Questionable Heros in the Play Julius Caesar

Questionalbe Heros in

the Play Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar, a play written by the famous play-write William Shakespeare, had many characters who could have been questioned in terms of their motives and will. Some may have had good intentions, but others were revealed to have other things in mind than the well-being of the Romans. The aim of this paper is to take a look at why the main people in this tragedy did what they did.

Julius Caesar, the center of the big ordeal, is the first logical person to take a look at. When he first arrives, he is hailed as a great man and offered the crown numerous times, refusing it each time. He is clearly the hero of the people for that time. The question of his heroism comes when his previous actions are looked upon. He has just returned from killing Pompey and Pompey's sons.

English: Map of the Roman Republic in 40 BC after ...

Bust of Gaius Julius Caesar in the National Archae...

Bust of Julius Caesar from the British Museum

He did this to gain complete control of Rome instead of sticking with the triumvirate that had currently ruled. He was ambitious, or so it was said, and he wanted only power. This alone shows that his motives were not as pure as was first thought.

The next person to be looked upon in Mark Antony, apparently Julius Caesar's right-hand man. He plays the part of the hero as he takes Caesar's side after death and rallies the people against the conspirators. As he speaks to Octavius, though, he shows that he is mainly after the power also in saying that the third person of their new triumvirate, Lepidus, is not a worthy adversary and is only good enough to carry messages. Antony goes on to say that they should have him (Lepidus) killed, along with all the other people they were making a list...