Examples Of Loyalty In Julius Caesar

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Loyalty is shown by remaining faithful and committed to a specific person or cause, and loyalty to friends or obligations can cause people to make decisions or act in a certain way. Many of the characters in William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, demonstrate their loyalty to others throughout the play. Some of the characters have strong bonds that heavily influence their decisions, but others hold no loyalty at all. Loyalty to another person may be beneficial, but it can also have disastrous results. Brutus is a noble Roman whose loyalty to his country eventually leads to his downfall. Brutus is loyal to his friend Caesar; however, his loyalty to Rome is greater. Because of Brutus’s nobility and loyalty to Rome, he is …show more content…
Because Brutus is completely loyal to Rome, he is willing to do whatever he needs to in order to protect the republic. Brutus realizes that the only way to preserve the Roman Republic is to participate in the assassination of one of his best friends, Julius Caesar. After the Romans found out about the death of Caesar, Brutus told the plebeians, “If then that friend demand why / Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I / loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (III.ii.21-23). Brutus is explaining that even though he did love his friend, Rome was more important to him. Brutus sees that the only way for the government to remain the same, Caesar cannot be crowned king. Even though Brutus thinks he is doing the right thing for his country, he will eventually die for assassinating Caesar. In the end, Brutus’s strong loyalty to Rome leads to his downfall. Brutus does what is best for Rome, but angers Caesar’s followers and will die for following his loyalty to his country. While Brutus shows loyalty to his country, other characters like Cassius are loyal only to one other …show more content…
In the first act of the play Antony states, “When Caesar says, ‘do this,’ it is performed” (I.ii.12). Antony will do whatever Caesar asks of him without question because of his loyalty. Antony’s loyalty to Caesar extends even after his death. When Antony meets with the conspirators after the assassination, his first words are to Caesar’s dead body. Instead of talking to the conspirators, Antony exclaims, “O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? / Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, / Shrunk to this little measure?” (III.i.152-154). Antony is so shocked to see his friend’s corpse that he speaks to Caesar before anyone else. After learning who the conspirators are, Antony plans his revenge for Caesar’s assassination. Antony and Octavius Caesar plan to kill each of the conspirators for their involvement in the assassination, and Antony exclaims, “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war, / that this foul deed shall smell above the earth / With carrion men, groaning for burial” (III.i.280-282). Antony plans a civil war to avenge the death of his friend, Caesar. Because so many other people respected Caesar, Antony and Octavius’s plans work, and they defeat all of the conspirators. Antony’s loyalty to Caesar allows him to get the followers he needs to win the battle. Many characters in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar are loyal to someone. Whether the characters’ loyalty is consistent
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