Themes, Motifs and Symbols in Julius Caesar

Themes in Julius Caesar include power, ambition, manipulation, loyalty and betrayal. Shakespeare uses the symbols and motifs of omens, letters and Caesar’s body to explore human nature and the political complexities of Rome.

Themes

Power and ambition

The desire for power and the dangers of ambition are central themes in Julius Caesar. Caesar’s ambition gives him substantial political power in Rome. Antony says of him:

“When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is performed”

This ability for Caesar to have his orders carried out shows his political strength. As a result, he is popular among the citizens of Rome. However, his rising power and influence make some senators suspicious.

Brutus voices his fear that Caesar may become king, which would change his role from being the leader of a republic that represents the citizens. It would give him unopposed power, and he could potentially use this for self-serving actions. Cassius, who is envious of Caesar’s power, exploits this fear in Brutus. He says that it amazes him that a man with physical weaknesses should “bear the palm alone” in leading Rome.

Whether Caesar, in fact, wants to be king is ambiguous. He addresses the crowd after his victory over Pompey. Antony tries to put a crown on Caesar’s head three times, but the leader resists each time. This could symbolise that he did not have the ambition to be king. However, it could also be interpreted as a false show of humility.

On the day of his death, he initially decides not to attend the fateful Senate meeting. His wife, Calphurnia, has dreamt of his death and begged him not to go. However, Decius lures him into the Capitol with the promise that he will be made king. Therefore, it could be argued that Caesar’s ambitious nature was indeed a factor in his death.

Cassius’s own greedy desire for power leads to his death. As is typical of a Shakespeare tragedy, many innocent people also die, suffering for the sins of power-hungry men. Shakespeare provides a clear warning about the dangers of unchecked ambition.

Manipulation

Manipulation drives the central conflicts in the play. Cassius manipulates Brutus’s love of Rome to get him to conspire against Caesar. He suggests that Caesar is not fit enough to rule Rome, referring to him as “the tired Caesar”. He follows this up by sending letters to Brutus that are supposed to be from ordinary citizens, accusing Caesar of not protecting Rome. Cassius knows that Brutus will put aside his personal feelings for what is best for Rome, and exploits this cunningly.

After Caesar’s death, Brutus and Antony give eulogies to the crowd. They both give rhetorical (persuasive) speeches that are designed to manipulate the citizens’ emotions about the assassination of their leader.

First, Brutus frames the death as necessary for the good of Rome. He tells the people that if Caesar had lived, they would have lived as “slaves”. This convinces the crowd that Brutus acted in their best interests. However, Antony then gives a speech. He persuades them that Caesar was an honourable man who didn’t deserve to die. He sarcastically repeats the lines:

“But Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honourable man”

The repetition makes the audience question Brutus’s honour. Antony then implies that Caesar’s will would prove his honour. He makes a show of needing to be persuaded by the crowd to reveal its contents. When they hear that their leader has left all his wealth and property to the citizens, they rise up against the conspirators.

Loyalty and betrayal

Brutus demonstrates both betrayal and loyalty. He is fiercely loyal to the Roman Republic, which leads to his betrayal of Caesar. He justifies his actions by saying he has “no personal cause to spurn at him” but is acting for “the general good” instead. Brutus confirms this again in his speech at Caesar’s funeral, assuring the crowd:

“…this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more”

However, his trust and loyalty towards Cassius are misplaced. His co-conspirator, Cassius, manipulates Brutus into having a distorted view of Caesar as a leader. Therefore, even though he is acting in what he thinks are the republic’s best interests, he has been blinded by the greed for power in others. After Brutus’s death, Antony and Octavius honour him for his noble intentions towards Rome.

Antony is a character who shows unwavering loyalty to Caesar. After learning of the assassination, he pretends to support Brutus and Cassius. However, he then swears – in a private moment with Caesar’s body – to seek vengeance for the killing.

Bravely, he speaks against Brutus and Cassius when addressing the crowd. Had this gone wrong and the crowd not supported him, Antony would likely have faced a gruesome execution at the hands of the conspirators. His persuasive abilities ultimately turn the tide in favour of avenging Caesar.

Symbols and Motifs

Omens

There are several omens (moments that signal the future) suggesting to Caesar that he will be murdered. However, he ignores these omens and so heads towards his death without caution.

When Caesar first appears, a soothsayer warns him to “Beware the ides of March” (the 15th of March). In disbelief, Caesar dismisses the soothsayer after hearing his warning, referring to the man as a “dreamer.”

Just before his death, he sees the soothsayer and mockingly says, “The ides of March are come.” This is to ridicule the suggestion that he should have feared this day. The soothsayer then reminds him, “Ay Caesar, but not gone.”

The night before Caesar’s murder, his wife Calpurnia dreams of his statue running with blood. Caesar reports that:

“…she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it”

Unfazed by this vision, Caesar still attends the Senate meeting. After he is stabbed, Brutus and the other conspirators “bathe” their hands in Caesar’s blood.

Letters

Letters are depicted as powerful tools in the play. Cassius forges letters from the Roman citizens that accuse Brutus of sleeping while Rome is in danger:

“Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself”

This dramatically influences him to join the conspiracy against Caesar.

Artemidorus writes a letter to Caesar, naming the conspirators who plan to kill him. However, as with the omens, Caesar ignores this chance to save himself. Despite being urged to “Read it instantly,” he dismisses Artemidorus as “mad.”

Caesar’s body

Caesar’s body is a symbol of Rome itself. Antony says of his body:

“O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,”

When Antony addresses the Roman citizens during the funeral, he uses Caesar’s dead body to incite anger. He points to Caesar’s wounds as he names all of the conspirators:

“…ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.”

This powerful image of the slain leader becomes a symbol of the tragedy and turmoil that engulfs Rome.