Throughout William Shakespeare’s thrilling play, Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar is a dishonest, power-hungry leader of the Roman Empire. People are starting to get angered by his power, and Cassius believes he can stop him. As Cassius assembles a group of conspirators to kill Caesar, he believes that Brutus is key to the success of the conspirators. He believes this because Brutus is well liked by the people and is the only person who is extremely close to Caesar. Although fate can forge our troubles, we as humans are responsible for our own misfortunes as shown by Caesar’s death, Brutus and Cassius’ death, and as it pertains to real life, not studying for a test.
Throughout the play, Julius Caesar more than created his own murder and problems; he built his own murder and problems like a building! Everything he did in the story added more fuel to the fire. There were also an enormous amount of hints that he was going to be murdered, but he chose to ignore all of them. An example of him creating the own problem of his murder was when the Soothsayer tells Julius Caesar to beware the Ides of March:
“Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.
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CAESAR: What man is that?
BRUTUS: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS: Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR: What say’st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.
This quote, therefore, shows us that Caesar was told by Cassius and Brutus to actually listen to the Soothsayer, but Caesar does not want to listen to him because he has a lot of self pride. Caesar also blatantly ignores the Soothsayer, therefore, creating his own murder because he will not listen to what anyone has to say. This was furthermore shown when Calpurnia had a dream about the ides of March and told Caesar himself, but Caesar also shamelessly ignored her warnings and continued to go to the assembly (II, ii, 13-26).
Because of the problem Caesar created through being too power hungry, he created also created the problem of people such as Brutus and Cassius wanting to murder him. This was shown during the assembly when he states, “I am constant as the Northern Star.” (III, i, 66). This then shows Caesar thinking he is invincible and unbeatable, therefore showing even more of his self-pride. This then furthermore edges the conspirators into killing him.
Cassius and Brutus also created their own deaths by murdering Caesar. This was shown during the final battle when Brutus and Cassius both commit suicide in order to save themselves from defeat. For example, “Guide thou the sword. [Pindarus stabs him] Caesar, thou art revenged Even with the sword that killed thee. [He dies].” (V, iii, 49-51). This quote shows Cassius committing suicide in order to avoid dying at the hands of Antony or even getting humiliated.
Overall, Cassius created his own death because he murdered Caesar. If he would have solved this issue like a logical adult, he wouldn’t have had to kill him. Instead, he murders Caesar, therefore creating/causing his problem of suicide to avoid other certain death. Brutus learns of Cassius’s death and also does not want to get captured or defeated, so he runs upon his sword. For example, ” ‘Farewell, good Strato.’ [Runs on his sword].” (V, v, 55-56). This quote also displays Brutus’s suicide for the same reasons as Cassius, and Brutus as well also created his own problems by murdering Caesar.
Even in today’s day and age, humans are responsible for our own misfortunes. This can be shown in a various amount of ways, but the way that affects my life the most is not studying for a test. Not only in my life (many people’s lives) they can sometimes forget to study for a test. This creates the problem of them being really stressed the day of the test and probably not doing very well on it. If they do not do well on the test, then the parents will punish the child, which will cause even more problems. Furthermore showing how not studying for a test, creates diverse number of affects.
Throughout this play, an abundance of characters created their own problems, and it had nothing to do with fate. This can be shown through the characters of Caesar, Brutus, and Cassius because they all made a mistake that would later result in their deaths. Caesar made the mistake of having too much self-pride, not listening to two people’s warnings that he was going to die on March 15, and by becoming power hungry and arrogant. Cassius and Brutus created their own problems by murdering Caesar and then causing their deaths. The bigger picture of all of this is that we as humans tend to create our own problems, and usually, fate has nothing to do with it. There is always something we could have done better.
