The Nature of Man Explored in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

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Much speculation has arisen over why Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar. Some say he was he was predicting what would happen should civil war break out in England. Shakespeare lived from 1564 to
1616 in the Elizabethan era. Julius Caesar was written in 1599, near the end of the Queen’s reign.
Elizabeth was growing old and still had no heir; the future ruler of England lay in question. Undoubtedly, multiple candidates would strive for the throne, but the people would ultimately choose who would succeed through their support. However, could people, who were motivated by such base things, be trusted to make the right decision? This is one of the questions Shakespeare attempts to answer in Julius
Caesar. Taking place after the Roman Civil War, the plot revolves not around the title character, but the conspirators who wish to kill him, Brutus and Cassius. They fear Caesar will make himself king and the
Roman Republic will fall; to prevent this, they assassinate him. They announce to the people that they did it for the good of Rome. Unfortunately, the Roman people are persuaded by Mark Antony that
Caesar was virtuous and the conspirators are traitors, resulting in another civil war between the triumvirs – Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus – and the conspirators. Brutus and Cassius lose this war, and the Republic dies with them. The Roman mob plays an important role, as their support is necessary for each side to succeed. Both factions attempt to manipulate them, but the triumvirs are victorious because they appeal to the mob’s basic nature instead of trying to reason with them. This scathing view of the nature of man raises a larger question: if people are so base, can they be trusted to govern themselves? Is democracy doomed t...

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... A Short History." JohnKeane.net, 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. .
2. Leithart, Peter J. "History: Julius Caesar." Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide to Six Shakespeare Plays. Moscow, Id.: Canon, 1996. N. pag. Print.
3. "REPUBLIC vs. DEMOCRACY." Republic vs. Democracy. Law Notes, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. .
4. Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. New York, NY: Dover, 1991. Print.
5. Sproul, R. C. "Augustine: Doctor of Grace." The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts That Shaped Our World. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2000. N. pag. Print.
6. Taylor, Christopher W. "Elizabethan Government." Elizabethan Government. Tennessee State University, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. .

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