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In his work, William Shakespeare uses the elements of drama to analyze and explain the universal themes present in each of his plays. The Shakespearean play ‘Julius Caesar’ demonstrates the universal themes of betrayal and tragedy. Julius Caesar is a tragedy play written in 1599. It’s about a conflict/rivalry between two people, named Brutus and Caesar. In the end, Brutus ends up stabbing Caesar in the back and killing him all because he felt that Caesar had too much power.
Throughout the play, conflict can be seen as a dramatic element shown through the themes of betrayal and tragedy. Betrayal and tragedy are shown through the conflict that the play represents. These universal themes, of betrayal and tragedy, are what keep the play relevant for modern audiences. This is through the idea that backstabbing friendships are still common and that sometimes people face major disappointments in life such as death. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to increase the audience’s feelings of suspense and interest because the audience can already tell what’s going to happen to Caesar.
The quote “Brutus: Swear priests and cowards and men cautious, / Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls / That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear / Such creatures as men doubt, but do not stain / The even virtue of our enterprise” demonstrates that Brutus truly feels that killing Caesar is just and honorable. Brutus feels that swearing an oath would lower its worthiness. This quote is a perfect example of the universal theme of betrayal. An archetypal character that I can see in this play is Brutus, as he is the common character in a play that’s out to get his successful so-called “friend”. Hamartia is a dramatic element present in Brutus himself. This is because Brutus' fatal flaw, which is the need for nobility, is the reason he decides to kill himself.
Another reason why the play ‘Julius Caesar’ relates to us is that it shows that people can be too self-absorbed and up-tight to admit their own mistakes. An example of tragedy in the Shakespearean play, ‘Julius Caesar’ is “Caesar: I could be well moved if I were as you; / If I could pray to move, prayers would move me; / But I am constant as the Northern Star, / Of whose true-fixed and resting quality / There is no fellow in the firmament. (III, I, 58-62).” This quote uses pathos to demonstrate the fact that Caesar is comparing himself to the Northern Star and displays the arrogance with which the conspirators accuse him.
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