Brenda Hill April, 28, 2014
Julius Caesar Theme Lesson - 142
Many authors try to convey different lessons to where we can learn from their writings. William Shakespeare, in his play Julius Caesar, has definitely accomplished this goal. With the many lessons included in this story, we can learn from the mistakes of others made previously. It could be said that the actions of society are learned by the actions of our leaders. In this play, the major political lessons include: mob mentality, respect, and wealth and powers are the roots of all evil.
Shakespeare realized that people behave differently in mobs. One individual can sway the opinions of everyone present by convincing just one person in the group. This is called mob mentality. In Act III, Scene II, Brutus speaks to the masses and explains why Caesar had to be slain for the good of Rome. Then, Brutus leaves and Antony speaks to the citizens.
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 MuseumWhile Antony is far better judge of human nature than Brutus, he cleverly manages to turn the crowd against the conspirators by telling them of Caesar's good works and his concern for the people. Another shocking act of the mob was when they killed Cinna the poet. Although they realize that he is the wrong Cinna, they are so enraged that they murder him anyway.
Although revenge is a major concept in this play, respect is another important theme. After Brutus kills himself, Antony says "This was the noblest Roman of them all: all the conspirators save only he did what they did in envy of great Caesar; he only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them." ----Meaning that Antony regarded Brutus as an honorable man, despite the fact that he killed Caesar. Antony also understood...