William Shakespeare\'s Tragic Play Julius Caesar, He

¶ … William Shakespeare's tragic play Julius Caesar, he portrays many human characteristics accurately. Just a few of these characteristics include greed, ambition, deception, power, honor and naivete. Though Shakespeare may not have completely stuck to the historical facts in order to create dramatic interest, his portrayal of human nature happens to be eerily correct. Even today, hundreds of years after Caesar's reign and numerous decades after Shakespeare's play, deception and naivety still infiltrate our nation, it's political system, its business structure and national security.

When the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks happen, the entire nation feels numb, even dumbfounded with the thought of "how did this happen here?" We as Americans are comfortable with our world up until the first commercial plane flew into the North tower that morning shortly before 9 a.m. In a similar fashion, Caesar lives his life as any ruler would -- he has no reason to do otherwise. Though the U.S. people may not have been told, "beware the ides of September" by a soothsayer as Caesar is warned about "the ides of March," it is easily argued that we should have seen an attack coming. (I.,ii,19) Bin Laden, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups all have said quite publicly that they despise Americans, that we are immoral and they wish to attack us. In 1993, the WTC's were bombed in an attempt to destroy them; 1995 saw American Timothy McVeigh cause the Oklahoma City Bombing. (Schoenfeld,21) Why couldn't we be attacked again? It was with naive and blind trust that we took for granted that they could not. Caesar, too, feels that his life is not threatened. Much like the U.S., Caesar is at the top of his reign and perhaps is too comfortable and trusting. Many times he is warned about the upcoming troubles, but he ignores the warnings, much as the American government ignored the signs. Lax security in airports has been an issue for countless years. (Schoenfeld, 21) Just how did these men get through the "security checkpoints" with weapons on their bodies? Too many people dropped the ball, looked the other way and ignored what their gut was telling them, exactly as Shakespeare portrayed ancient Romans.

Deception, of course, correlates with the terrorist attacks, too. These Taliban members lived within our communities, shopped at our grocery stores, slept next door and might have even dated a few of our women. All the while, they were secretly plotting a nationwide attack for September 11, 2001. Caesar is also betrayed, though the Senate is supposed to be his supporters. Brutus is his best friend, his confidant. Yet all the while, Brutus is being persuaded to conspire against Caesar. Brutus does conspire, as well as others who once supported Caesar. The conspirators lie, sneak around and deceive their family and friends in order to do what they feel is right for the state of Rome. Eerily, the suicide bombers of September 11 also lied, and snuck around. Perhaps one of the most damaging results of their ultimate deception is that now Americans don't know who to trust, which leads to many citizens preferring not to trust anyone. (Webb, EDN)

On April 20, 1999, two students from Columbine High School carry out their plan of attack after at least a year of planning and scheming. The two students carry out the plan, kill several people and then kill themselves. The nation is shocked, the community horrified. How did two teens carry out this "military like" attack? How could no one have known? They deceived everyone, including their own parents, who lived with them, fed them, worried about them and loved them. Deception is a powerful trait. Shakespeare's portrayal of the deception of Caesar and the Roman people is no exception. Much like the community of Columbine, those who were around Caesar might have seen trouble coming, but never would have imagined it would have been one of their own. Because such loyal friends surround Caesar, he never suspects harm can come his way. Similarly, the neighbors of the Klebold's and Harris', the shooters' families from Columbine, talk of how the two came from "excellent families, who had infinite options ahead of them." In the aftermath, their memories are processed while they wonder, "How they could have missed the incubation of so much evil." (Achenbach,A1)