Julius Caesar

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   ophelia35 Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   Beyond the issues of age, one of the major areas of contrast would be the manner in which they make decisions.  Antony, the older and wiser soldier and politician, makes decisions based upon his political/military experience, showing his loyalty to Caesar as well as his strategy to centralize power by supporting Octavius and marginalizing Lepidus in Act 4.  In this way, Antony demonstrates his knowledge and distrust of the motives of others as well as his willingness to be "cut-throat" in forwarding his own agenda.  Octavius appears very much as the young, privileged aristocrat whose decisions show his youthful idealism, inexperience, and stubborn will.  He is not as dismissive of Lepidus as Antony is, but agrees to follow his lead until
   Antony tries to assert his authority in the heat of battle where Octavius rejects his instructions in order to show Antony his independence and rank as Caesar's obvious heir.  In this way, Octavius could be seen as straight-forward and impetuous while Antony is strategic and calculating. 

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   Posted by ophelia35 on Saturday July 26, 2008 at 2:43 PM
   
   

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