Analysis of Caius Cassius Character free essay sample

The driving force behind the conspiracy is Cassius though there are others who are unhappy with the state of affairs under the prevailing system. Yet, they do not take an active part in the design to get rid of powerful Caesar. So, it is not incorrect to state that the chief protagonist of the assassination plot is no one but Caius Cassius. Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep onights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. Act1. ii. In the Act 1 Scene ii of the play, we come across the above quotation where Caesar expresses, to Mark Antony, his assessment of Cassius’ personality although the latter plays down Caesar’s fear of Cassius stating that he is not a dangerous individual but a noble Roman. Caesar’s estimation of Cassius encapsulates in a nutshell the true face of a schemer who is out to deter, through jealousy or to gain personal advantages, the advancement of others. We do not know the truth behind this assertion. But Caesar believes firmly that Cassius is a person with evil intentions. Let us find out, based on the facts in the play, whether what Caesar believes is true. The initial appearance of Cassius, in the play, is in the Act 1. ii where he meets Brutus and joins him in conversation. Being a subtle thinker who visualizes everything from all standpoints, it is reasonable to conclude that he had not failed to pre-plan minutely the plot prior to his implanting the embryo, against Caesar, in Brutus’ mind. Cassius is crafty enough not to touch upon the topic directly. First he tries to find out Brutus’ personal opinion about Caesar’s authoritarian rule. So, he drifts the conversation towards that direction when Brutus drops the casual hint: â€Å"Nor construe any further my neglect Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,† Act 1. ii. From this point onward, he manipulates on Brutus’ egotism by praising the noble role his ancestors had played in the past in the affairs of the country, and also Brutus for the high respect that the Romans have towards him. By means of this ingenious mechanism he tries to create in Brutus the normal human feeling â€Å"If people hold me in such esteem, I am better than Caesar. See the next question Cassius poses to Brutus: â€Å"Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? † Act 1. ii. How skilfully he plays his card to win Brutus over to his side! He handles the whole subject as an expert at negotiation. Cassius’ endeavour does not stop here. He pursues it still more vigo rously. Now it takes a different turn. He presents to Brutus a Caesar who is not as courageous or valiant as people think him to be. To buttress his claim, he relates two incidents where Caesar showed his cowardice. One of which is the incident where Cassius and Caesar jumped into the raging Tiber to swim to the other side. Before being able to reach the bank, Caesar got into difficulties and screamed for help. It was Cassius who saved him from drowning. What is Cassius driving at? Here he compares Caesar with Brutus and implies that, when there are greater men like Brutus, in the Republic of Rome, why should they remain passive under the yoke of a tyrant? This argument succeeds partially to win over Brutus’ co-operation for Cassius’ plan. It is a great achievement for him, for it is not a simple task to convince an idealist of the calibre of Brutus to commit an action that will spill out blood. After preparing the preliminary ground and getting Brutus’ consent to think over the subject, Cassius does not remain idle. He pursues the issue relentlessly to ensure that Brutus will not change his mind. He writes some notes, under different hands, as if coming from several citizens and causes them to be thrown into his room at night for him to read. The general tenor of the writing is that Rome holds Brutus in high esteem and respect and he should not be silent when the country is in dire need of his leadership to overthrow the tyrant. The strategy succeeds in obtaining Brutus’ whole-hearted involvement in the conspiracy when he says, â€Å"‘Speak, strike, redress! ’ Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus! † Act 2. ii. Though the method employed to convert Brutus is quite unprincipled, it shows, no doubt, the skill of a practical man to achieve his objective by hook or by crook. Hence, it can be counted as a plus point in his character. Brutus’ patriotism and self-love impede him from seeing the deep chasm to which he is pushed by artful manipulation. Unlike Brutus, Cassius is a far-sighted man. He is aware of the capability of Antony and his solid friendship with Caesar. An important item in his plan is to get rid of Mark Antony as well, along with Caesar since he concludes that he is a potential danger to their cause. But this is over-ruled by Brutus on the premise that it will foul their good intention. Brutus’ reaction to the suggestion is: â€Å"Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. † Act 2 Scene i. What takes place later fully justifies the stand taken by Cassius with regard to Antony. If Brutus agreed with Cassius, the conspiracy would have been a complete success. Brutus permits Antony to make a funeral oration at Caesar’s burial. Again Cassius objects to Antony being allowed to speak for he sees it dangerous, and this is his reaction: â€Å"You know not what you do. Do not consent That Antony speaks in his funeral. † Act 3 Scene i. Why did such a far-sighted man as Cassius, who felt that there was a potential threat from Antony in the event of him being allowed to live and permitted to deliver Caesar’s funeral oration, meekly succumb to Brutus’ objections and keep mute? As this is a relevant question which bears on Cassius’ true character, it is important that there is some acceptable explanation to the position adopted by him. It is a well-known fact that Cassius’ endeavour to get the co-operation of Brutus to assassinate Caesar is based on the hypothesis that it can succeed only if Brutus is their chief co-conspirator. Relying on this theory, he does not want to commit anything that is liable to displease Brutus. He thinks that, if Brutus is annoyed and comes to the conclusion that the assassination is done to achieve some personal ends and not for the common good of the country, Brutus will not hesitate to wash his hands off the plot. In order to prevent this possibility, Cassius remains silent and this is the serious weakness in his character. This finally becomes the fatal flaw in the bid to get rid of the dictatorship. If Cassius explained to Brutus in greater detail the danger of permitting Antony to deliver the funeral oration, the fatal end of the conspiracy could have been avoided. This is not in keeping with the manoeuvring skill of a man like Cassius. If he can convince Brutus to support the conspirators, it is not impossible for him to get Brutus to block Antony being given the opportunity of speaking at the funeral. Cassius is undoubtedly a superb schemer. He is able to win over to his side an idealist like Brutus to assassinate his good friend, Caesar. However, he fails in his endeavour to liquidate Mark Antony and block his delivering the funeral oration at Caesar’s burial. His failure to explain the inherent dangers posed by Antony convincingly to Brutus, who does not see the reality due to his extreme idealism, is an indelible black mark on his character as a skilful schemer. Though the conspirators succeed in assassinating Caesar, yet they get themselves liquidated as a result of Mark Antony’s dexterous manipulation of the popular anger against them. So, Cassius and Brutus should be held responsible for the unnecessary massacre that ensues and both of them kill themselves by their own hands before they are captured by the forces commanded by AntonÃ'Æ'.