The Power and Effects of Manipulation in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Manipulation is something that, whether they want to admit it or not, most people have used in some way or another. Whether it is manipulating a friend or family member to drive somewhere, get something from a different room, or getting homework help or answers, manipulation happens everyday in our society. William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is a true story taken place in Rome about the death of Roman ruler, Julius Caesar. In the play, Shakespeare shows multiple ways how manipulation, or the act of influencing, is used between the different characters. Some people are easily manipulated due to hubris, loyalty, naivety, or other characteristics which ultimately leads to consequences and their downfall. Brutus demonstrates loyalty to Rome which makes him vulnerable to being manipulated. Cassius convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy by proclaiming, “‘Brutus’ and ‘Caesar.’ What should be in that ‘Caesar’? / Why should that name be sounded more than yours? / Write them together: yours is as fair a name” (I.ii.143-145). Cassius wants Brutus to believe that Caesar is not better than …show more content…
This has shown that if one can be manipulated too easily, it can cause for some serious problems and consequences. Brutus is such an easy example because his devout loyalty to Rome and the simple fact that he would do anything for Rome leaves him open to numerous chances of manipulation. Shakespeare then proceeds to use Caesar to show that someone high and mighty can sometimes get so caught up in everything, and themselves, that they do not see the consequences of their actions and choose to believe and not believe what they want. The Romans are then the epitome of being easily manipulated. Manipulation is everywhere; it is a part of everyone 's lives and always will
Generally, when people get there way with others they do it with words: they want others to agree with their point of view and from where they're coming from with their situation and to give them what they want. People make choices based on their emotions and appeals and logical tricks, which allows manipulator to control their thinking and behavior. In William Shakespeare the Tragedy Of Julius Caesar , Cassius persuades Brutus to turn against his friends, Decius reinterprets Calpurnia dreams that leads to Caesar. Antony convinces the crowd to turn against the
In the play, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare used Cassius as the ring leader to kill Caesar. The conspirators use persuasion in many different ways throughout the play. One of the many ways Cassius used persuasion is that he had to convince the others that killing Caesar is the right thing to do for Rome and its people. Shakespeare wanted to bring political drama in focus with the plot of Julius Caesar as well and, uses Cassius’ character for it. Cassius plays mind games on the others when trying to convince them.
For example, Cassius presents Brutus with the power to choose whether or not to join the conspiracy. Cassius convinces Brutus to join his efforts to kill Julius Caesar at the Forum during the footrace for the feast of Lupercal (I.ii.56-178). This clearly manifests Brutus becoming dishonorable because he decides to murder one of his friends because Cassius sways him into thinking he would rise to power. Before Cassius convinces him, Brutus was Caesar’s friend and never considers killing Caesar or deems Caesar as ambitious. This impacts the tragedy because Shakespeare includes the theme in the play that power changes people to a lesser quality than they were before; when Brutus has power he goes from being high quality and honorable to low quality and dishonorable.
On the other hand, how could the mob in Rome be easily influenced? The conspirators, Brutus and Cassius being the chief members, wanted to eliminate Caesar’s ‘spirit’ as they called it. The devious schemers found the people’s naivety advantageous as did Mark Antony, who continued to be a Caesar loyalist and made Caesar’s ideologies live on. Antony manipulated
His method of keeping immense power by using fear to manipulate citizens has been manifested for a long period of time, since the book The Prince was published. Similarly, his methods are manifested in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar with characters that are attractive and expressive, yet flawed. Although some of the characters from Julius Caesar did not manifest Machiavellian traits, those that did ran into the same consequences as those who didn’t, indicating that a disastrous ending awaits them either way.
This justifies the use of rhetorical questions as an acceptable, rational persuasion technique. Immediately after this rhetorical question, Cassius uses compare and contrast by comparing Brutus to Caesar by saying, “Write them together, yours is as fair a name; / Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well” (1.2.48-51). By claiming that Brutus and Caesar both have “fair” names and that the names both “sound” equally honorable, Cassius highlights a clear comparison between Brutus and Caesar. The similarities between the two are emphasized by Cassius in order to persuade Brutus that he is equally as important as Caesar, and should not allow Caesar to establish his own tyrannical state.
Taylor Scuorzo 3/1/22 Julius Caesar Essay Exam People in power can be corrupt and manipulative to maintain and grow their power in society. In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, a power struggle is unfolding between Julius Caesar and the conspirators. In this play, every triumphant leader has a certain arsenal of positive and negative traits that allow them and their people to flourish.
While the first societies were built by man, the rules of every society since have have dictated the actions and beliefs of each individual. In the Roman Society presented in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar is on the verge of being crowned king, and some of his fellow Romans are none too pleased with this. Julius Caesar takes place in ancient Rome in 44 b.c. At this time, Rome was the center of a large empire, but their society had its fair share of problems. Their society gives much of the wealth and power to a select few people while many power-hungry men vie to be absolute leaders.
In the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare Rome is struck with utter disorder after certain characters use ethos, pathos and logos to manipulate the people of Rome. One character who uses ethos, pathos and logos is Cassius to manipulate Brutus into joining the conspirators. Brutus also uses ethos, pathos and logo to justify his killing of Caesar. Last, Mark Antony uses ethos, pathos and logo to manipulate the Plebeians against Brutus and the conspirators. Thus, Cassius, Brutus and Mark Antony all use ethos, pathos and logos to manipulate one another and bring the people of Rome to their sides, resulting in total chaos.
Unfortunately, Cassius uses Brutus’ altruistic characteristic and devout loyalty against him by sending fake letters with concerns regarding the crowning of Caesar for Brutus to read and be persuaded to join the conspirators. Cassius’ manipulation of Brutus serves as an example of how Shakespeare
Cassius wants Brutus to think that if Throughout the play Julius Caesar, written by William shakespeare, Cassius uses manipulation to form his group of conspirators and make them perform his biddings. Most importantly, Cassius turns Brutus, one of Caesar’s greatest friends, to his side through various creative tactics. Body 1: During the Feast of Lupercal, Cassius pulls Brutus aside to begin his manipulative plan. Cassius explains to Brutus that “Men are sometimes masters of their fates”. They have the potential to change their future.
Cassius influenced Brutus to conspire against Caesar by stating, Caesar “is now become a god… and his name has been sounded more than [Brutus’s]” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 118-145-6). Cassius’s arguments convinced Brutus in proving Caesar's murder would be just, but Caesar’s death is unjust because he is being murdered out of Brutus and Cassius’s jealousy. Both of the individuals are envious of the power that Caesar is being given by the people of Rome and want to end his life before they will lose their own power in the senate after Caesar becomes king. Brutus’ naive mind was easily convinced by Cassius that Caesar was not the best choice to assume the Roman throne because he would not listen to their political thoughts.
Manipulation is shown in many ways such as politics, the media, misleading information and false advertising. To convey one’s thoughts to your own advantage is seen as crude and unnecessary. However, many people have their reasons in manipulating someone whether they are good or bad. In Shakespeare’s Othello, the concept of taking advantage of someone through manipulation leads to unnecessary, horrible events.
Early in the play, Cassius states that Brutus does not seem to see him as a
The conspirators wanted to murder Caesar for many reasons, but Cassius wanted to murder Caesar only for his personal reasons. He compared himself to Caesar, and said that Caesar is not better than he is. “ I was born free as Caesar, so were you; We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter’s cold as well as he.” (21).