In Act III of 'Julius Caesar', a play by William Shakespeare, the assassination of Rome's Emperor, Julius Caesar, is depicted. The play implies that the desire for power may have been the reason behind his murder. Power is characterized as having control or authority and being able to act according to one's wishes. The investigation centers on whether Brutus, Octavius, and Antony were corrupted by their quest for power, driving them to kill Julius Caesar and assume his position as Rome's leader.
It has been proposed that power can lead to corruption, with absolute power resulting in complete corruption. Nevertheless, power can also have positive effects such as making an individual more virtuous or prosperous, or empowering them to assist those they govern. This article will examine the actions of Brutus, Octavius, and Antony in the
...play, and explore how power influences these characters.
Although Cassius begins the plot to kill Caesar, Brutus is a crucial character in the play and leads the group that plans to assassinate Caesar. Despite his love for Caesar and vice versa, Brutus fears that Caesar would become corrupt with absolute power if crowned king. This tragic irony leads him to give the final stab that kills Caesar. Later, Brutus leads his and Cassius' army against Antony and Octavius’ forces and ultimately dies by suicide to avenge Caesar’s death. Caesar’s growing popularity among the masses made them want to anoint him as king, granting him absolute power.
Brutus believed that if Caesar became king, his absolute power would corrupt him and he would turn into a tyrant who could do whatever he wanted. As Brutus said, "But for the general. He would b
crown’d: How that might change his nature, there’s the question: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking." (Act 2, Scene I, lines 12–19). Therefore, Brutus thought that it was necessary to kill Caesar in order to prevent this from happening and to protect both Caesar and Rome. He believed that if Caesar were crowned, he would become dangerous and misuse his power. As Brutus explained, "Crown him that; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. Th’ abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power… And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg Which, hatch’d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell." (Act 2, Scene I, lines 32–34). Thus, Brutus killed Caesar not for personal gain, but for what he thought was in the best interest of Caesar and Rome.
It is evident that Brutus was a noble man who was not motivated by power. However, the struggle for power ultimately destroyed his relationship with Cassius. Although they were initially close allies, their bond deteriorated when seeking equal power over their army after Caesar's death. They began to argue and became angry with each other, driving Cassius to the point of desperation as he expressed to Brutus that he was willing to sacrifice himself. (Cassius says to Brutus, "I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart: Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know, When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Than ever thou lovedst Cassius." Act 4, Scene III, Lines 103–106). Ultimately, it was
power that led to Brutus' downfall.
Caesar was content in his position before his demise, but he was dragged into the power struggle after his death. If he had not joined, Antony and Octavius would have killed him. Despite not having the intention to gain power, the pursuit of it ultimately led to his downfall. Brutus realized the battle was lost, causing him to take his own life, thereby avenging Caesar. After Caesar's death, Octavius and Antony declared themselves Rome's rulers.
Octavius collaborates with Antony in removing individuals who may challenge their authority and ensuring success in warfare. Octavius' objective is self-centered, striving to acquire and retain power for his own benefit, disregarding the welfare of others. This is supported by the register of people to be eliminated, known as the 'proscribed', which Octavius and Antony jointly created. As stated by Antony, "These many shall die; their names are prick’d."
In Act 4, Scene I, line 1, Shakespeare wrote that Julius Caesar had a list of people who might prevent him from remaining ruler of Rome and gaining power, including Brutus and Cassius. This is why he fought against them in battle. The quest for power was clearly the motivation behind his actions. Later, Antony and Octavius proclaimed themselves rulers of Rome, suggesting they share equal power.
Despite Antony's objections, Octavius attempts to exert control over him by dictating the direction of their battle. Antony questions Octavius' interference, but Octavius insists on taking charge. However, this display of power does not make Octavius a noble figure; in fact, he seems to be corrupted by it as he constantly seeks to gain more control.
Although power initially
led to success for him and Antony on the battlefield, it ended up destroying his character. In the end, he became cold and callous, only interested in killing the enemy. In Act 5, Scene I, lines 48-51 and 64-66, Octavius declares his defiance towards the conspirators and invites them to fight on the field if they dare. Despite this, Antony remains an intriguing character.
Antony, a close friend of Caesar, is frequently seen by his side. Following Caesar's murder, he experiences both distress and anger and seeks to avenge his friend's death by targeting the murderers. His aspirations extend beyond mere revenge as he aims to thwart Brutus and Cassius from gaining control, perhaps so that he can seize power for himself. Antony's ultimate objective is to settle the score with Caesar's killers on the battlefield.
Despite initially desiring justice, Antony also had a thirst for power. He and Octavius declared themselves rulers of Rome after Caesar's death and took measures to preserve their positions. These measures included creating a list of potential threats to their power, whom they deemed necessary to eliminate. The pursuit of power corrupted Antony, prompting him to consider modifying Caesar's will by adjusting the allocation of funds for the upcoming battle while withholding certain legacies from citizens.
Antony instructed Lepidus to retrieve Caesar's will from his house, so they could determine how to lessen legacies. These legacies were funded by a deceased person's money, serving no one else but Octavius. This drive for power aided Antony in winning the battle against Cassius and Brutus, alongside his desire for revenge for Caesar's death. However, the pursuit of power also led Antony to become deceitful,
rather than virtuous.
Within the play 'Julius Caesar', the pursuit of power acts as a motivation for Antony and Octavius - with Antony ultimately becoming corrupted by it. In contrast, Brutus acts solely for altruistic aims, desiring what is best for Rome rather than seeking power himself. Therefore, whilst power may indeed corrupt, it is not the driving force behind every character's actions. (Bibliography: Gill, R.)
(editor). The Phrase Finder: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Julius Caesar. Oxford University Press, Oxford. © 1979, Reprinted 1998. 14 June 2008.
The meaning of the phrase "http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/288200" can be found at this website.
