Julius Caesar

Does "Julius Caesar" confirm the famous saying, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"?

I would say no, it doesn't confirm Lord Acton's famous saying. First of all, this isn't just an issue of power, and no one in the play ever gets absolute power. In fact, some of the motives for those opposing Caesar are to make sure his power does not become absolute. In a way, the opposite is shown to be true: Brutus tries to prevent absolute power from coming into being and wiping away the republican virtue of the Roman republic that he loves so much. It is fear of unethical power that leads to this betrayal, and much of the death.

This is a good question for the discussion board.

In my opinion, no, you cannot use Julius Caesar as an example to confirm that saying. For one thing, he didn't live long enough. For another, he didn't quite have absolute power yet. He had been declared dictator for life, but that did not give him total control of Rome. In order for that to happen, he'd have to get rid of the senate. That is exactly what Cassius and Brutus and the other assassins were afraid of. The people had already offered to make Caesar king of Rome, and that's what would have given him the absolute power. He was killed before that could happen.