The Man of Thought and the Man of Self in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Essay Example

Today, society is a world full of Influencers. Whether they made their names on Tik Tok, Instagram, or television, these people – influencers – have an impact on human lives, whether they like it or not. People are more likely to buy a product with Leonardo DiCaprio or Kim Kardashian’s face attached to it than some random schmuck. This is one of the reasons why people voted for Ronald Reagan. He was a celebrity, an influencer. For some reason, people are more likely to trust those in the spotlight than their own friends, family, and even selves! One may never figure out why this may be the case, but one can confirm that this tale of influence, power, and deceit is as old as time itself. This is made evident in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. It is a tragic tale of Brutus, the man of thought; Caesar, the man of self; and their battle for influence over the Roman masses. Whether they knew it or not, Brutus and Caesar’s smallest of decisions could dictate the fate of Rome for centuries to come. 

BRUTUS: THE MAN OF THOUGHT

Quintus Brutus is a man of thought. He thinks and ponders like it’s his job (it is), often to a fault. Throughout the play, Brutus is proved to be quite the overthinker. In Scene 1 of Act 2, Brutus is unable to sleep, plagued by a grave decision. He says, “I cannot by the progress of the stars give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly” (lines 2-4). He tells his servant, Lucius, to tell him how close dawn is, since he can’t decipher it from the stars. He then goes on a rant, complaining about his anxiety-inducing dilemma. He could either accept Caesar’s growing power and the possibility of a monarchy, or kill Caesar and end his rule. Not only has this dilemma kept him from his sleep on this particular night, but also many nights prior. Many of his fellow conspirators actually grow impatient with Brutus' indecisiveness.

It is worth noting, however, that Brutus doesn’t overthink every decision. He does consider his options deeply, which is why he is adored and admired by the Romans, civilians and politicians alike. Towards the end of Act 1, Scene 3, Cassius, the main conspirator against Caesar, is having a conversation with Casca, another conspirator, about the plan to be carried out the next day. Casca tells Cassius that it is wise to get Brutus on their side because “he sits high in all the people’s hearts, and that which would appear offense in [Casca and Cassius], his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and to worthiness.” Essentially, if Brutus sides with Cassius, Casca, and the others, what would normally be considered wrong would seem virtuous and noble. This is because of Brutus’ reputation as a trustworthy man and his influence. He has enough influence over the Roman people that sins are made tickets to heaven, and Cassius, who doesn’t have that kind of influence, knows this.

Cassius also knows that because of his power and reputation, Brutus isn’t the humblest of men. He has a bit of an ego and a soft spot for flattery, though he doesn’t show it. In Act 1, Scene 2, Cassius flatters Brutus and persuades him to join the conspiracy, saying that Caesar’s death would be for the good of Rome, and that the people will love him, et cetera. Though Brutus ponders decisions that often cause him insomniac anxiety, he isn’t cautious. He is prone to be manipulated by those who know his weakness for flattery and his ever-hungry ego. He may have influence over Rome, but he is easily swayed by other people. For this reason, Brutus isn’t quite fit for his high position in Roman politics and society. How can someone expect him to make wise decisions for the city when they can easily be overridden by someone who knows how to tickle his ego just right? That being said, Brutus is almost as humble as Jesus Christ when compared to his superior, Julius Caesar.

CAESAR: THE MAN OF SELF

Julius Caesar is a man of self. Just as Brutus’ entire livelihood is dominated by pondering and thinking, Caesar’s livelihood is dominated by his servitude to his own self. He is arrogant and thinks very highly of himself. For example, in Act 1, Scene 2, Caesar calls Antony to touch Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia, while he is finishing his race so that she may become fertile, according to the legends surrounding the feast of Lupercal. What Caesar fails to consider is that maybe it is he, not his wife, who is infertile. He is quick to place the blame for their childless marriage on Calpurnia because it is inconceivable to him that maybe, just maybe, he might have a human flaw. 

Throughout the play, Shakespeare makes it clear that Caesar thinks of himself as some untouchable god. Though he is admired by the Roman people, he believes that no one could possibly wish him harm. They love him too much! As revealed later in the play, Caesar is proved wrong by the 23 stab wounds from his dear colleagues. Caesar is blind to the signs that maybe some people don’t like him so much. After all, Rome was in the middle of a civil war. Caesar had just defeated Pompey’s armies up north, and the people who supported Pompey weren’t happy. In Act 1, Scene 1, two Roman officials get on to a couple of workers who are celebrating Caesar’s victorious return as well as Lupercal. This isn’t the only reason why the conspirators decided to kill Caesar, but it is a major one. Caesar is warned multiple times by close friends of his and even his own wife, but he ignores them after some very minimal counterpersuasion. For example, in Act 2, Scene 2, Calpurnia warns Caesar about a nightmare she had about him being murdered and his blood spilling from his statue. She urges Caesar to not go to the senate, because she is sure bad things will happen to him if he goes. Caesar agrees to stay home, but he is then greeted by Decius Brutus, who tells him that Calpurnia’s dream is misinterpreted, and “It was a vision fair and fortunate. Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, in which so many smiling Romans bathed, signifies that from you great Rome shall suck reviving blood, and that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.” (lines 84-90). 

It is very significant to note that on the feast of Lupercal, while Cassius was convincing Brutus to join the conspiracy, Caesar was being offered to become king of Rome three times. He rejected the crown all three times, but it wasn’t out of humility. No. That man has very little humility, certainly not enough to truly reject the crown. Caesar only rejected the crown then in order to gain popularity points. He wanted the crowds to think, “Oh, he is so humble! He is too humble to accept the crown right now. Surely, this is a greater reason that we should crown him king!” To be clear, Caesar fully planned on becoming king as soon as possible. In fact, in Act 2, Scene 2, Decius tells Caesar that the Senate was planning on crowning him king the next day, and if he didn’t go to the Senate, they would think he was a coward and change their minds. This is what made Caesar change his mind, defy his wife, and go to the Senate, where he would be betrayed by the men he once called friends. He would be doomed by his arrogance and naïveté, which, to be fair, would only bring ruin to Rome. For this reason, Caesar wasn’t the best fit for Rome’s dictator. 

This story of arrogance and influence isn’t to be left in the past. As proved time and time again, history repeats itself, and Brutus and Caesar’s story has and will continue to repeat itself. People need to watch out for celebrities and especially politicians who act humble and noble. It is very likely that they are only acting in that way to gain trust and popularity, when in reality, they are just as arrogant as Caesar or Brutus. One must also be alert to spot figures like Decius and Cassius, who stroke the egos of those in power to get their way. Influence is a very powerful thing, whether it is over one person or one million people. It is imperative to use it wisely, and not for personal gain. The man who fails to do so will end up bleeding on the Senate floor.