Julius Caesar A Dead Man

’s Party Essay, Research Paper

JULIUS CAESAR:

A Dead Man?s Party

In Shakespeare?s Julius Caesar, the character of Caesar remains a

active force throughout the play, even after his assassination. Caesar is

such a strong presence that even after he is killed, his spirit will not rest

until he is revenged.

It is ironic in that Brutus wished to ?come by Caesar?s spirit, And

not dismember Caesar?. Caesar?s body was killed, but in doing so, his

?spirit? was unleashed, which causes more disaster than a living Caesar

ever would have. Antony is the first to call up the spirit of Caesar in his

soliloquy in the Capitol building, over Caesar?s body. ?…And Caesar?s

spirit, ranging for revenge, with Ate by his side come hot from hell…That

this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for

burial.? Antony prophesizes that until the spirit of Caesar is avenged,

bloodshed and evil shall reign over the land. Antony again invokes

Caesar?s spirit in his speech to the citizens of Rome, using it to ferment

them into an angry mob. The mob is so frenzied in their bloodlust, they

prove Antony?s earlier prophesy by killing Cinna, a poet because he has

the same name as one of the conspirators.

The visible ?spirit? of Caesar appears to Brutus as a ghost at Saris

and at Philipi, showing us that Brutus has not yet validated to himself

his part in the assassination of Caesar, even though he never verbally

regrets killing Caesar. The appearance of Caesar?s ghost also signals

that Brutus?s and Cassius?s luck is running out.

Caesar?s spirit only rests with the suicides of Brutus and Cassius,

both acknowledge that they do so to ?still? Caesar?s spirit. Cassius

notices the irony in his death, ?Caesar, thou art revenged, even with the

sword that killed thee.?, and Brutus, noble to the last, states his love for

Caesar, ?Caesar, now be still; I killed not thee with half so good a will?

Caesar, like many of those with strong presence?s, had an

influence over many, even when not present, especially when that

influence is invoked and used effectively on a population, as Antony did.

A bit of Caesar?s spirit could be said to live on today, in the influences he

had on society.