Julius Ceaser

If one defines the word loyalty, the definition would most likely represent devotion or faithfulness to ones country, friends, relatives, or ideas. In the great play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, many of the individual characters appeared very loyal to one another, but at other times, they also betray one another. One central theme of the play includes the importance of loyalty and how long it exists. Another theme in Julius Caesar includes devotion, a quality similar to loyalty. The definition of loyalty consists of a deep love, commitment, or dedication to someone or something. One could act devoted to a friend, to their country, their school, or a religious cause.

Many characters in Julius Caesar show devotion as a characteristic in several instances. It appears that sometimes the characters choose between loyalty to each other, hurting themselves, or betraying that person for their own well-being. Brutus acts like a very honorable man, and he remains truly loyal and devoted to Caesar, but he remains even more loyal to his country, so he decided to join the conspirators. He says that he does not want Caesar as Rome's king, yet he loves him. He does not comprehend that assassinating Caesar with the others would dishonor their devotion to each other. Brutus feels that in the long run, it will work better for Rome. On the morning of the Ides of March, Brutus remains worried about his decision. He thinks about the future of Rome with Caesar as king and says, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, would run to these and these extremities; and therefore think him as a serpents egg, which hatched, would as his king grow mischievous, and kill him in the shell (Julius Caesar50). When Cassius wants to kill Anthony along with Caesar, Brutus disagrees with him because he wants his old friend Caesar to die with dignity and says he wants to act like sacrificers, not butchers. Brutus tells Cassius and the others, "Let carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fir for hounds. We shall be called purgers not murderers. And for Mark Anthony, think not of him (Julius Caesar 56)." Brutus will do this terrible deed only for his devotion to Rome, but the others would probably murder Caesar in a brutal way because they do not have the loyalty that Brutus possesses.

At times in the play it becomes difficult and confusing to determine a friend from a foe. Antony remains completely devoted to Caesar and when they kill Caesar he pretends that he will follow the others, but he remains devoted and continually loyal to Caesar, just waiting to get back at them. Antony feels willing to die with Caesar when he sees Caesars dead body. He declares, Who else must be let blood, who else is rank. If I myself, there is no hour so fit as Caesars deaths hour. No place will please me so, no mean of death as here by Caesar (Julius Caesar 79). He remains so devoted that he wants to die with him right then and there. Antony wants to speak at Caesar's funeral to get the people angry about the execution. Antony's ambition to kill the betrayers shows much devotion. Brutus speaks first and tries to explain why Caesar needed to die. Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus's love to Caesar was no less that his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer. Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more (Julius Caesar 85). The citizens seemed loyal to these reasons. After Antony gets his funeral speech in, the crowds of people change their loyalty back to Caesar and Antony.

Many circumstances in the story make characters seem suspicious, raising the doubt of their trustworthiness. Several characters believed that they had the truest friends, but in the end, the friends lacked loyalty and devotion. Brutus and Cassius always fight about Caesar, and Cassius tells him not to act loyal to Caesar. They grow closer after Caesar's death, but Brutus still shows less devotion to Cassius then he did to Caesar, because he didn't respect him as much.

Right before they killed him at the Senate, Caesar remains devoted to all of his people and country, and does not have a clue that his followers, like his true friend Brutus, are about to murder him. He invites them to drink wine with him and exclaims, Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me, and we will straightway go together