Conflict in ‘Julius Caesar’: Critical Analysis Essay – Free Essay Example

Conflicting perspectives emerge throughout Julius Caesar, as different characters hold different perspectives as each character has different motives and interests. In Julius Caesar these conflicting perspectives are shown through the stylistic features of a play, the representation of the perspectives through these features helps to portray the conflicting perspectives in a unique way.

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The stylistic features and characterization used in Julius Caesar allow the opposing motives and interests of numerous characters to be established throughout the play. One way this was done was through Caesar’s assassination, Caesar’s assassination was portrayed through various viewpoints in the play and allowed the audience to determine the personal and social motives behind the assassination. In Scene 1, Act 1 when Flavius states that both he and Murellus will pluck feathers from “Caesar’s wing/ will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men…”, Shakespeare foreshadows the grievances that many of the characters have towards Caesar. The use of a simile when comparing Caesar to a bird soaring ‘above’ the people of Rome helps to develop him as a revered and god-like character, an absolute power that Murellus and Flavius both desire. Likewise, differing viewpoints behind the reason for Caesar’s assassination are developed behind the conversation between Cassius and Brutus in Act 2, Scene 1.

The nobility behind Brutus’ motives is established in this scene when he states that Caesar should be thought of as a “serpent’s egg”. This use of animal imagery and in particular that of a serpent which is symbolic of power and evil is used to represent Caesar demonstrates the fear that Brutus has of Caesar’s corruption. The notion that Brutus brings up of an ‘honorable’ murder is directly contrasted with the personal animosity and hatred that fuels Cassius’ desire for killing Caesar, evident when Cassius states “Why should that name be sounded more than yours?”. The rhetorical question used by Shakespeare highlights the jealous and indignant tone that Cassius adopts in this verse and establishes the grudge and vendetta that he holds against Caesar. The diverging views between Cassius and Brutus are further accentuated in the scene when Brutus states that they should be ‘sacrificers’ but not ‘butchers’. The contrast and juxtaposition between the positive, heroic connotations of the word ‘sacrificers’ as opposed to the adverse connotations of ‘butchers’ once again portrays the stark difference between Brutus’ integrity and Cassius’ hatred. Through the use of foreshadowing and contrasting characteristics, Shakespeare develops conflicting perspectives in a way that is unique to the medium he portrays.