... shame. Brutus says that he believes power corrupts leaders. "Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections sway'd more than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the ... turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees by which he did ascend. So Caesar may; then lest he may, prevent." - Brutus, II, i. After the conspirators kill Caesar, Antony and Octavius want to gain their own power. Cassius does too. As one would expect, these two opposin...

• Word Count: 659
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the Senators do not want to lose their own power by Caesar, several of them, led by Cassius, plan to destroy Caesar. Brutus is manipulated into joining the conspiracy, he fears that Caesar, his friend, will become a callous ruler; he openly states his belief that power corrupts all leaders. After Caesar's assassination, Octavius and Antony seek their own power configuration and Cassius, leading ... the conspirators, plots for his own victory. At Caesar's funeral, Antony speaks of the power Caesar had, and also of the supremacy that ... Brutus has attained ever so quickly. " come I to sp...

• Word Count: 900
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... in the most compelling poetic drama. He describes Antony's generosity and how popular he was with his men, and cuts out suggestions of Cleopatra's disloyalty. Shakespeare even invents actions by Octavius Caesar in order to increase our sympathy for the lovers. Strangely, in his need for a fast moving plot, he neglects to mention that Antony actually stayed with his wife Octavia for ... to drink he would drink animals" urine. None of the things he has had to do have made him flinch. He only ever cried when Julius Caesar died, and he is the greatest soldier that Octavius Caesar knows. Cle...

• Word Count: 2297
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... when writing the play. Shakespeare's play seems to demonstrate a continuing struggle for power, whether it be Cleopatra's ever long battle to keep Egypt hers, for she had already made Julius Caesar lay down his sword, or Antony's conflicts within himself to regain his power over not only Rome, but also himself and most importantly Cleopatra, the "cause of his downfall". On ... top of this is Octavius Caesar's fight to become the sole triumpher of Rome, and Pompey's fight to bring himself back to Rome. Would it be better suggested that perhaps his theme was that with great ... fully emb...

• Word Count: 797
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate