Julius Caesar Conflict Analysis

William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar tells of the factions and battles high in the government of the Roman republic. The conflict centers around the aftermath of the coup of a conspiracy overthrowing their leader, and the fractionalization of the remaining leaders scrambling for power. Cassius, a senator, convinces several others to join him in removing Caesar from power through assassination. The final member in need of convincing is Brutus, another government figure loved and held in high esteem by the Roman people. Brutus, however, is good friends with Caesar, and because of this is understandably hesitant to murder him. Through Cassius’ persuasion, Brutus begins to question his decisions and as he begins to make new ones, he affects all

This ghost appears to haunt Brutus and proceeds to drive him to suicide. Brutus’ friendship with Caesar causes his feelings of remorse for his actions, leading to the manifestation of his guilt in the ghost of Caesar. Brutus is originally reluctant to join the conspiracy due to his history with Caesar, and after caving, must justify his decisions to himself, a precursor to the future mental unrest that causes Brutus to envision the ghost of Caesar. Before meeting with the conspirators, Brutus is alone in his garden contemplating the choice ahead. His soliloquy opens with “it must be by his death” (2.1.11). Brutus has realized the requirement of Caesar’s death, yet follows this statement by saying “I know no personal cause to spurn at him, / But for the general [public]. He would be crowned: / How that might change his nature, there’s the / question. ” (2.1.12-15). Brutus feels conflicted before joining the conspiracy, he begins with the conclusion that the killing of Caesar

The ghost of Caesar appears solely to Brutus before the battle of Philippi. In Shakespeare’s works, a ghost appearing to one character represents the idea that it is a figment of imagination establishing that Brutus is imagining the ghost of Caesar. From this it can be interpreted that Brutus feels guilt or remorse over the murder. The ghost proceeds to tell Brutus that he is “thy evil spirit” (4.3.325). This phrase emulates the guilt felt by Brutus over the assassination, telling that Caesar is the spirit that haunts Brutus. From this it can be inferred that Brutus likely killed Caesar only considering the dictator he brought down at the time, without realizing he was also killing his best friend. Brutus’ assassination of Caesar was a controversial matter in Rome. The people, the common herd, has divided, but Brutus’ mind has been divided as well. Furthermore, upon the promised return of Caesar’s ghost, Brutus decides he must commit suicide. He “know[s his] hour is come,” (Shakespeare 5.5.23). This implies the haunting of Brutus by Caesar drives Brutus to kill himself. However, as no others witness the appearances of the ghost of Caesar, it is understood that he is a conjuring of Brutus’ mind. The ghost is seemingly an embodiment of the remorse and guilt Brutus feels over Caesar’s death. As Brutus is driven to death by the ghost, he is driven to death by his own