The Julius Caesar Play

Although the play is called Julius Caesar, he is killed off part way though and we don't see a lot of him.

So it is quite difficult to have an opinion on whether or not we feel sympathy for him. The play is set in Ancient Rome after a civil war, where Caesar has triumphed over Pompey. This sounds very similar to the civil war that Queen Elizabeth had fought with the Irish, as you could get into serious trouble to talk about you're views on the King or queen at the time. There are so many similarities in this play so it is hard to tell if we're meant to feel sympathy for Caesar or not.

In this play we see themes of envy, greed and betrayal.In Act 1 scene 1 we see the triumphant return of Caesar. In this part of the play there seams to be no sympathy for Caesar by the tribunes, who are meant to be supporting him, a good example of this is in the play where a tribune says. "wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tribune follow him to Rome? " these rhetorical questions are used scornfully by Marullus and Flavius to try and discredit Caesar, the effect of this language is out of lack of sympathy.

They are saying that he hasn't brought back anything good for the empire and that he has just thrown everything out of proportion, this is said with not feeling.Marullus and Flavius attempt to disobey Caesar, they are caught burning and vandalizing his banners and trophies "Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarf's of Caesars images and put to silence" this could be Shakespeare trying to persuade the audience to hate Caesar, as he has killed two people just because they wanted to voice their opinions, but Marullus and Flavius with the civil was Caesar would of killed some of their friends and possibly family. The audience doesn't feel any sympathy for Caesar as Caesar has executed two people for saying that he doesn't deserver to be what he is.Act 1, scene 2 is the opening scene for Caesar and is meant to capture the audience, but not necessarily make them feel sympathy there we meet his character and start to make up our minds about him.

In this scene we see that he is adored my Antony. "I shall remember when Caesar 'do that it is perform'd. " This could be used by Shakespeare to persuade the audience to not like him, as he seems arrogant, though that could just be a misinterpretation of Antony's loyalty towards Caesar. Metaphors, similies and imagery are used all throughout the play by Shakespeare.

In Act 2, scene 1 Brutus talks about how close Antony and Caesar are. "For Antony is but a limb of Caesar" form this metaphor, we get the sense that Antony and Caesar are so close that they are almost one, from this we relies that Antony will be incredibly upset when Caesar is killed. Thought saying that a limb is there to be used, perhaps he is trying to say that Caesar uses him at the same time as discrediting the loyal Antony. Friendship is another theme of the play, as it's from Brutu's friendship that he thinks Caesar will be come a tyrant in his very powerful position as head of the Roman Empire.

Similes are used by Cassius to show Caesar as week" as a sick girl" are often used throughout the play, mostly to show Caesar as weak, overly superior, or arrogant. In Act 2, scene 1 we see Brutus, he seems to be very worried and stressed about something "I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly. " He's not bale to sleep because he has no idea about what to do about Caesar. He then starts to weight out the pros and cons of killing Caesar.

"It must be by his death and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn him but for the general.The would be crowned, how that might change his nature there's the question... " By saying this he has shown that he isn't sure whether Caesar would stay king if he was Crowned, and by this we see that he is swaying to Caesar not being crowned idea.

"Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoint remorse from power... " he believes that power will corrupt Caesar. This could influence the audience as we are seeing Caesar as a good man as he has already refused the crown three times. We sympathise with Caesar, as we know then that Brutus doesn't trust Caesar and he is easily swayed by Cassius.

Act 3, scene 1 is one of the final scenes in which the audience can make a decision on whether or not to symphathise with Caesar. Caesars arrogance could be a reason why he doesn't know about the conspiracy. This arrogance had left him ignorant to envy around him and the audience could feel that he deserves what he get. But Caesar isn't completely ignorant as he already suspects Cassius.

"let me have men around me that are fat... yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; he thinks too much and such men are dangerous" Caesar is warned, but he doesn't take the warning on board as the document was described as "a suit that touches Caesar near.

Caesar then replies "what touched us ourselve shall be last served" this could been seen as a very benevolent and selfless thing and something a true leader would do. Making the audience then feel sympathy for him. The last thing Caesar says catches the audience out, making them feel all the more sympathetic towards him. "Et tu, Brute. " This is Latin for "even you Brutus".

In conclusion Julius Caesar is said to be a tyrant throughout the play, but he is mostly said to be a tyrant by those who envy him.Jealousy has persuaded his friends against him and made them murder him. Overall there are many points that make the audience feel sympathetic towards Caesar, what his last words were before he died for example. But there are also part of the play that make the audience not show any sympathy towards him for example when Caesar is shown as being arrogant and ignoring the warnings telling him that he is being plotted against . So it's quite difficult to tell whether or not Shakespeare is trying to make the audience feel sympathy for him.