We've been introduced to many characters in Julius Caesar. So far, who seems to be the character you sympathize with the most? Why do you think you feel this way? What's Shakespeare doing to make you feel this way?
Well, I kind of sympathize with Caesar, because I mean, people are plotting to kill him, and that's kind of sad. I'd feel bad for anyone who had people out to get them. Then again, he's not too innocent himself, sooo... I really feel the worst for Brutus though, because he has all these people manimulating his mind and telling him what's best. He's getting ready to kill a good comrad of his or the "greater good", and that would be really hard to do. (not that you EVER should have to.
I think Caesar has the worst of it. People are trying to kill him just because people love him! I mean, they should get over the fact that his political power is better than anyone else! And What treachery! What has he done to THEM to get stabbed multiple times until he is dead?! Huh? All he did was come back to Rome! Those senators are so jealous that Caesar is liked by people of Rome. The senators are NOT right in their heads! And then we get to Brutus... I do not feel sorry for him AT ALL! He is a figure MEANT to be hated! He uses the excuse that it was for the "Good of Rome" and kills his friend! Caesar practically thought Brutus was his son. HIS SON!!! Brutus is way too weak since he got into the murder plan because others said some kind things about him and because some "RANDOM" people left notes saying how GOOD Brutus was. Ha! I am GLAD this is a tragedy! At least I KNOW that Brutus dies. Traitors and people who abuse their friend's trust are a waste of space. I would like to see how Brutus would likes it when his best friend shows up with some people and stabbed HIM to death! I'm guessing Brutus will not like it so much!
---Jae Woo--- ---Feeling Caesar's pain. (Pain as in getting betrayed by his best friend, not as in being stabbed to death)---
I was feeling sorry for Brutus at the beginning because he was being tricked into doing something that he really did not want to do. I kind of sympathized with him because something like that has happened to me too. Now that we are in Act II, I feel sorry for Calphurnia because no one is listening to her. She told Caesar that he should not go to the Senate, but he just blew her off because she was a woman. I also feel bad for her because her husband is about to get stabbed to death and that will leave her all alone.
Actually, Brutus is the closest to being a sympathetic character. He's being manipulated. It doesn't matter the true circumstances of what he's doing. He has truly been convinced that what he's doing is the best thing for Rome. To him, the Roman Empire is above all. We also don't know fully was has been said to him about this. Keep in mind the plot is just gaining a foothold in the first act and the next point in the story is right before the assassination. All we know is that he has been convinced that Caesar in power could ruin the Empire. He also still shows remorse about his actions. His conversation with Portia shows clear misgivings about what he is doing. Shakespeare is clearly trying to show that Brutus was not malicious in his actions, but that he truly thought he was doing the best thing for Rome.
Manipulated means "to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage" He doesn't deserve a seat in the Senate if he can be that easy to manipulate. He could be manipulated to take actions that HARM Roman Empire. He should think for himself and not be manipulated. If he really thinked for himself like Thoreau says then he would know that killing Caesar would do more harm than any good. Caesar was immensely popular with Romans. After the assassination of Caesar, there was a huge civil war. Sure, they could not have know this, but he was ruling in a Republic. When he pushed the crown away, Brutus was told that Caesar pushed the crown away but looked like he wanted the crown. If Brutus did not see that happen with his own eyes then he should not believe it. Caesar also trusted Brutus enough to let him be a succesor if his kid, Octavian, died before Caesar. He may show remorse about his actions but that does not mean that the action can be undone. If Caesar wanted he could have come to Rome with his huge legion and tooken over Rome, but instead he came in peace and started a Republic. But the other Senate being foolishly jealous, they bring Brutus into the plan. If Brutus was a real friend of Caesar, should he not know Caesar enough to know he wouldn't be a dictator? Shouldn't he TRUST Caesar like Caesar did with him. I would say Caesar trusted Brutus A LOT. When he was being stabbed by Brutus, Caesar was supposedly have said, "Kai su, teknon?" meaning, "You too, child?". None of us would able to GUESS how sad and heart-broken Caesar was when he got betrayed by Brutus.
Hmm, I sympathize Calpurnia, Portia, Brutus, and Caesar. Calpurnia because she tries warning Caesar about the danger that awaits him but he won't listen and also because she will soon be widowed. Portia because she cares so much about Brutus and is hurt by the fact that he is reluctant to confide in her. After all, marriage, or any good relationship for that matter, requires trust. Without trust, there is absolutely no way you can keep such a relationship as marriage. I'm a little iffy with Brutus...Caesar and Brutus were good friends...Brutus should have trusted Caesar more. On the other hand, Brutus only wanted to do what was right for the people of Rome. I ask myself, what if I had a friend who I heard rumors about doing something bad? Well, I would confront my friend about the rumors but back in the day, things were a lot more dangerous. :) Besides possibly having his own life on the line, Brutus would also be endangering others even if he didn't name anybody because Caesar would be verrrry suspicious...Still, if Brutus really was such a good friend he would have confronted Caesar regardless. But we all know why he chose what he chose to do...Finally, Caesar because he is betrayed by a friend he trusted. "Et tu, Brute!" are Caesar's final words. How sad it must be to be betrayed by somebody so close in such a way. I also sympathize Caesar because he was in a position of power so obviously some people would have murderous thoughts forming in their minds. Power can be a frightening thing indeed..
I think I sympathize the most with Portia. I know how annoying it is when people keep secrets from you and it's got to be like a hundred times worse when it's your husband that won't tell you what's going on. I also feel bad for Caesar because he's going to die and be betrayed and all that, but it really annoys me how he thinks he's so awesome and won't even let himself worry about Cassius even though his instincts are warning him to be wary.
I sympathize with almost all the characters in Julius Caesar in some way, except Cassius of course. If I put myself in their situations, I can understand how they feel and generally feel sorry for them. I think that is large contributing factor to Shakespeare's popularity; most of his characters are very relatable. I think that I sympathize the most with Brutus, Caesar, and Portia. Brutus, because Rome's well-being and power are most important to him. He even said himself that he would die for Rome. Brutus is manipulated to believe that killing Caesar is best for the empire. On the other hand, I also symathize with Caesar because people are plotting to murder him. Brutus, who is like a son to Caesar, is involved in this plot. To me, it would be very sad to be betrayed by someone you trust and love. Caesar's last words were supposedly "Et tu, Brute?" Meaning "And you, Brutus?" However, Caesar's arrogance also irritates me. If he had not ignored his wife and even his own conscience, he probably would not have died that night.
The question becomes, are we supposed to feel sorry for anyone at all? All of the characters in Julius Caesar have their flaws. The beauty of Shakespeare is his ability to make his characters real.
I feel sorry for Brutus. He kind of lives in Caesar's shadow and never gets any credit. Brutus also ends up being manipulated into killing his friend, which is sad.
It's kinda funny how everbody thinks Antony is a drunk. I can't wait until we read some more. I would give my symphaty to Caesar. He was killed for probably a good cause but it just wasn't right for him to get stabbed by everybody.
I probably sympathize with Brutus the most. I understand his sense of honor and how he wants to preserve the Roman republic. I realize the predicament Brutus is in when he has decide to either murder his friend or betray his family's honor in letting a dictator rule Rome. I also find it hard to identify with Caesar because of his arrogance and pride.
Even though throughout the play Brutus has his ups and downs, so to speak, in the end you have to give the guy a break. In the beginning he has good intentions and feels that killing Caesar is the honorable thing to do for the people. He obviously needs to pick his friends a bit more carefully, but in the end he realizes his mistake and takes his own life, once again, in the name of the people. Shakespeare probably disguises the good side of Brutus in the middle to emphasize his role as a romantic hero. In order to be classified as one, the character must have a flaw which leads to his downfall. Once again, we can conclude that this happens to Brutus which restores the Great Chain of Being and saves the day.
I sympathize with Brutus because he always tries to do the right thing, but he is not always successful. Brutus is kind of naive because he believes that everyone around him has good intentions and are honest, but in reality they are deceiving him. --Katie Toth
I sympathize the soothsayer(however you spell that) because in addition to being ignored his life's profession is insulted in front of the crowd by a hero whom everyone admires and listens to. Also he is already blind, so that life has to be pretty tough.
I definitely sympathize with cinna the poet the most. I mean he didn't even do anything!!! He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong name. How unlucky can you get??
The person that I have to sympathize with the most is Brutus because he was stuck in a very difficult situation. He wanted to the right thing, but at the same time not do anything wrong, which was a difficult choice for him to make.
Well, I kind of sympathize with Caesar, because I mean, people are plotting to kill him, and that's kind of sad. I'd feel bad for anyone who had people out to get them. Then again, he's not too innocent himself, sooo...
ReplyDeleteI really feel the worst for Brutus though, because he has all these people manimulating his mind and telling him what's best. He's getting ready to kill a good comrad of his or the "greater good", and that would be really hard to do. (not that you EVER should have to.
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ReplyDeleteI think Caesar has the worst of it. People are trying to kill him just because people love him! I mean, they should get over the fact that his political power is better than anyone else! And What treachery! What has he done to THEM to get stabbed multiple times until he is dead?! Huh? All he did was come back to Rome! Those senators are so jealous that Caesar is liked by people of Rome. The senators are NOT right in their heads! And then we get to Brutus... I do not feel sorry for him AT ALL! He is a figure MEANT to be hated! He uses the excuse that it was for the "Good of Rome" and kills his friend! Caesar practically thought Brutus was his son. HIS SON!!! Brutus is way too weak since he got into the murder plan because others said some kind things about him and because some "RANDOM" people left notes saying how GOOD Brutus was. Ha! I am GLAD this is a tragedy! At least I KNOW that Brutus dies. Traitors and people who abuse their friend's trust are a waste of space. I would like to see how Brutus would likes it when his best friend shows up with some people and stabbed HIM to death! I'm guessing Brutus will not like it so much!
ReplyDelete---Jae Woo---
---Feeling Caesar's pain. (Pain as in getting betrayed by his best friend, not as in being stabbed to death)---
I was feeling sorry for Brutus at the beginning because he was being tricked into doing something that he really did not want to do. I kind of sympathized with him because something like that has happened to me too. Now that we are in Act II, I feel sorry for Calphurnia because no one is listening to her. She told Caesar that he should not go to the Senate, but he just blew her off because she was a woman. I also feel bad for her because her husband is about to get stabbed to death and that will leave her all alone.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn Sabourin
Actually, Brutus is the closest to being a sympathetic character. He's being manipulated. It doesn't matter the true circumstances of what he's doing. He has truly been convinced that what he's doing is the best thing for Rome. To him, the Roman Empire is above all. We also don't know fully was has been said to him about this. Keep in mind the plot is just gaining a foothold in the first act and the next point in the story is right before the assassination. All we know is that he has been convinced that Caesar in power could ruin the Empire. He also still shows remorse about his actions. His conversation with Portia shows clear misgivings about what he is doing.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare is clearly trying to show that Brutus was not malicious in his actions, but that he truly thought he was doing the best thing for Rome.
Brandon Wagner
I'm sorry for posting the third time.
ReplyDeleteManipulated means "to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage" He doesn't deserve a seat in the Senate if he can be that easy to manipulate. He could be manipulated to take actions that HARM Roman Empire. He should think for himself and not be manipulated. If he really thinked for himself like Thoreau says then he would know that killing Caesar would do more harm than any good. Caesar was immensely popular with Romans. After the assassination of Caesar, there was a huge civil war. Sure, they could not have know this, but he was ruling in a Republic. When he pushed the crown away, Brutus was told that Caesar pushed the crown away but looked like he wanted the crown. If Brutus did not see that happen with his own eyes then he should not believe it. Caesar also trusted Brutus enough to let him be a succesor if his kid, Octavian, died before Caesar. He may show remorse about his actions but that does not mean that the action can be undone. If Caesar wanted he could have come to Rome with his huge legion and tooken over Rome, but instead he came in peace and started a Republic. But the other Senate being foolishly jealous, they bring Brutus into the plan. If Brutus was a real friend of Caesar, should he not know Caesar enough to know he wouldn't be a dictator? Shouldn't he TRUST Caesar like Caesar did with him. I would say Caesar trusted Brutus A LOT. When he was being stabbed by Brutus, Caesar was supposedly have said, "Kai su, teknon?" meaning, "You too, child?". None of us would able to GUESS how sad and heart-broken Caesar was when he got betrayed by Brutus.
---Jae Woo---
---Down with Brutus!---
Hmm, I sympathize Calpurnia, Portia, Brutus, and Caesar. Calpurnia because she tries warning Caesar about the danger that awaits him but he won't listen and also because she will soon be widowed. Portia because she cares so much about Brutus and is hurt by the fact that he is reluctant to confide in her. After all, marriage, or any good relationship for that matter, requires trust. Without trust, there is absolutely no way you can keep such a relationship as marriage. I'm a little iffy with Brutus...Caesar and Brutus were good friends...Brutus should have trusted Caesar more. On the other hand, Brutus only wanted to do what was right for the people of Rome. I ask myself, what if I had a friend who I heard rumors about doing something bad? Well, I would confront my friend about the rumors but back in the day, things were a lot more dangerous. :) Besides possibly having his own life on the line, Brutus would also be endangering others even if he didn't name anybody because Caesar would be verrrry suspicious...Still, if Brutus really was such a good friend he would have confronted Caesar regardless. But we all know why he chose what he chose to do...Finally, Caesar because he is betrayed by a friend he trusted. "Et tu, Brute!" are Caesar's final words. How sad it must be to be betrayed by somebody so close in such a way. I also sympathize Caesar because he was in a position of power so obviously some people would have murderous thoughts forming in their minds. Power can be a frightening thing indeed..
ReplyDeleteGuys, I have to say these comments are fabulous! I'm blown away. Keep up the thoughtful comments!
ReplyDeleteI think I sympathize the most with Portia. I know how annoying it is when people keep secrets from you and it's got to be like a hundred times worse when it's your husband that won't tell you what's going on. I also feel bad for Caesar because he's going to die and be betrayed and all that, but it really annoys me how he thinks he's so awesome and won't even let himself worry about Cassius even though his instincts are warning him to be wary.
ReplyDelete-Rebecca Brunty
I sympathize with almost all the characters in Julius Caesar in some way, except Cassius of course. If I put myself in their situations, I can understand how they feel and generally feel sorry for them. I think that is large contributing factor to Shakespeare's popularity; most of his characters are very relatable. I think that I sympathize the most with Brutus, Caesar, and Portia. Brutus, because Rome's well-being and power are most important to him. He even said himself that he would die for Rome. Brutus is manipulated to believe that killing Caesar is best for the empire. On the other hand, I also symathize with Caesar because people are plotting to murder him. Brutus, who is like a son to Caesar, is involved in this plot. To me, it would be very sad to be betrayed by someone you trust and love. Caesar's last words were supposedly "Et tu, Brute?" Meaning "And you, Brutus?" However, Caesar's arrogance also irritates me. If he had not ignored his wife and even his own conscience, he probably would not have died that night.
ReplyDeleteThe question becomes, are we supposed to feel sorry for anyone at all? All of the characters in Julius Caesar have their flaws. The beauty of Shakespeare is his ability to make his characters real.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for Brutus. He kind of lives in Caesar's shadow and never gets any credit. Brutus also ends up being manipulated into killing his friend, which is sad.
ReplyDelete~Amanda Akridge
It's kinda funny how everbody thinks Antony is a drunk. I can't wait until we read some more. I would give my symphaty to Caesar. He was killed for probably a good cause but it just wasn't right for him to get stabbed by everybody.
ReplyDeleteI probably sympathize with Brutus the most. I understand his sense of honor and how he wants to preserve the Roman republic. I realize the predicament Brutus is in when he has decide to either murder his friend or betray his family's honor in letting a dictator rule Rome. I also find it hard to identify with Caesar because of his arrogance and pride.
ReplyDeleteI sympathize with Brutus most. He is a good person, but his sense of honor clouds his judgement. This makes it easy for others to manipulate him.
ReplyDeleteEven though throughout the play Brutus has his ups and downs, so to speak, in the end you have to give the guy a break. In the beginning he has good intentions and feels that killing Caesar is the honorable thing to do for the people. He obviously needs to pick his friends a bit more carefully, but in the end he realizes his mistake and takes his own life, once again, in the name of the people. Shakespeare probably disguises the good side of Brutus in the middle to emphasize his role as a romantic hero. In order to be classified as one, the character must have a flaw which leads to his downfall. Once again, we can conclude that this happens to Brutus which restores the Great Chain of Being and saves the day.
ReplyDeleteIneke Moore
I sympathize with Brutus because he always tries to do the right thing, but he is not always successful. Brutus is kind of naive because he believes that everyone around him has good intentions and are honest, but in reality they are deceiving him.
ReplyDelete--Katie Toth
I sympathize the soothsayer(however you spell that) because in addition to being ignored his life's profession is insulted in front of the crowd by a hero whom everyone admires and listens to. Also he is already blind, so that life has to be pretty tough.
ReplyDeletePhilip Wolfe
I definitely sympathize with cinna the poet the most. I mean he didn't even do anything!!! He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong name. How unlucky can you get??
ReplyDeleteThe person that I have to sympathize with the most is Brutus because he was stuck in a very difficult situation. He wanted to the right thing, but at the same time not do anything wrong, which was a difficult choice for him to make.
ReplyDelete