Julius Caesar Hero Essay Example

justify">In the theatrical work of William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, the title character could arguably be considered a hero. Living in Rome signified constant danger for Caesar due to secret plots towards his demise by various conspirators. Nonetheless, he remained innocent of any wrongdoing and always aimed to utilize Rome's influence for the welfare of its people. Norman Mailer pondered, "What truly defines a hero? It involves grappling with challenges surpassing one's own capabilities." Thus, it can be posited that both Odysseus and Julius faced hurdles in their respective plays that were far more formidable than they themselves.

Caesar and are both akin to heroes. To be deemed a hero, one must demonstrate the ability to confront compelling forces larger than themselves. Not only do Caesar and Odysseus grapple with the plots within their plays, but they also tackle the disputes. However, each play presents distinct conflicts. In 'Julius Caesar', Caesar's primary challenge is the presence of conspirators. Despite being assassinated by the conspirators, Caesar ultimately prevails. The populace of Rome rallied behind Mark Anthony and expelled the conspirators from the city. Meanwhile, Odysseus also contends with his own set of conflict in his play.

The Odyssey, an epic by Homer, puts its main character Odysseus through numerous hardships. One of his key challenges is returning to Ithaca after participating in the Trojan War. During this journey, Odysseus incurs the wrath of Poseidon by blinding Cyclops, Poseidon's son. In retaliation, Poseidon sends harsh storms and winds causing Odysseus' course to deviate and land him on different islands. Despite these adversities, Odysseus remains steadfast and eventually succeeds in overcoming the fury of Poseidon and returns

home to Ithaca. However, he faces another problem upon reaching - suitors have occupied his house seeking to marry his wife Penelope.

Numerous contenders were taking advantage of his abundant wealth and food in his own home. Upon Odysseus' return, he assessed these suitors while concealed under disguise and subsequently eradicated them from his home permanently through their deaths. True heroism necessitates the capability to endure powers or challenges that are mightier than oneself. Both Julius Caesar and Odysseus emerged victorious against all adversities faced in their respective theatrical dramas, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare and The Odyssey by Homer. Many may regard these adversities as forces more powerful than Caesar and Odysseus themselves, hence earning them the commendation of being heroes.

Great novelist Norman Mailer once profoundly questioned, “What does being a hero entail? It necessitates dealing with challenges that are beyond your capabilities.” Some might classify Julius Caesar and Odysseus as heroes due to the formidable circumstances or issues they had to grapple with within their stories. One more perspective that makes them heroic is merely their unique identity and authentic character. Odysseus, for instance, overcomes many obstacles just by staying true to himself and making decisions with his crew's welfare in mind. An instance of this is when he blinded the Cyclops, not out of malice, but to protect himself and his men.

Had he not rendered the Cyclops blind, they might have remained imprisoned and possibly met their demise. While some may perceive a Cyclops to be resilient against an average individual like Odysseus, it is evident that Odysseus is far from ordinary; he is a true hero.

Likewise, Julius Caesar demonstrated his humility by refusing the crown on three occasions, providing evidence as to why his assassination was unwarranted. It's clear from these actions that perhaps he did not fancy himself as the right ruler for Rome and portrayed a lack of ambition. His testament further proved his concern for Rome's prospects and its inhabitants' well-being as he bequeathed money to Roman citizens in his will. Despite people's skepticism towards him, Caesar managed to overcome this challenge and prove them wrong.

Being true to themselves, Odysseus and Julius Caesar could be deemed heroes. As Norman Mailer stated, being a hero entails being able to face forces greater than yourself. The proof that both Odysseus and Julius Caesar are heroes lies in the application of literary elements such as setting, conflict, and characterization, as seen in works like The Odyssey by Homer and Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. A true hero needs to demonstrate the capability to stand up against forces more powerful than themselves.