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    Thursday, March 30





    I know Gaius Cassius well, the character from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. He seeks to assassinate Julius Caesar largely for reasons of greed, envy and ambition. Clothed in the concerns of the people of Rome, in this case that Caesar will dissolve the Republic and replace it with a monarchy, Cassius plots, schemes and recruits. Along with several other senators Cassius is going to kill the great Julius Caesar.

    Marcus Brutus is different - similar in the means obviously, but noble. He genuinely believes the mission to kill and overthrow Caesar is an act of tyrannicide, necessary for Rome. So great is Brutus' honour and character that Mark Antony describes Brutus as "the noblest Roman of them all" - which coming from Caesar loyalist Antony is a big deal.

    I bring up these characters, because when Cassius comes to you and asks you to kill the Emperor, you know you have to say no. And report him to the authorities. Brutus on the other hand, well, you hear him out. He is sane, rational, loyal and good. But in the end, the great Caesar has done wonders for Rome, and you are not willing to kill him on the steps of the Senate. It is wrong. No matter in Brutus' mind of course, since the murder is still destined to take place - just without you. After all, Senator Cassius seems more than willing to help. Do you say good bye to Brutus, or do you stab him in the back before he gets a chance to kill Caesar? If you kill Brutus, the good and decent man, what does that make you?
     posted by Duncan @ 4:32 PM  

    4 Comments:

    • At 10:40 PM, Blogger Allie said…

      I hear ya.

       

    • At 1:19 AM, Blogger daveberta said…

      is Klein planning on dissolving the Legislature and installing a monarchy?

      Because if he is... you should probably tell someone... ;-)

       

    • At 1:23 AM, Blogger daveberta said…

      It's a little late for the "ides of march," but it is the same month...

       

    • At 8:33 AM, Blogger Quynn said…

      Of course the reality of Cassius, Brutus, Caesar and Antony was very different than Shakespeare's play. Though come to think about it, the character of Cassius wasn't too different... ;-)

       

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