Julius Ceasar

Julius Ceasar needed to be killed. At least that's what it seemed like most characters in Julius Ceasar  by William Shakespeare would say. Ceasar was plotted against from the beginning of the story. But why was he so hated?

Many call Ceasar weak. And he was very weak, physically.

Cassius- Ceasar said to me, "Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood
And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow. So indeed he did.
...
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink!"
...
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How did he shake. 'tis true, this god did shake!
His coward lips did from their color fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his luster. 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
A man of such feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.
(1.2. 104-133)

Cassius talks about how he had to save Ceasar from drowning. I think this is one of the reasons that Cassius, and some others, may hate him so much. Ceasar is very weak, but he has power, he has the power that Cassius wants. It makes Cassius mad that such a weak man could end up with more power than him, a strong, healthy man.

Cassius- Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Ceasar- what should be in that "Ceasar"?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
(1.2. 136-144)

Ceasar was also very self centered. He sometimes even referred to himself in the third person. This may have been another factor in why he was disliked. Because such a selfish person should not have control over so many. He would think of himself before he would think of his people. His overconfidence was a source of fear to some.

These growing feathers plucked from Caesar's wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness
(1.1. 72-75)

They were afraid of what would happen if Ceasar gained any more confidence. Some were so afraid, and loathfull, they wanted to kill him. But, others thought differently. Some worshipped Ceasar. They had nothing bad to say about him.

Antony- I shall remember,
When Ceasar says 'Do this', it is performed.
(1.2. 12-13)

Antony knew Ceasar better than some and he was loyal to Ceasar. But, even the peasants who didn't know Ceasar idolized him.

Three or four
wenches where I stood cried, "Alas, good
soul!" and forgave him with all their hearts. But
there's no heed to be taken of them. If Ceasar had
stabbed their mothers they would have done no
less.
(1.2. 268-273)

So feelings towards this man are varied greatly at two ends of the spectrum. People seem to feel very strongly about him, either good or bad. They either love or hate him. Want to kill him or would die for him. But, there is one in the middle.

Brutus- It must be by his death, and for my part
I know no personal cause to spurn at him
But for the general. He would be crowned.
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder
And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,
And then I grant we put a sting on him
That at his will he may do danger with.
Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Ceasar,
I have not known when his affections swayed
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber upward turns his face.
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Ceasar may.
Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel
Will bear no color for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities.
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg-
Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous-
And kill him in the shell.
(2.1. 10-35)

Brutus sees good in Ceasar. Good that will soon disappear. He thinks that too much power changes people, and will change Ceasar for the worse. It will make him look down on everyone, and be a very bad person, and ruler. So they needed to kill Ceasar before that happened.

It is interesting how people can have such conflicting views on the same person. Julius Ceasar is one person but there are infinite ways he is perceived. As a cowered, a leader, a weakling, a hero. And which of these views are right? Maybe all of them, or maybe none.