Julius Caesar Group

Question:

bizzos
bizzos
Student

What is the general theme of Julius Caesar?

is "est qui tu brutus" the general theme or does it play a significant role in the theme?

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Posted by bizzos on Monday October 22, 2007 at 6:19 AM and tagged with themes.

Answers:


  1. renelane Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    The general theme is regicide. It is the concept of whether  the killing of a king is justifiable as a means of ending (or preventing) the tyranny of dictatorship .  Brutus plays a great part in this general theme. Brutus kills Caesar in the name of liberty, fearing that absolute power and Caesar's view of himself as more than a mere mortal will enslave Rome to the will of a single man.

    Sources:
    http://www.entoes.com/juliuscaesar

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    Posted by renelane on Monday October 22, 2007 at 6:28 AM


  2. linda-allen Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    The general theme of the play Julius Caesar could be regicide, as noted in the answer above, but it could also be simply a power struggle between the senate and the absolute authority of a king/dictator. The senate had been the ruling body of Rome for many decades, and the fear that Caesar's popularity with the people would lead them to crown him king would diminish the senate's power.

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    Posted by linda-allen on Monday October 22, 2007 at 7:59 AM


  3. kreynolds6931 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    Another way of looking at the theme is through power and ambition. Brutus decides to murder his dear friend just in case he is to become corrupt. The power Caesar is able to wield is incredible. This worries the senators, particularly Brutus, who states he would sacrifice his own life for the good of Rome. Ironically, though, Caesar really hasn't shown any hints that he will be corrupted by his power. How "est qui tu brutus" ties into this theme is how Caesar feels betrayed that even his close friend Brutus would conspire to kill him when it is really unwarranted. They are just killing him in case he becomes corrupt. So much for free will.

    Another interesting side to this is, of course, Cassius, who manipulates Brutus into taking part in the scheme to kill Caesar. While Brutus is the most noble of characters, he alone is acting for the good of Rome, Cassius is greedy and tricks Brutus into helping bring Caesar down when Cassius wants the same ambition and power that resulted in Caesar's murder.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/jc/themes

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    Posted by kreynolds6931 on Monday October 22, 2007 at 8:37 AM


  4. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    "Et tu Brutus" does play a significant role in the play.  One of the many themes in this play is betrayal.  Julius Caesar trusts Brutus, as the people trust the Senate, to have his/their best interests in mind.  Brutus betrays Julius by allowing himself to be swayed by the other conspirators and becoming one of the murderers of Caesar in the Senate--not exactly in Caesar's best interest.

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Monday October 22, 2007 at 8:39 AM

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