Julius Caesar

My Review
*sigh*. finally done reading it.
to be honest, i had to read this play over again, for several times, so I'd understand the old English of shakespear, i even read things i already understood again and again, to make sure i completely understood, but isn't this why i read this play from the first place? for it is the old English that attracted me to read it.
though it makes no sense sometimes, yet i enjoy reading it.
it is i would like to say "extra-straight and man-ish". for it's based upon heroism, courage, revenge, war, power, and honor.
and all it's characters are men, except for 2 women, who barely existed (Brutus' and Caesar's wives, yeah, and the wife of Brutus would die too)
In Julius Caesar it is pretty difficult to figure who the hero of the play is, or whom did shakespear want to let him be the hero.
you might say it's Caesar, because the play is named on him. But i don't think say, for he soon dies, and has no long role. and was rarely present, unless you count his ghost/evil spirit of course.
i might say Antony (My fav character) is the Hero, as he is the one who won the war, what makes him more "hero-ish" to me is that he started a war only to take revenge for his best friend's murder.
something else i like about him is that he can move crowds with his words, (the way he did in his speech at Caesar's funeral.)
Anyhow i wouldn't argue with those who might decide that Brutus is the Hero, because Shakespear let us know more about him, his thoughts and intentions than the rest of the characters including Antony.
Beside that, Brutus might be the hero, because his intention to kill Julius was for the common good, though he failed, he did admit it, and had the courage to kill himself, instead of giving that honor to any other.
Antony too, had said "the noblest roman of them all, etc" about him.
though this isn't my fav of shakespear's , as i prefer other plays such as the midsummer night's dream, and the merchant of Venice.
i did enjoy reading this one, and i did like it.
Julius Caesar was like none of the similar plays/novels i read, it is indeed simple, but had things that you might not expect from plays with similar subjects.
for reasons such as

• the early death of Caesar.
• Antony winning the War.
• The appearance Caesar's ghost/evil spirit.
• the way Cassius and Brutus died.

My favorite quotes:

- "Cowards die many times before their deaths;the valiant never taste of death but once.
of all the wonders that i yet have heard,
it seems to me most strange that men should fear,
seeing that death, a necessary end,
will come when it will come."
(Caesar)

-"....be near me, that i may remember you."
"Caesar, I will, )Aside) And so near will I be
That your best friends shall wish i had been further."
(Caesar & Trebonius)

- "I could be well moved, if i were as you;
if i could pray to move, prayers would have move me.
but i am constant as the northern star,
of whose true-fixed and resting quality
there is no fellow in the firmament.
the skies are painted with unnumbered sparks,
they are all fire, and every one doth shine;
but there's but one in all doth hold his place.
so in the world: 'tis furnished well with men,
and men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
yet in the number i do know but one
that unassailable holds on his rank,
unshaken of motion; and that i am he,"
(Caesar)

- "he that cuts twenty years of life
cuts so many years of fearing death."
(Casca)

- "some that smile have in their hearts, i fear,
millions of mischiefs ."
(Octavius)

- "'tis better that the enemy seek us;
so shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
doing himself offence, whilst we, lying still,
are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness."
(Cassius)

My next read by the same author
Helmet + the merchant of Venice + midsummer night's dream