Jealousy in Julius Caesar :: Julius Caesar Essays

Jealousy in Julius Caesar           Jealousy reachs many of the characters in The catastrophe of Julius Caesar to commit dangerous and foolish acts.  Cassius covetousy drives him to kill Caesar.  All the conspirators, except the noble Brutus, kill Caesar because they feel threatened by his power.  Brutus is the except conspirator who murders Caesar for more(prenominal) honorable reasons.  Jealousy is a very important theme in this play.           Cassius feels very threatened by Caesars power.  He remembers when he was an equal to Caesar, and doesnt think that Caesar deserves this oftentimes power. He com ments to Brutus, I was born free as Caesar so were you / We both have fed as well, and we can both / Endure the winters cold as well as he (Act I, sc. II, 97-99).  Cassius is also enraged because Caesar doesnt like him. Caesar suggests, Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look / He thinks too much such men are dangerous (Act I, sc. II, 194-195).  Cassius thinks that Caesars temper is dangerous.  He declares, Ye gods It doth amaze me, / A man of such a feeble temper should / So get the start of the solemn world, / And bear the palm alone (Act I, sc. II, 128-131).           Casca also is jealous of Caesar.  He is disgusted by Caesars manipulation of the commoners.  He describes it as mere foolery (Act I, sc. II, 235).  Casca  agrees with Cassius that Brutus is an essential damp the conspiracy. He says, O, he sits high in all the peoples hearts / And that which would appear offense in us, / His countenance, like richest alchemy, / Will change to virtue and to worthiness (Act I, sc. III, 157-160).           Brutus is the only conspirator who does not act out of jealousy and envy.  He is Caesars friend, and holds a powerful position in Rome.  Therefore, he has no reason to feel jealous of Caesar.  Brutus makes his decision based on what is the best for Rome, and is tricked into believing that the other conspirators feel the same way.  He comments, What need we any spur but our own cause / To prick us to redress? What other bond / Than the secret Romans that