Minor Challenge: Discussion Question
While reading Acts One and Two of Shakespeare's
Julius Caesar, I wanted to make note of a few situations I felt that needs to be discussed.
In Act One, Scene Two, Cassius was obviously trying to persuade Brutus into plotting against Caesar. Granted, Brutus did say: "What means this shouting? I do fear, the people choose Caesar for their king." (act 1, scene 2, lines 81-82) then, when asked if he wanted Caesar to be king by Cassius, he replied: "I would not, Cassius. Yet I love him well." (act 1, scene 2, line 84). This shows that Brutus already has doubts about Caesar being king, but there does not appear to be any violent intentions of stopping Caesar. Cassius, seeing that Brutus is doubtful, begins to talk dirty about Caesar. After their conversation, Cassius tells us about his plans to butter up Brutus by leaving him letters in places he'll see about how great he (Brutus) is and how unworthy Caesar is. Cassius then tells us and Casca that Brutus is already mainly on their side, and he just needs a little push to fully agree with their plans. Casca then replies: "Oh, he sits high in all the people's hearts, and that which would appear offensive in us, his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and to the worthiness." (act 1, scene 2, lines 159-162). These scenes angered me when I read them, because I felt like Cassius and Casca are only using Brutus for their plans, instead of actually being his friend and genuinely supporting him.
If Cassius had not tried to influence Brutus, would Brutus still have helped Cassius and the others on his own?
It also bothered me how quickly Brutus gets on board with Cassius's plans to kill Caesar. For the sake of time, it makes sense that Shakespeare would rush this process along, but it still gives me chills thinking about how one man can go from loving his friend to wanting him dead.
What also caught my attention during the reading was how Brutus was not open to the idea of allowing Caesar to become king. Brutus has a theory that Caesar, once he becomes king, will turn his back on his friends and create chaos within Rome. Brutus believes in this theory so much, that he thinks: "And therefore think him as a serpent's egg--which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous--and kill him in his shell." (act 2, scene 1, lines 32-34). Instead of giving Caesar the benefit of the doubt, Brutus would rather result to violence.
If Brutus and the others changed their minds and allowed Caesar to rule Rome for awhile, would the outcome be the same; Caesar dying at the hands of his friends?
