Topic > Depiction of Julius Caesar's arrogance and ambition in William Shakespeare's play

Arrogant. Ambitious. Dictator. Died. Shakespeare. These are all the words you probably think of when you hear the name “Julius Caesar. " Caesar was a perfect example of how ambition can corrupt someone, and Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar reflects this perfectly. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay Throughout the play, Caesar displays his arrogance and ambition over and over again, which ultimately leads to his downfall and death by dagger 'Act 2, Scene 2, when Calpurnia is trying to stop Caesar from going to the Senate meeting because she has received an omen in the form of a dream that he will die. Caesar says: “Caesar will go out: the things that threatened me / have never looked if not behind my back; when they see/Caesar's face, they will be gone. In this, Caesar is surprisingly arrogant, essentially saying that all his enemies can do is talk behind his back. This shows him acting as if he is untouchable, as if he is a god. Another example of Caesar clearly showing arrogance is in Act 2, scene 2, lines 43-50, when the servant returns from the augurs with the news that they could not find a heart in the beast. Caesar says: “The gods do this out of shame of cowardice. /Caesar should be a heartless beast/If he had to stay at home today out of fear. /No, Caesar won't do it. Danger knows very well/That Caesar is more dangerous than him. /We are two lions born in one day, /and I am the oldest and the most terrible. /And Caesar will go out. " In this Caesar is basically saying that the gods fear him, and that he is "older and more terrible" than the Peril, and that he is more dangerous than the Peril himself. This shows arrogance because it reveals that he thinks he is above it all the rest, that nothing is as great and important as him. The third time Caesar shows arrogance is in Act 3, scene 1, when Caesar refuses to forgive Publius Cimber. Caesar says: “I could very well be moved, if I were like you :/If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:/But I am as constant as the North Star” This clearly shows his arrogance by showing that he sees himself as immovable and a force of nature, and that nothing is as constant as he is. . The main verse where arrogance is most prominent is verse 66. In verse 66, Caesar compares himself to the North Star, and how it is always constant and there, and Caesar is basically saying that it will always be there and will not change, if not getting brighter. This gives the audience an idea of ​​Caesar's ambition, as it shows that Caesar thinks he can only, and only, become more and more powerful. Caesar first shows his great ambition in Act 2, Scene 2, lines 32-37, when Caesar says: “Cowards die many times before they die;/ The valiant does not taste death but once. / Of all the wonders I have yet heard, /It seems to me very strange that men should fear/seeing that death, a necessary end, /will come when it comes." In this, Caesar is basically saying that even though he knows death is inevitable, he is firm he will go out and become the king/dictator he always wanted to be. Naturally, his arrogance hinders this vision and he completely forgets this concept. The second time Caesar shows his ambition is also in Act 2, Scene 2, lines 98-111. Basically, Decius tells Caesar that the Senate plans to crown him today, which immediately changes Caesar's mind about not going. This shows how much he wants the crown, showing that he will completely ignore all the..