The Many Faces of Caius Cassius

The Many Faces of Caius Cassius

“I was born as free as Caesar; so were you” page 32 line 96. In the play Julius Caesar Cassius, one of the conspirators that brings down Caesar, believes that Caesar is the same as everybody else. Cassius despises Caesar and everything he does and believes that Caesar isn’t right for Rome. Cassius believed Caesar had to be brought down and stopped before he becomes a tyrant so that he can save himself but also all of Rome from the life of which Caesar would bring. Cassius’ motivating forces to end Caesar’s reign as king before it began were: his strong sense of jealousy toward Caesar as well as for the greater good of Rome.

Though in the play Cassius is viewed as the evil and envious one of the conspirators but he does show that he wants the best for Rome. Cassius believes that Caesar is weak and that Caesar shouldn’t be a tyrant because of how he will react to all the power. Since Cassius wanted the good for Rome he was part of a conspiracy set to start the downfall of Caesar. Cassius explains to Brutus that Caesar is not as mighty and, as all of Rome believes he is. “We have both fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter’s cold as well as he” page 32 lines 97-98. Cassius shows to Brutus how Caesar is not more important or stronger then anyone else in Rome and shouldn’t be treated as he is. Cassius is giving evidence to Brutus how Caesar is not anything more than a Roman and shows that Cassius believes that Caesar will do Rome no good by becoming king. Cassius believes that Caesar will take all power for himself leaving Rome in ruins and he does not want that for his country so he needs to stop Caesar. Cassius then goes on to show how Caesar is not only a normal Roman but less than one. Cassius worked with Caesar when they fought many battles and Cassius knows that Caesar is not quite the leader Rome believes he is. “Ye gods, it doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone.” Page 34 lines 127-130. Cassius is explaining to Brutus how Caesar, so strong and mighty in public, is actually weak and does not deserve the power of a king. This shows a different side of Cassius then the audience is used to because here he believes that Caesar is to weak to bear being king. Cassius shows that since Caesar is to weak to be king that he would do nothing but bad for Rome. Even though Cassius is not portrayed as the most honorable and noble person he still fights for the best for Rome which is with out Caesar.

Cassius is portrayed as having a deep hatred for Caesar and being envious of all the power that he has which is another motivating factor for him. Through his speech Cassius shows that he believes Caesar is weak and that the two are equals but also hints on that he wants the power. Whenever Cassius speaks of Caesar you can hear sense the envy in his words and his deep hatred of Caesar. You can also see that Cassius is very envious of Caesar because he only speaks badly of Caesar. Cassius doesn’t believe that Caesar is anything great and they are equals so Caesar deserves no special treatment. “And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him” page 34 lines 114-117. Once Caesar defeated Pompey Caesar was viewed with so much respect that anyone in his presence must bow to him no matter whom they are. Cassius shows his burning envy for Caesar because he shows extremes by comparing Caesar to a god and himself a low life creature that has to respect a man he despises. Cassius shows his envy for Caesar’s power here because he compares Caesar to a god when he really isn’t but in the eyes of the Romans he is. Cassius continues to prove to Brutus that Caesar has become a god in the eyes of the Roman while the rest are left behind. “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs” page 36 lines 133-135. Cassius is saying here that Caesar has become a god and the he is so much higher than the rest of the Romans that they are only as high as Caesar’s legs are. Cassius is envious of Caesar because since Caesar has become a god like figure he has left the rest of Rome behind him. You can see how much Cassius envies Caesar here because he is giving strong imagery of how Caesar is so much higher above the rest of the Romans and all of his explanation shows how he yearns to have the power that Caesar does. Even though there is a sense that Cassius is going to kill Caesar to not only benefit himself but the rest of Rome as well his main motivator to kill Caesar was his envy for Caesar.

Cassius believed that Rome needed to be rid of Caesar and since Caesar is power hungry the only way to stop him is to kill him. Through out the play the public of Rome and the other characters view Cassius as envious and hating Caesar he still does show that he wants the best for Rome as well. Cassius was able to convey his driving forces through his speech from showing how Caesar is weak and not right for Rome to the great god that Caesar has become from the eyes of the public. I believe that Cassius only completed part of his goal but that part was the goal he believed was necessary. Cassius was able to assassinate Caesar and keep Rome a democracy, which was his short-term goal, but he ended up in a civil war, which he ended up killing himself. I believe that Cassius’ goal wasn’t noble in the long run because he did what was right for Rome at the beginning but in the end he sent Rome into a civil war and decided to kill himself. The goal was a little worthy because all he was able to save Rome from the tyranny that Caesar might have brought but that is it. Cassius then sent Rome into a civil war causing chaos, death and destruction that only brought Rome down. In the end I believe that Cassius did achieve his short-term goal of keeping Caesar out of power but in the long run he did nothing to benefit Rome or for him self.