“I had as lief not be as live to be in awe as such a thing as myself” (Act 1.2 Lines 94 – 95). Cassius, a protagonist from the Shakespearean play “Julius Caesar,” felt that Caesar did not deserve the high status he held in Rome or any the honors that were heaped upon him. Cassius believes that Caesar is no greater than he is, and would have rather died than be in awe of him. Envy and Patriotism motivated Cassius to conspire against Caesar, as Cassius believed Caesar was weak and would begin tyranny in Rome.
Cassius greatly envied the power and support that Caesar received from Rome. He felt that he was superior to Caesar, and that Caesar was nothing more than a weak girl. Cassius’s envy compelled him to plot a conspiracy against Caesar. When Cassius convinced Brutus, one of the most honorable men in Rome, to join the conspiracy, he started out by portraying Caesar as a man who was their equal. He pointed out that Caesar held a significantly higher status than they did, and goes on to question why Caesar should hold such a status, if he is no greater than any of them. Cassius then relayed a story of how Caesar challenged him to a race in the river Tiber, and would have drowned if Cassius had not saved him. ““And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature, and must bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (Act 1.2 Lines 114 – 117). Cassius sourly remarked that though Caesar owed Cassius his life, Cassius was still required to bow before Caesar. People in Rome thought of Cassius as a conniving weasel, and thought of Caesar as a god. Cassius felt that he had proved himself to be superior to Caesar in the race, but was angry that he must beckon to Caesar’s every whim as if Caesar was the winner. Cassius envied that Caesar is able have power over him even after Cassius proved himself to be superior. Cassius then told Brutus the story of how Caesar cried like a sick girl when he had a fever. “Ye gods it doth amaze me a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world and bear the palm alone.” (Act 1.2 Lines 127 – 130). Cassius remarked how ridiculous it is that a man so lacking in courage was able to outdistance himself from other common Romans and gain such a high position in Rome. Cassius was calling Caesar weak, and just like, if not inferior, to every other Roman. He commented that is amazing that a weakling like Caesar is able to rule Rome alone. Cassius’s envy for Caesar has driven him to plot a conspiracy to kill the “mighty” Caesar. And though envy is his main driving motive in plotting it, Patriotism also plays a hand in Cassius’s conniving mind.
Cassius had an obligation to his country as a Roman to look out for it’s well fare, and felt that Caesar was not doing this. Cassius knew that Caesar’s ambition was threatening to turn Rome from a republic to a monarchy or a dictatorship. He held certain rights in Rome’s current governing system, rights that he would lose if Caesar became king. Caesar was driven much more by envy to act against Caesar, but was able to use this other small motivator to recruit other people into the conspiracy. This was key to convincing Brutus, one of the most influential and noble men in Rome, to joining the conspiracy “There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d the eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, as easily as a king.” (Act 1.3 Lines 157-159). Cassius knows that Brutus values honor above all else, and it would not be honorable for Caesar to become king. There is too much power he would have the opportunity to misuse. Cassius was able to play on the inkling of fear that was beginning to manifest in Brutus, and mold it to suit his needs. Brutus, left to his own thoughts, made this inkling grow and eventually convince him to join the conspiracy. When Cassius goes on to recruit Casca, he plays much on this reason as well. “And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf, but that he sees the Romans are but sheep” (Act 1.3 Lines 103 – 105). Cassius is accusing Caesar of being a tyrant, and threatening their governing system. Cassius thinks that Caesar is only able to lead Rome, because Romans do not have the wit to be able to do anything but led him lead. Caesar is only able to be a wolf, because Romans are naught but gullible sheep. This glimpses at a bit of Cassius’s true feelings that are mixed with patriotism. Cassius motives are not strongly patriotic, but he knows he needs to display them as patriotic to convince others to join his conspiracy.
Cassius believed that someone as weak as Caesar did not deserve any power or support, and was willing to do anything to knock Caesar of his throne of respect and honor. Envy and Patriotism drove Cassius to plot a conspiracy that would be the downfall of Caesar, Brutus, Rome and even himself. He lied, cheated and conned to recruiting the right people and twisted their minds to believe that what they were doing is honorable. His intentions were everything but. He was able to achieve his goal of removing Caesar from power, although an unexpected chain of disaster exploded afterwards. He succeeded in killing Caesar. He had wanted Caesar to lose his power, and he did after he died. In the end Cassius got the main thing he had wanted. His goal was certainly not a noble one, and even Cassius had known that from the very beginning. He lied about his great concern for Rome’s governing system and the welfare of the people. His main concern from the beginning was his own welfare, which was selfish and egotistical. Karma came back to hit Cassius hard in the face, when he committed suicide after he thought all was lost. Cassius is a clear example that what goes around, comes around.
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