Examples Of Manipulation In Julius Caesar

Manipulation is a term when describing an intelligent, sly, and even devious character. Many characters throughout The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar and manipulate others in order to allow for their ambitions to flourish. Examples of characters that manipulate throughout the play are Cassius, Decius, and Antony. Cassius manipulates Brutus by deceiving him with a note given by “Roman citizens” which tells Brutus to open his eyes and see the destruction that will soon come from Caesar’s rule. Decius manipulates Caesar and Calpurnia with his quick wit and Antony was able to manipulate the Roman people using his and the citizens past emotions. In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar, numerous characters were manipulative to execute the plan to assassinate

Cassius is the main conspirator and recruits Brutus into the conspiracy with manipulation by placing notes from ¨Romans citizens¨ which writes that Brutus must save Rome from the destruction which will come from the companion, Julius Caesar. A passage within Julius Caesar shows this when Shakespeare writes, “Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper, / And look you lay it in the Praetor’s chair, / Where Brutus may but find it: and throw this / In at his window; set this up with wax / Upon old Brutus’ statue. All this done, / Repair to Pompey’s Porch, where you shall find us.” (JC. 1.3. 147-153). This passage shows the Cassius’ manipulation who is attempting to manipulate Brutus and using him to be in the citizens favor. In a different part of the passage, Cassius writes, “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself! / Shall Rome etc. Speak, strike, and redress!” (JC. 2.1. 48 - 49). This passage shows the manipulation tactic that Cassius uses to have Brutus agree with him to assassinate Caesar. The ability of manipulation proves to be an extremely powerful trait because Cassius’ was able to have even honorable man join a conspiracy. After manipulating Brutus, a character known as Decius was chosen to ensure the delivery of Caesar to the

Antony emphasizes his reasons of why Caesar was not ambitious through his accomplishments which are followed by “And Brutus is an honorable man” because Brutus is an honorable man but he is also being sarcastic about how honorable he is after assassinating Caesar. In the text, Antony shouts, “He was my friend, faithful and just to me, / But Brutus says he was ambitious, / And Brutus is an honorable man. / He hath brought many captives home to Rome, / Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. / Did this is Caesar seem ambitious? / When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; / Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. / Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, / And Brutus is an honorable man. / you all did see that on the Lupercal / I thrice presented him a kingly crown, / Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? / Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, / And sure he is an honorable man.” (JC. 3.2. 94 - 108). This passage shows that Antony proves that Caesar was not ambitious through the selfless actions Caesar performed for the people of Rome such as crying with the poor, bringing captives home and even denying the crown thrice times. The potential power of manipulation is unbelievable because Antony’s ability to manipulate the people caused a mutiny even towards an