julius caesar play by william shakespeare

Shakespeare appeals to the audience’s sense of pathos by having his dying words be spoken in Latin We, alongside Brutus, are engaged with a sympathetic connection with Caesar, but also alienated and forced to question Caesar as he still hangs onto his egotistical self by referring to himself in the third person, “Then fall Caesar”. Additionally, Brutus’ cognitive dissonance is augmented in the scene of Caesar’s death, Shakspeare emphasises a sense of closeness and intimacy between Brutus and Caesar, by altering history to have Caesar utter his dying words, “E tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar.” to Brutus. Throughout the play, Shakespeare characterises Caesar, “Caesar turned to hear”, the use of the third person emphasises his self-inflated view of himself and represents how ambitious he has become, causing Brutus to question Caesar’s leadership, engaging us with their unfolding personal conflict. Shakespeare skillfully influences Brutus to have conflicting views on Julius Caesar. The comparison of Caesar to a poisonous snake depicts him as a person who will no longer have compassion for the people of Ancient Rome if he gains too much authority. Through the use of an analogy, “It is the bright day that brings forth the adder … Crown him? … I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with”. Brutus’ intrapersonal conflict is also evident in his soliloquy. Shakespeare first introduces the audience to Brutus’ inner conflict at the beginning of the play, “Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war”, he describes himself as ‘poor’ and ‘with himself at war’ revealing his internal conflict to the audience.

By dramatising and manipulating history, composers exemplify how intrapersonal conflict leads to internalised vacillation and uncertainty, emphasising the impacts of conflict to engage the audience.

Julius caesar play by william shakespeare