I am having trouble understand what Cassius is saying to Brutus about Caesar being weak and an ineffective leader. What evidence does Cassius provide to Brutus to demonstrate his claim that Caesar is an ineffective leader?
I am having trouble understand what Cassius is saying to Brutus about Caesar being weak and an ineffective leader. What evidence does Cassius provide to Brutus to demonstrate his claim that Caesar is an ineffective leader?
He says that Brutus has done much better things than Caesar.
But what is Cassius saying about Caesar. He says some things about a river and Caesar sinking. Cassius says some things about how Caesar isn't an effective leader but I don't know what he is exactly saying. It's like lines 100-130 I think.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
Hello, Swashbuckler.
Unfortunately, a student has borrowed my Julius Caesar at the moment, so this is from memory.
Cassius attempts to belittle Caesar by playing on his physical weaknesses, hoping that will throw doubts on his ability to rule.
Ah now I see what's going on. You want us to do your homework for you.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
~
"It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
~
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
Ok, you convinced me to help you. Is this the speech you are referring to?
What Cassius is doing is not so much belittling Caesar, though that's there too, but to prove that Caesar is not a god but a mortal man. Caesar's greatness has intimidated any opposition to him, but Cassius is arguing there is nothing superior about Caesar, that he is like any other mortal man: he nearly drowned, he had a fever, he was thirsty. Caesar has become a "god" to those that bow to him, but Cassius feels that free men are of equal rank and that Caesar has the same mortal constraints as anyone else. And he goes on to prove it at mid play by the very real and tangible assasination.CASSIUS I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men 100
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Caesar; so were you:
We both have fed as well, and we can both 105
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood, 110
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside 115
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder 120
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature and must bend his body,
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. 125
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world 130
Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me 135
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.
Shout. Flourish
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
Those are the exact lines. Ok so Cassius is basically saying that he is just as much of a 'god' as Caesar is to the commoners and Caesar is nothing special but is just a normal man. Now I know how Cassius feels about Caesar and what kind of role he will take in the group of conspirators. Thank you very much.