Looking At Themes

Julius Caesar:
Looking at Themes - Ambition and Public Life Versus Private Life

Throughout the play, a number of characters must negotiate both their public and private personas. These personas are not always in balance, and sometimes the character has to choose which side of himself he must follow.
Brutus
1. Brutus: I do fear the people/Choose Caesar for their king.
Cassius: Ay do you fear it?/Then must I think you would not have it so.
Brutus: I would not, Cassius, yet I love him so. (I, ii, 85 - 88)

2. Brutus: It must be by his death: and, for my part,/I know no personal cause to spurn at him/But for the
general. (II, i, 10 - 12)

3. Brutus: No Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,/That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome. (V, i, 110-11)

Would you consider Brutus ambitious? Why or why not?


Would you consider Brutus to be a proud individual? Why or why not?


Why do you think Brutus ultimately decides to follow his loyalties to Rome over his loyalties to Caesar?



Cassius
1. Caesar (speaking about Cassius): I do not know the man I should avoid/So soon as that spare Cassius...
He loves no plays/As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music./Seldom he smiles... Such men as he could
never be at heart's ease/Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,/And therefore are they very
dangerous.

2. Cassius: This is my birthday; as this very day/Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala. (V, i, 80-81)

Cassius seems to be a character who has put a great deal of effort into creating his public persona. What price has be paid for this in his public life?



Why do you think Cassius brings up his birthday at the end of the play? What could he be realizing about his ambition?


Caesar
1. Caesar: Danger knows full well/That Caesar is more dangerous than he./We are two lions littered in one
day,/And I the elder and more terrible,/And Caesar shall go forth. (II, ii, 46 - 49)

2. Decius (speaking to Caesar): If you shall send them word you will not come,/Their minds may change.
Besides, it were a mock/Apt to be rendered, for some one to say/"Break up the Senate till another
time,/When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams." (II, ii, 99 - 104)
3. Artemidorus: O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit/That touches Caesar nearer.
Caesar: What touches us ourself shall be last served. (III, i, 6 - 8)

Which side of his personality, the private side or the public side, does Caesar make more prominent in his own life?



How does this contribute to his downfall?


Antony
1. Caesar (speaking to Antony): See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,/Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow,
Antony. (II, iii, 122 - 123).

2. Antony: O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,/That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!/Thou
art the ruins of the noblest man/That ever lived in the tide of times./Woe to the hand that shed this costly
blood! (III, i, 275 - 279)

3. Antony: Villains! you did not so when your vile daggers/Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar./You
showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds,/And bowed like bondsmen, kissing Caesar's
feet;/Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind/Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers! (V, i, 42 - 47)

What is Antony's public image? How is he different than this in his private life? Which do you think is the true Antony?





What do you think is Antony's strongest motive for attacking the conspirators:ambition or revenge? Support your answer with reference to the text.



Thinking about theme

Place Brutus, Cassius, Caesar, and Antony on the scales below based on how ambitious they are and which side of their personalities are more dominant:

Ambiti-O-Metre:
1______________________________________5______________________________________10
Least ambitious Most ambitious

Public vs. Private-O-Metre:
1______________________________________5______________________________________10
Private Self is more dominant Public Self is more dominant

Is there a relationship between ambition and the public and private lives of individuals? How do these ideas co-exist with each other in the play?



.... Ambitious P vs P

BRUTUS 2.3 2.8
I don't think Brutus is a very ambitious man in the usual way, because he what he strives to attain is not power, honor, fame, or wealth. He wants justice for Rome. He doesn't want for himself, his main goal is for a Country, not even for his close friends or family, but everyone.
Yes, I consider Brutus a proud man. I think he is because he is proud of his country except when they make decisions like choosing Caesar to be ruler for life. He was too proud to be dragged back through Rome.
I think he chooses his loyalties to Rome over Caesar because Rome has always been important to him. He practically lives for Rome.

CASSIUS 8.2 7.5
Cassius has spent so much time trying to make people think a certain way about him that he made them think differently in a negative way. So his efforts were counterproductive.
I think Cassius brought up his birthday at that moment because maybe he realized that nobody else really cared or took the time to figure out when his birthday was. Why? Because Cassius didn't work towards getting friends. His ambition got in the way of his per suit of a personal life.

CAESAR 9.5 6.8
I don't think there is a very large difference in Caesars personal life and his public. Both of Caesars personalities are very vain, and trying to impress almost everyone.
This contributes to his downfall quite a bit because when trying to impress everyone you also disappoint.

ANTONY 7.5 4.3
Antony's public image changes throughout the story. At first he is a drunkard and a partier but after the death of Caesar he rises and becomes a powerful man. Antony's private life has always been that he is a fun, caring guy, who is loyal to his friends.
I think Antony attacks the conspirators over revenge. I belive that because Antony was anrgy when he found out and he never forgave the men.




There is kind of a relationship but only of individuals. I don't think there is the same relationship for everyone. The play shows how when people try to put out something that they're not, it can cause a lot of trouble.

cinna's a poet, and doth he know it .

who to trust
in a world so mad

i didn't know him
but it' still so sad

and its all so true
the thought makes me feel l o s t

we Romans raised the price
but we will also pay the cost



so little i can do
as just a commoner, a poet

with this feeling of pride
how may i show it ?

run the streets ?
scream and cause horror ?

i feel we Romans should think,
t a k e i t s l o w e r



for hunger caused a great mans death
this country needs to be out to a test

afraid to say
that we may fail

these citizens would rather leave,
get on a boat, sail

they're always looking
for a man to blame

never could it have been
their fault in this game



maybe one day
i will want
to call myself one of t h e m

but for now i sit
wishing it was then





(ps. the lack of punctuation is artistic :P )

Rome Tonight

Host; Fabious : “HELLO THERE ! And welcome to Rome Tonight ! I’m Fabious and I’m here once again with my hosting partner, Prisca. ”

Host; Prisca : "Hi, and welcome!"

Fabious : "We have a very exciting show tonight!"

Prisca : "Why, yes, we do! 2 government officials have been arrested for pulling down the flags and signs of Julius Caesars victory. You will be shocked at who they are!"

Fabious : "But first! We must tell you how the ceremonious day went!"

...

Prisca : "What an exciting day that was! I was having quite the time."

Fabious : "I know you were. But I can not say the same about two governmental men, Flavius and Marullus. They were arrested for tearing down signs and flags of Caesar. "

Prisca : "Yes, the men were seen about, viciously ripping down images and throwing them to the ground like mad men. Commoners were a little frightened and confused at these beastly acts."

Faboius : "We have some clips from an interview with a man who spoke to Flavius and Marullus. Here they are."

***

Interviewer : "So you say you spoke to Flavius and Marullus?"
Commoner: "Yes that's true."
Interviewer : "And what happened exactly ?"
Commoner : "Well I had always loved those men. They were role models to me, I didn't expect their bitterness toward everyday people. They couldn't even take a joke! They asked me about my profession and I made some puns. They got angry with me and started to get aggressive."
Interviewer : "They said that they hadn't physically touched anyone through out their rampage. Are you calling these, once well respected man, liars ?
Commoner: "Well i wouldn't be surprised. Who wouldn't fabricate a little, when in their position? After I backed away from the men, they told myself, along with my friends, to get away from them and go down to Tiber Banks. They said to hate Caesar and remember only Pompey."
Interviewer : "I don't mean to be rude, but this sounds all to be the opposite of what both of the once governmental men said."
Commoner : "Believe me, I'm not the kind of man to lie just to get attention and lie about a serious situation. The facts are needed today, especially with all the paparazzi."

***

Prisca : "Wow, That is hard hitting video. Can you believe that Fabious ?"

Fabious : "I am truly amazed at Flavius' and Marullus' actions, i am shocked. Personally, that man seemed to be an honest person. I see no reason for him to lie."

Prisca : "Yes, so could all this be true? Maybe the death of Pompey drove these men a little mad at the time. I would like to find out more about this and we will continue to update our viewers with that story as we get information."

Fabious : "Indeed, but next is the weather. I have to say, there are some crazy forecasts in the next week that marvel me more than that story. All coming next, after the break."

Twilight , yes im reading it again . if you have any suggestions for good books, i would love that :)

Assignment # 1

1. Who is the author? How many books has he or she written? Is there any other biographical information you could give about him or her that is important?
2. What is your book about? Describe the basic plot of the book in 100 - 150 words. This should be your own description, though, and not come from the back of the book or from an online source!
3. What is the setting of the book? Remember to explain in detail all three elements of the setting: time, place & atmosphere.
4. Pick a main character -preferably the protagonist - from the novel. Describe that character by choosing two personality traits that the character exhibits. Each trait you chose should be fully supported with examples and explanations to prove how that character demonstrates these traits.
5. Give a basic review of how much you are enjoying the book so far. Is it enjoyable? Is it any good? What do you like/dislike about it?


1. Stephenie Meyer wrote twilight along with the other 3 books of the saga. she has written 7 books in total. Stephenie is 35 and now has her own day in Forks, Washington which is September 13 because that's is the character, Bella's, birthday.
2. Twilight is about a teenage girl, Bella Swan. she has recently moved to Forks, Washinton from Arizona. she is living with her father, Charlie, who is the town chief policeman. She gets involved with a boy from school who he and his family doesn't really talk to anyone else. Reason ? They're vampires. Edward (the vampire) and Bella quickly fall in love. this is a big problem for Edward and his family but he cannot help it.
3.The setting of twilight is in Forks, Washington. the book is set around fall of 2005 and ends about a year later. The atmosphere changes from miserable, since Bella doesn't like the constant rainy weather or the change to new school, to an 'animated' feeling. i say animated because she is so in love with Edward, it seems unrealistic (to me at least).
4. I think Bella Swan is plain and mildly apathetic. I think she is plain because not only does the book describe her looks as plain but we see how she thinks ; and it's also plain. Her ideas aren't very 'out of the box' she may not think like an average preppy teenager, but she doesn't have any extraordinary thoughts on life. To me , Bella Swan is apathetic because she doesn't seem to talk very much to her friends, or try to be included. She doesn't seem to care about what they have to say and i think she should be a little more grateful of them.
5. I love the whole Twilght saga. Yes, i am enjoying the book although I am reading it for the second time. It's not that I dislike the book, but i tend to read it before bed because i don't really have anything else to do and it gives me very weird dreams. i can't give you an example, but just odd atmospheres to the dream and i wake up very warm (i don't like to be warm when i sleep , I'd prefer cold).

BOJOUR :D

HELLO

:D

my name is kate houghton :) i like to have fun :) without alcohal :) i think i spelt alcohal wrong :(

any way :)

hmm , i LLOVVEEEE music :) <3>

some of my favourite bands are :

-metric

-the weakerthans

-tokyo police club

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ect, cant think of 'em now :P