to die,as was evident when he believed Decius' interpretation of his dream as being that Rome would prosper from him, instead of viewing its real meaning, that he would die. Caesar's ignorance and his lack of ability to listen to others is also apparent when he disregards Artemidorus's warning as the crazy ramblings of a mad man. Caesar's inability to listen and his blindness of his fate caused his death, and his outcome was not merely him simply accepting his fate.
On behalf of Caesar not listening to the multiple sources warning him of something bad, he is killed. His death reveals to the audience what kind of man Caesar is. Caesar's ego causes him to be blind. He feels as though he is on top of the world and that nobody could ever do him harm. This however, is Caesars tragic flaw that ultimately leads to his demise. Even his wife, Calpurnia, warns him not to set out with the senators, but here again Caesar feels he needs to keep his image as a fearless leader going. It is only right for Caesar to have been killed, as his tragic flaw would only lead to Rome's downfall in the long-run. It is quite blatant that Caesar does not accept his death, as even as he is being stabbed he is in awe of his betrayal. Caesar's death sadly was inevitable.
Through Caesar's static role in the play Julius Caesar, had led to his demise. Caesar defiantly wouldn't listen and take the advice from his fellow companions. In denial of believing his upcoming death would take place sooner than expected. Caesar wanted to face death head on, he didn't want to be looked as an coward in front of Rome. Caesar inability to listen to others warning, showed his one most infamous flaw. It is false to see him as "accepting death", because Caesar didn't just accept his death, he knew what lies ahead for him. His fate was already in work, he had no way of controlling what was going to happen. Caesar took his death as a man, remembered by many in honor, not of being cowardly. His ignorance and huge ego made his life shorter. If he would have just listen to the warnings that were said to him he just might had saved his own life.
Through Caesars inability to listen to the one's around him it leads to his inevitable death. The knowlegde learned from this is that he is a static character. A static character is one who does not change as the story progresses or due to any specific events. It would be false to say that Caesar ecpected his death becuase all of his betrayers portrayed themselves as loving followers and also clouded his mind with a false sense of security.
Julius Caeasar is ignorant. He faces the facts of people not liking him, but how could this be if he is so great and powerful? Everyone is supposed to love Caesar. Its not that he is not able to see his death coming, it is that he does not want to see it coming because he thinks it will never happen because he is so great. Although something tells Caesar his death will be more legendary than him escaping death.
In literature and life, one’s ignorance is often times their fatal flaw. As seen in William Shakespeare’s play Caesar, the protagonist, Caesar, was far too ignorant to notice the signs of his coming demise. Caesar chose to ignore his friends and allies and their warnings of the impending danger. Even as omens occurred across the streets of Rome and Caesar’s wife told her husband that she dreamed of Caesar’s death, Caesar refused to listen. For Caesar in his foolishness believed that he was above betrayal and that all of Rome saw him as their lord and savior. Due to his ignorance, Caesar was unable to prevent his own death. Caesar’s historical death symbolizes how the unawareness of ones own surroundings can lead to casualty.
After Caesar was killed in act three is was immensely evident that Caesar was overly confident and full of him self, this is expressed through his inability to listen to the ones around him and take advice. This is evident because even after multiple warnings such as the soothsayer and his wife's dream Caesars pride distorted his vision of reality and refused that he was going to be killed or could even be killed at all. Therefor it is incorrect to say that Caesar was excepting death. Caesar was not excepting death, he was simply incoherent to reality and was not aware of death.
After Caesar hears of his death, he is to stubborn and cares for his image to much to let the threat get to him. When Calpurnia begs of him not to go, Decius easily persuades caesar to leave his house just by saying that this might be the only time he can get the crown. Because of this Caesar doesn't really accept death and wants power so badly that he doesn't care what happens. Caesar thinks of him self as almost a god, which shows that he feels he cannot die, because gods cannt die. Caesar cannot except death and because of this, it actually leads to his death.
Caesars narrow mind and fear of being called a coward eventually leads to his somewhat expected demise. He turns a deaf ear to the people that are trying to help and save his life and does not heed thier subtle, yet obvious warnings. Caesar recieved a prediction from the soothsayer telling him to " Beware the Ides of March" and refuses to read the letter written to him by Artimedorous.This is a clear example of dramatic irony because the audience knows Caesar is going to be killed, but he does not heed the warnings.
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