Mar 03, 2006 03:09 PM
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(Updated Mar 06, 2006 03:14 PM)
Well, I will be honest with you. I thought of writing this review after reading the one written by diver. No doubt, the book is fantastic and ol' willy shakespeare deserves a pat on the back for this.
SYNOPSIS
Julius Caesar, the most powerful man in Rome, becomes the victim of a conspiracy hatched by the wretched Cassius. Cassius ropes in Marcus Brutus, a noble man who is manipulated by Cassius. Cassius is a practical man and able political leader. but he makes one serious error in the play: he trusts the judgement of Brutus.
Anyway, Cassius and Brutus are accompanied by some other Roman dudes who are envious of Caesar. It is only Brutus who assassinated Caesar with noble intentions, the others did the deed in malice and jealousy.
the plot is hatched and the conspirators decide to assassinate Caesar in the morning at none o' clock on the 15th of March. They surround him and dig their swords into caesar, who falls and dies after realizing that even Brutus, his favourite companion, hated him and wanted him to die.
What follows is a ''war of words''. Brutus tries to convince the Romans that Caesar was ''ambitious'' under whom all citizens would live as slaves. But Mark Antony, a dear friend of Caesar, thinks otherwise. He potrays a true image of Caesar and the public realise that the conspirators were wrong.
Ultimately, Antony wins the battle as well as the war. After forging an alliance with Octavius and Lepidus, Antony wages a war on the conspirators and wins. Brutus and Cassius, like true Romans, commit suicide to prevent themselves from being captured.
CHARACTERS
- JULIUS CAESAR
Although, we see a very little of Caesar we hear a lot about him. He is remembered in the first scene as well as the last scene and so is the hero of the play. He is initially shown as a proud, arrogant but clever leader. But it is Antony who gives us a true picture of this man:
''Thou (Caesar) art the noblest man that ever liv'd in the tide of times.'' He further showcases how Caesar was a benevolent and able ruler.
He is shown to be so powerful that even after his death, his spirit terrorizes the hell out of Brutus!! Truly, he is the ''Deadman Walking.''
- MARCUS BRUTUS
Shakespeare describes this magistrate as a noble man who is extremely concerned about his honour. He is an honest, brave but unfit military leader. Hemakes countless errors in the play and ultimately loses everything that is dear to him: Rome's welfare, his wife, his friends and even his life.
He is a moral hero but a political dud! he cannot see through Antony's false words, nor can he understand how to raise money in times of need. In short, he is a poor judge of characters.
SPLENDID SAYINGS
Act II- Scene 1
brutus' soliloquoy is brilliant and we can almost relate to the dilemna in his mind. But we realise that Brutus is making a mistake- he is about to punish Caesar for a crime which he has not yet commited.
Act III- Scene 1
Et tu Brute? These words have been made immortal by Shakespeare. Caesar's agony and pain come to the fore as he realises that even his friend hates him. the only words he can manage are Et tu Brute? or ''Even you Brutus?'' Short, sweet and effective.
Act III- Scene 2
Antony's funeral oration is enough to move the crowd of Romans and the readers to tears. It is now that we realise the injustice done to Caesar......... We also realise how dangerous Antony really is.
THANKS FOR READING. PLEASE RATE MY REVIEW AND KINDLY PLACE SOME COMMENTS
