Julius Caesar: life, influence, and legacy

Julius Caesar - Hero or Tyrant?

Julius Caesar is a tyrant because he is self-important and thinks he is beyond death and above reproach. He ignores warnings about his well being, and he is cruel - he leads captives from Pompeii through the streets of Rome. He says he does not want the crown or to be a dictator, but he becomes more self-adsorbed, arrogant, and selfish by the Third Act, and he even refers to himself in the third person, as if he is a god. Some quotes that show he is a tyrant include:

If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: / security gives way to conspiracy. / The mighty gods defend thee!" (Act II, scene iii).

Caesar should be a beast without a heart, / If he should stay at home today for fear. / No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well / That Caesar is more dangerous than he" (Act II, scene ii).

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, / I spurn thee like a cur out of my way" (Act III, scene i). This shows his cruelty when he banishes a man who disagrees with him.

In conclusion, Julius Caesar is a tyrant because he is cruel, he is arrogant and he sees himself beyond harm and beyond the power of "mere" men.

Julius Caesar is an honorable man because he is a brave man, a good warrior, and a great leader. People are against him because he has become stronger and more powerful, but he repeatedly turns down the crown, which could make him a dictator. He does not worry about himself or his well being, he thinks about the people. He is also wise, and knows there are people he trusts that he should not. Three quotes that show he is honorable include:

Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once" (Act II, scene ii). This shows his bravery.

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; / He thinks too much: such men are dangerous" (Act I, scene ii). This shows he is wise and distrusts some who say they are friends.