Julius Caesar Ignorance Essay

Can an honorable man also display ignorance and poor judgment? In 1599 AD, William Shakespeare wrote the play Julius Caesar. Throughout this play, Shakespeare describes a man who has just returned to Rome after a military victory in Spain. This man’s name is Julius Caesar. Caesar has just defeated the king of Rome. In doing this, Caesar becomes next in line to become king. If Caesar were to become King, it would mean the end of Rome’s republican system of government, in which the senators, who represent the people of Rome, influence most of the power. When Brutus makes three mistakes of joining the conspiracy, allowing Antony to live, permitting Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral, he inadvertently seals his death warrant. Brutus and Cassius

This presents his first major mistake. Brutus says, ” Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (3.2.23). In this speech, Brutus makes it clear that he loves Rome and that he would do anything to protect the Roman Empire. When he joins the conspiracy, he ignorantly allows himself to be misled by Cassius into thinking that numerous people joined the conspiracy. Cassius does this by throwing letters into Brutus’s window, which seem to be signed by several citizens. “Brutus interprets the letters as a protest against Caesar” (2.1.47). In this scene, Brutus thinks that the citizens agree with his plan. But what he fails to understand that it is Cassius whom sent him the letters. Even though Brutus questions Cassius, “Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius?” (1.2.70) Brutus still mistakenly trusts Cassius while at the same time sealing his death

Saying that they should kill Antony as well intrigues Brutus, yet he fails to follow Cassius’s advice. Brutus’s second costly mistake lies in his response, “ for Antony is but a limb of Caesar.” (2.1.172) Foolishly, he states that once Caesar’s death occurs that Antony will only mourn for his dear friend. Brutus underestimates the power of Antony, thinking he will be power-less without Caesar. After that Brutus, continues to say, “ Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Cassius.” (2.1.173) Since he fears that if they kill both Caesar and Antony the presumption will be that they did it out of anger and not for the good of Rome, Brutus declines to carry out the act. In these scenes, Brutus believes that his decisions are justified and right, however, in the end, they are the complete opposite, which again seals his death