Cassius As The True Villain In "Julius Caesar"?

Throughout the play it is clear that from the viewpoint of the characters, it is Julius Caesar who is the villain of Rome and must be killed to protect the republic.  However, when looking at it from the readers point of view, I would argue that from what the reader knows about the characters, Cassius is much more of a villain  in the play then Caesar is.  While Caesar does seem to have ambitions to be crowned emperor of Rome, there is no clear evidence that he evil as a person.  For all we know, Caesar could truly have Romes best interests in heart and prove himself to be a noble and wise leader.  Of course, the opposite could also be true that he could misuse his power.  However, the point is that from what the reader has read, there is no way of knowing for sure.

This is why I would argue Cassius is the true villain in the play.  So what makes Cassius a villain?   To answer this we must think about what makes a villain.  A villain usually manipulates people, brings harm to people, has deeper motivations than those that are clear to the other characters, and usually has a reasonable amount of intelligence over other characters in the play.  After reading, has become clear that Cassius meets a lot of these requirements as a villain.  Cassius manipulates Brutus by sending fake letters from citizens expressing their fear of Caesar being crowned emperor in order to get Brutus to join his cause to assassinate Caesar.  This is seen in the quote:

"Be you content.  Good Cinna, take this paper,
And look you lay it in the praetor's chair,
Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this
In at his window; set this up with wax
Upon old Brutus' statue" (Act I.III).

Cassius clearly plans to harm Caesar by getting a group together to assassinate him at the capitol.  Also, from reading the play there are indications that Cassius is not the true noble character in the play but Brutus is.  Cassius seems to be motivated by thinking that Caesar simply isn't strong enough in character to be emperor of Rome, and in many ways is after power himself.  However, Brutus seems to have a the best interests of Rome at heart and his motivations are not self centered.  Also, it is clear that Cassius is a thinker and is reasonably smart from the quote:

"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." (Act I.II).

Here Caesar is expressing his fear of Cassius to Antony because he knows how much Cassius thinks and how smart he is.  He showing that it is those that think that are dangerous and because Cassius thinks a lot he could turn on him and try to stop his ambitions to be crowned.  However, Antony dismisses Caesar's fear by saying that Cassius loves Caesar and only wants the best for him.  This is yet again more evidence that Cassius has successfully manipulated his enemies into thinking he is a friend and his friends into thinking Caesar is the enemy.  Thus, while the play is called "Julius Caesar" it is clear that the play focuses around Cassius and that in one interpretation it could be Cassius who is the true villain.  However, I will need to read more of the play to fully understand Cassius's motivations, to fully know for sure if he is the true villain. 

Reflections of The Importance of Christopher Sly Blog Post

Last week, I predicted that the Christopher Sly story was foreshadowing a change in character of Katherina. I also predicted that Katherina would change as a result of a change in enviornment (in this case being forced in marriage with Petruchio). Ultimatly, Katherina would be taimed, becoming a new person.

After reading Act IV and V I have found that for the most part this prediction was true. Just like Christopher Sly, Katherina initialy resisted the circumstances forced upon her. This is clearly seen after her and Petruchio are married in the quote:

"I trust I may have leave to speak
And speak I will. I am no child, no babe.
...
I will be free
Even to the uttermost as I please in vords" (Act IV.iii 73-80).

Here, Katherine is trying to protect her personal independence by standing up to Petruchio when he is about to throw away the cap the tailor made, which she likes and wants to keep. However, despite standing up to Petruchio, Petruchio does not listen and still does what he wants to her, dominating her. Eventually, Katherina gives in to Petruchio and submits to his will. This occurs when they are arguing about the sun and the moon in the quote, "What you will have it named, even that it is, And so it shall be still for Katherine" (Act VI.vi. 22-23).

At this point however, Katherine has ongly given in to Petruchio, nothing about her character has truely changed. This is just like when Christopher Sly accepts he really is a lord, but still hasn't come to kile being a lord yet.

The final transition, where Katherina comes to truely enjoy being married (Just as Christopher Sly came to enjoy being a lord) doesn't occur till Petruchio and her kiss on the street in Act V. In this scen Katherina refers to Petruchio as her "love" and "husband" all without the usual cynical tone. Even Petruchio drops his frustraion with her and refers to her as "my seek Kate" (Act V.i 130). Thus it is clear that theChristopher Sly story really was foreshadowing many of the plot elements of the main play.

The Importance of Christopher Sly

While I know that the inductions at the start of the play, The Taming of the Shrew have no direct impact on the main play itself, I predict that it still has an importance overall. When the lords play the practical joke on Christopher Sly, they are taking him from one environment (which has already shaped his characteristics) to another environment (which changes Sly's characteristics). As a result, it is the enviornment and the way other characters treat Sly that changes his personality and behavior. By taking the plot theme that, it is the enviornment that shapes your personality and applying it to the characters in the main play, we might be able to predict plot events to come. One such plot event, is that I see Sly's story as foreshadowing a change that might occur with Katherine. The powerfull men in Katherine's life are similar to the lords in Christopher Sly's story. Katherine is forced to pretend to be a wife. Katherine rejects this in a similar way that Christopher Sly rejects the idea of him being a wealthy lord. Both were forced into their situations against their own free will. However, Christopher Sly comes to accept that he is a lord, and quickly begins the transition into a new self as seen by the quote:

"Upon my life, I am a lord indeed
And not a tinker, nor Christopher Sly.
Well, bring our lady hither to our sight,
And once again a pot o'th'smallest ale," (Induction 2, 70-73)

Not only does Christopher sly accept that he is a lord, but it is clear in the quote above that he is happy he is a lord and not his old self. While he obviously says things a true lord wouldn't say and doesn't play the part of a lord well, his willingness to accept his new life is the initiating point when his transformation begins.

Thus, if my theory is right, then Katherine will also come to accept the idea of marriage, and become a new self. Both of them will have become transformed characters as a result of the events forced upon them. Of course this is all just a prediction and may have nothing to do with what happens. Guess have to read on and find out! Stay tuned!!!

Richard III ~ A Progression of Evil

Richard III in Shakespeare's play is clearly an evil character as any decent person can see. However, while he certainly is evil, his level of evilness seems to progress from act to act. This is seen in both his actions and his manipulation skills.

Richad III actions become more horrific in the way he deals with other people. At the start of the play Richard III only kills to get more power. For instance the things he does to Clarence is done to help lock in his progression to being crowned king. This is seen in the quote:
"I'll in to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
With lies well steeled with weighty arguements.
And if I fail not in my deep intent,
Clarence hath not another day to live-". (Act 1.1, 147-150)

Richard's intent he is talking about in this quote is to get Clarence out of the way by turning the king (his brother) against him. This will make Richard III protector and next in line to be crowned after the kings son. However, by Act 4 Richard III has progressed to the point to where he is killing for really no good reason.He kills the prince and his brother even though he has already become king and there is no chance of the public allowing the prince to take his place as king with the rumors Richard III has spread about his father. Richard also decides to have Buckingham killed because he refuses to kill the princes and thus questions his loyalty. By Act 5 we are reminded of just how evil Richard III has become by the progression of ghosts coming forward, all of which were killed by Richard.

In addition, Richards manipulation skills grow throughout the play. At the start he is only manipulating one person at a time, and is more cautious as shown in the quote:

"Clarenxe still breathes, Edward still lives and reigns;
When they are gone, then must I count my gains.". (Act 1.1, 161 - 162)

In this quote it is clear that he is slowing himself down, reminding himself that he must keep his head together and not count his gains before he gets them. However, by the end of the play he trys to manipulate all the citizens and everyone else in a short amount of time, to make the final step to become king. Also, by Act 5 he can no longer slow his mind down and is constantly contradicting himself, not able to make decisions. Thus, it is clear that it is a result of him thinking he is all powerfull and able to manipulate anyone to do or accept anything he wants that ultimatly gets him in a mess. This leads to his downfall both mentally (in the destruction of his identity) and physically (when he is killed).