Shakespeares Julius Caesar :: Plays William Shakespeare Caesar Essays

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar "A talent for drama is not a talent for writing, but is an ability to articulate human relationships"- Gore Vida. This is certainly true for William Shakespeare, on of the greatest writers of all time. He wrote such dramas like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet and Othello. Julius Caesar is no different. His ability to relate to human nature by using drama accurately distinguishes Julius Caesar from the rest by creating suspense, eagerness and tension. Act III Scene II is an especially important part to the play. Brutus I explaining got the crowd why Caesar was slain "as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him" (ll. 30-31) and "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" (ll. 21-22). This quote proves and summarizes Brutus' point in his speech. To achieve his goals, Brutus' oratory techniques were simple, logical, and rational. Brutus' speech is very formal, controlled and it seems that all of the sentences are perfectly balanced. Although he did a very good job at explaining to the confused crowd that murdering Caesar was for the good of Rome, he still had not won them over yet. After he explained himself and his purpose, the people were reluctant to believe him, yet there were convinced for only a short while. Antony has sworn not to attack the conspirators, although he intends to. This creates more tension within the plot by adding layers of opposition. In Antony's speech, he paints a different picture of Caesar "HE hath brought many captives home to Rome/ Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill/ Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?" (ll.80-82). Antony continues by stating, "I thrice presented him a kingly crown/ Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?" (ll. 87-89). He asks the people if they consider this ambitious, obviously implying it was not, because Caesar's deeds were for the good of Rome, not for Caesar himself. This art of persuasion is able to move the mob. All at once, they discard "noble Brutus" and listen to Antony who is a "plain blunt man". Clearly wooed by his impressive oration, the mob alters the fate of the conspirators, adding more suspense and drama to the plot. During the whole scene, it teases us leaving us on the edge waiting for the conclusion. The introduction of two characters adds suspense in Act II. Calphurnia, Caesar's wife, tries to convince him to stay at home. Being persistent she is able to convince him "Do not go forth today: call it my fear/ That keeps you in the house, and not your own" (Scene