Julius Caesar Characteristics

All the flaws, positive and negative traits of Caesar are discussed in detail. His relation with his companions and wife and people in Rome.

1. Group Leader: Arifa Abid Roll no :10
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Submitted to: Ma’am Safia BA(hons) 5
th
semester
Date: 23-10-2013

2. Character of Julius Caesar

A great Roman general and senator, recently returned to Rome in triumph after a successful
military campaign. While his good friend Brutus worries that Caesar may aspire to dictatorship
over the Roman republic, Caesar seems to show no such inclination, declining the crown several
times. Yet while Caesar may not be unduly power-hungry, he does possess his share of flaws. He
is unable to separate his public life from his private life, and, seduced by the populace’s
increasing idealization and idolization of his image, he ignores ill omens and threats against his
life, believing himself as eternal as the North Star. The conspirators charge Caesar with
ambition, and his behavior substantiates this judgment: he does vie for absolute power over
Rome, reveling in the homage he receives from others and in his conception of himself as a
figure who will live on forever in men’s minds. However, his faith in his own permanence—in
the sense of both his loyalty to principles and his fixture as a public institution—eventually
proves his undoing. At first, he stubbornly refuses to heed the nightmares of his wife, Calpurnia,
and the supernatural omens pervading the atmosphere. Though he is eventually persuaded not to
go to the Senate, Caesar ultimately lets his ambition get the better of him, as the prospect of
being crowned king proves too glorious to resist.
Caesar’s conflation of his public image with his private self helps bring about his death, since he
mistakenly believes that the immortal status granted to his public self somehow protects his
mortal body. Still, in many ways, Caesar’s faith that he is eternal proves valid by the end of the
play: by Act V, scene iii, Brutus is attributing his and Cassius’s misfortunes to Caesar’s power
reaching from beyond the grave. Caesar’s aura seems to affect the general outcome of events in a
mystic manner, while also inspiring Octavius and Antony and strengthening their determination.
As Octavius ultimately assumes the title Caesar, Caesar’s permanence is indeed established in
some respect.

3. Characteristics of Caesar
Initial impression of Caesar
Caesar ,as portrayed by Shakespeare is a mixture of weakness and strength. In opening scene we
get impression that Caesar is a great warrior, and that he has just returned to Rome after won a
great military victory. Then we learn that Caesar has won this victory over the sons of Pompey
who was great Roman statesman and soldier and who had at one time held a high position in the
affairs of the country. Although the Tribunes try to belittle Caesar’s achievement, yet even their
manner of talking about Caesar shows that he wields a great power in Rome.
FLAVIUS
It is no matter; let no images
Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about,
And drive away the vulgar from the streets:
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.
This also shows that Caesar was great warrior and posses great military strength.
His Belief in Superstition; and his Rejection of Superstition
When Caesar again appear in play he again strikes us as a mixture of strength and weakness. At
first he appears to be a superstitious man because he asks Antony to touch his wife Calpurnia in
the course of his running a race and he asks Calpurnia to stand directly in Antony’s way so that
Antony touch her because by this she might be able to remove the sterile curse.
CAESAR
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.

But the very next moment Caesar shows a complete disregard of all superstition when in a replay
to the soothsayer’s warning to beware the ides of March, he says that this man is a dreamer and
doesn’t deserve any attention.
Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR
He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

4. Cassius’s Portrayal of Caesar’s Character to Brutus
Cassius speaks to Brutus about Caesar in a most disparaging manner. As Cassius tries to build
negative image of Caesar in Brutus mind so that he may able to turn Brutus against Caesar.
Cassius claims that he had on one occasion shown greater stamina as a swimmer then Caesar and
that he had in fact saved Caesar from drowning.
CASSIUS
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
Cassius also says that once, when Caesar was suffering from fever, he had cried like a sick girl
and asked in a feeble tone for a little water to drink.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'
As a sick girl.
And yet Cassius also conveys to us an idea of Caesar greatness when speaking about him he says
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs
Here Cassius compares Caesar to a huge statue and refers to himself and to Brutus as “we petty
men”.

5. Caesar’s Physical infirmities; and His Psychological Insight
When, after attending games, Caesar re-appears, he makes one of the most perspective speeches
in the whole play. He tells Antony that he would like to keep away from men like Cassius who
has lean and hungry look, and who thinks too much. Describing Cassius’s character, Caesar
further says that this man loves no plays, hears no music, smiles seldom and, even when he
smiles, he smiles in a manner which shows as if he scorned himself for having smiled at
anything. Such men say Caesar can never at ease as long as they see somebody greater than
themselves. Such men according to Caesar are dangerous. Caesar would like to only associate
with man who are fat, who keep their hair well-combed, and who enjoy a sound sleep at nights.
Here Caesar speaks like a specialist in human psychology.
CAESAR
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Would he were fatter! But I fear him not:
Yet if my name were liable to fear,
I do not know the man I should avoid
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;
He is a great observer and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.

And here he also says that he is a fearless man, not liable to fear at all. He adds that he is not in
the least afraid of Cassius though he certainly wishes that Cassius has been fatter. Caesar wants
to avoid Cassius who reads much, who is a great observer through the deeds of men but Caesar
certainly doesn’t fear him.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.
The next moment Caesar asks Antony to come to his right hand because his left ear is deaf.

6. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
Then we learn from Casca’s account to Brutus and Cassius that Caesar has fainted at the games
because of the strain which he had experienced in refusing the crown which mark Antony had
offered to him three times at which he had inwardly belonging to accept. Brutus here says that
Caesar suffers from “the falling sickness” and that he must surely have fainted. Not only that
after recovering from his fit of Epilepsy, Caesar had opened his coat and offered to the crowd of
people, his throat, asking them to cut it if they so pleased. Caesar deafness, his fit of epilepsy
,and his absurd behavior in offering his throat to the crowd shows his weak and ridiculous site,
while his description of Cassius character shows him to be a very shrewd reader of the minds of
the people.
CASCA
He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at
mouth, and was speechless.
BRUTUS
'Tis very like: he hath the failing sickness.


His Fearlessness:
We witness the same mixture of strength and weakness in Caesar on the day when he is due to
attend a meeting of the Senate. Calpurnia has seen a dreadful dream and she also tells him that
the watchmen have witnessed certain dreadful sights which portrayed ill to him. She would not
like him to move out of doors on this day. But Caesar fearlessly says that if the mighty gods are
bent upon putting an end to someody’s life then that man cannot escape from his fate.
Calpurnia:You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

7. When Calpurnia still insists that the omens which have been seen indicate a danger to his life he
declares that a coward die many times before his deaths and the brave never taste of death except
once. Caesar here also says that of all wonders in this world it seems most strange to him that of
all the wonders in this world it seems most strange to him that men should feel afraid of his death
when they know death is necessary end which will come when it will come.
CAESAR
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.

The lines in which Caesar expresses these ideas become famous because of the attitude of
fearlessness which they express. On hearing the message of the priest that he should not go out
of the doors on this day because the beast, which had been slaughtered as a sacrifice was found
to have no heart, Caesar replies that the absence of the heart in the beast body only means that
Caesar would prove himself to be the beast without the heart if he were to stay at home on this
day on account of fear.
CAESAR
The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.

His Wavering Mind and His Love of Flattery;

Caesar then goes on to say that he is not afraid of danger because he himself is more dangerous
then the danger itself. But then in concession to Calpurnia feelings he decided not to move out of
doors. and to send message to the Senators that he would not be attending the meeting of the
Senate. Here Caesar dismisses the omens which Calpurnia has referred and he also dismisses the
advice of the priest, thus showing himself to be a man free from superstitions. He also expresses
his absolute freedom from fear, at the same time showing due regard for Calpurnia’s feelings.
And yet when Decius comes an interprets Calpurnia’s horrible dream as being a good omen
Caesar quickly changes his view and gets ready to leave the house. Here we find that Caesar
greatly pleased by a flattering interpretation of Calpurnia’s dream. Decius had previously told his
fellow Senators that he knew a very tactful way of flattering Caesar. Decius has stated that the
best way of flattering Caesar was to tell him that he did not like flattery. Having decided not to
gout of the doors Caesar decided to go out. Thus he appears to be having a wavering mind and
although we had felt impressed by his heroic attitude towards danger and toward death, we yet
feel somewhat disappointed to find him so irresolute. In deciding to go out and attending the
meeting at the Senate he is also partly influenced by Decius’s falsely telling him that the Senate
intend to offer him a crown at that day’s meeting. And that they might change their mind in case
if he fails to attend the meeting.

8. DECIUS
the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change.
A little latter the conspirators led by Brutus arrive at Caesar’s house and we feel greatly
impressed by Caesar’s graceful and dignified behavior in receiving them and hospitably offering
wine to them. He speaks in a most cultured manner saying:
Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
He does not have the least notion that these men whom he is addressing as good friends are
actually his bitter enemies.

His Firmness; and His Arrogance;
At the meeting of the Senate Caesar once again appears to be mixture of strength and weakness.
Meeting the soothsayer before he enters the Capitol, Caesar pints out to him the fact that the ides
of March had come but still he is safe and sound. The soothsayer replies to him that it had
certainly come but it had not ended. Then Artemidorus hands over a paper to Caesar, asking him
to read this before going through any other paper as it concern’s him personally. Caesar replies
that what concerns him personally will get his attention last of all. Now this sentence shows him
great man. This replay would have come from a generous man who is genuinely interested in the
welfare of others.
CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last served.

When the meeting of the Senate begins and Metellus Cimber makes a personal request to Caesar,
Caesar firmly rejects the requests. Here we certainly admires Caesar firmness but we strongly
disapprove of the arrogant and haughty behavior in which he speaks. He describes Metellus
Cimber as “couchings and these lowly courtesies, Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-
fawning”. And then he says to Metellus Cimber “I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.”
An emperor would not speak in this arrogant manner even to his servant. And then Caesar speaks
in most boastful manner, comparing himself to the pole star which never changes his position.
He compares himself one man amongst countless men because he never changes his mind and
never modifies his decisions.

9. I could be well moved, if I were as you:
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
He rejects the recommendation of Brutus and Cassius too; and when Cinna lends his support to
Metellus’s petition, Caesar loftily says
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?
It is at this point he is murdered by the conspirators. Caesar is shocked when he is stabbed by his
friend Brutus it is shown when he says
Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.

Conclusion:
In using Julius Caesar as a central figure, Shakespeare is less interested in portraying a figure of
legendary greatness than he is in creating a character who is consistent with the other aspects of
his drama. Shakespeare creates in Caesar a character who is sometimes reasonable, sometimes
superstitious, sometimes compassionate, and sometimes arrogantly aloof. In so doing, he has
projected Caesar as a man whom the nobility have just reasons to fear, yet who is not a villain.
From his first appearance, Caesar openly displays a superstitious nature, but also from the
beginning he displays a propensity to ignore warnings and signs that should alert a man of his
beliefs. He enters the action of the play by advising Calpurnia to seek a cure for her sterility by
ritual, and he exits fifteen lines later, dismissing the soothsayer as "a dreamer." He ignores the
soothsayer, Calpurnia, the many portents, his priests, and finally Artemidorus because he has
ceased to think of himself as a fallible human being, and because he passionately wants to be
crowned king. He does not fear Cassius, although he knows him to be a danger to political
leaders, because he believes that he and Cassius occupy two separate levels of existence. Cassius
is a man; Caesar, a demigod. He even comes to think of himself in terms of abstract qualities,
considering himself older and more terrible even than "danger." His sense of superiority to his
fellow humans, as well as his overriding ambition to be king, ultimately prevent him from
observing and reasoning clearly.

10. This tendency to place character conception before historic truth is best illustrated in Julius
Caesar by the portrayal of Caesar himself. Shakespeare insists, despite history, that he is a
tyrant, weak in body and mind, easily flattered, vain, and superstitious.

1. Physically weak.
a. Subject to epileptic fits. Act I, sc. 2, 1. 256.
"He hath the falling sickness."
b. Deaf. I, 2, 1. 213.
"Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf."

2. Susceptible to flattery. II, 2, 1. 91.
"And this way have you well expounded it."

3. Superstitious.
a. "Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calpurnia." I, 2, 1. 6.
b. Influenced by Calpurnia's dream and augurers' warnings. II, 2.
c. "He is superstitious grown of late," II, i, 1. 195.

4. Vain.
a. "Danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he." II, 2, 1. 44.
b. "These crouchings and these lowly curtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men." III, 1, 1. 36.
c. "I am constant as the northern star ..." III, I, 1. 60-73.

5. Arrogant.
"If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way." III, i, 1.45.

Yet, although Caesar's weakness is thus emphasized, he rules throughout the play, especially
after his death. The chief conspirators must at length fall before Caesar's spirit. Cassius's last
words are "Caesar, thou art revenged," and Brutus ends his life with
. . . "Caesar, now be still;
I killed not thee with half so good a will."