ENGLISH COURSEWORK - 1

Name : NAREN CHITTIBABU

Candidate number :
Title : JULIUS CAESAR
Author : WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Question: Cassius has been portrayed as a passionate and devious manipulator in
'Julius Caesar'. Comment with reference to the play.
William Shakespeare’s characters are all distinct in their own actions and credence.
Cassius, a passionate and devious manipulator, stands up to be one such example in this
play who transpires to be the man behind the death of Julius Caesar. The play ‘Julius
Caesar’ written by Shakespeare stands for ambition and conflict. The play contains the
raw essence of ambition throughout its course. The play revolves around Julius Caesar,
an ambitious general and Cassius, a manipulator who craves for power. Cassius plots a
conspiracy against Julius Caesar to obtain all the power for himself.
 As Caesar triumphs his victory over Pompey’s blood, Caius Cassius lays down his
foundation to uproot Caesar from his power. Shakespeare portrays Cassius as a strong
passionate man and a devious manipulator, who craves for ambition and power. This is
cardinal throughout the play. He manifests his conspiracy in Act 1 scene 2 by raising his
concern about Caesar’s rising powers to Marcus Brutus, a good friend of Caesar, a patriot
and one of the noblest men in Rome. 
 Caius Cassius is considered to be an untrustworthy person by Julius Caesar. When
Caesar triumphs back to Rome he warns Antony about Cassius and his deceitfulness. He
says, “Would he were fatter! But I fear him not. Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do
not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much. He is a
great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays, As thou
dost, Antony. He hears no music. Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort As if he
mocked himself and scorned his spirit That could be moved to smile at anything. Such
men as he be never at heart’s ease Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, And
therefore are they very dangerous.” Caesar expresses his thoughts about Cassius. Cassius
is the only man who Caesar himself is afraid of. Cassius is a keen observer who finds out
the motives of people easily. He rarely smiles and even if he does he does so in a self
mocking way. Caesar says that men like Cassius will never be tranquilized if someone
ranks higher than themselves. This shows Julius Caesar’s fear for Cassius. It clearly
shows Cassius's ambition and his capability to achieve it through his cleverness which he
does later in the play. He deceives and provokes all the senators who are concerned about
Caesar’s power.
 Cassius takes advantage of Brutus’s love and patriotism for his countrymen and
manipulates him into gaining his support. Cassius uses an excellent play of words to
persuade Brutus. He says “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.” Cassius questions Brutus why we men
should hurdle under Caesar’s huge legs and die disgracefully while he straddles this
world like a giant. He claims that men can be their masters of their own fate and that it is
not destiny’s fault for us to suffer and that it is our own fault. Cassius flatters Brutus
using several instances and examples which strongly portrays Caesar as a weak man who
is unfit for the throne and that he is no greater than Brutus.
 Cassius and Casca converse before they go to see Brutus in Act 1 Scene 3. They speak
how important it is for Brutus to be on their side. The conversation explicitly shows that
Cassius wants to exploit Brutus as he had a good reputation among the countrymen and
that people would consider his actions righteous. Hence, Cassius can defend his evil
ambition and his wrong doings.
 Cassius reveals that he has been formulating a plan and that he intends to use forged
letters to win Brutus to his side - “I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows
throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings all tending to the great opinion
that Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely Caesar’s ambition shall be glancèd at.
And after this let Caesar seat him sure, for we will shake him, or worse days endure.”
Cassius says Caesar resents him but he loves Brutus. He says that he will write to Brutus
with different handwritings as if it came from other citizens alluding to Caesar's
ambitions and that they have great respect for Brutus and are expecting him to act on it .
This clearly shows Cassius's intention to manipulate and seduce Brutus into his
conspiracy against Caesar.
 “Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.” Brutus’s words
lucidly tells us that Cassius has seduced and provoked Brutus against Caesar.
 Brutus utterly turns against Caesar and he strongly believes that Caesar has to be killed
for the good of Rome which is evident in this dialogue, “So let high-sighted tyranny
range on Till each man drop by lottery. But if these—As I am sure they do—bear fire
enough To kindle cowards and to steel with valor The melting spirits of women, then,
countrymen,”
 In Act 4 Scene 3, Brutus accuses Cassius of giving his honorable posts in exchange for
gold and money and that he refused to give him gold that he asked for - “Let me tell you,
Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm, to sell and mart your
offices for gold to undeservers.”, “I did send to you for certain sums of gold, which you
denied me, for I can raise no money by vile means. By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
and drop my blood for drachmas than to wring from the hard hands of peasants their vile
trash by any indirection. I did send to you for gold to pay my legions, which you denied
me.” This reveals Cassius's true nature of selfishness and his greed over wealth and
power. The denial proves the fact that he had used Brutus for his own cravings. But
Cassius influences Brutus by playing his sentimental tricks on him for he needs his
support to win the war. He requests Brutus to kill him with his dagger stating that he
cannot bear the accusations on him anymore and that Brutus has misunderstood him.
Brutus is touched by Cassius's words and apologizes for his vexed behaviour with him.
 To the end of the play Cassius and Brutus's army are defeated by Antony and Octavius.
Cassius proves his deceiving character even at the end of the play. He uses the love of his
friend Titinius for him and coaxes him to scrutinize the battlefield for he does not want to
risk his own life. After analyzing the above dialogues and situations we can confidently
and assuredly state that Cassius is a passionate and devious manipulator who is ambitious
and jealous. 
Appendix:
https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/