Personal Morality In Machiavelli's Julius Caesar

The intricate and multifaceted nature of texts allows composers to express their ideas in such a way that they have an influence on people’s perspectives. It also provides a means to either subvert or conform to the ideologies of the time. The treatment of personal morality, due to repercussions of personal morality, does not influence the nature of the texts, though it to an extent reveals similarities in terms of concerns and reinforces those ideas throughout the texts through their respective textual structures. Both Machiavelli’s The Prince and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar share the concepts of power, human nature and the nation state. Through the contextual foundations of the texts, they explore and conform to the ideas and values of their
In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar when Caesar says “No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he”: suggests, through the third person perspective combined with the comparison of ‘than’, that hubris is detrimental to any leader. Shakespeare was trying to express the current state of London, as well as the world outside of London, and assure the populace that a powerful monarch that did not get enveloped by human passion was imperative. He was reassuring them of the political instability that existed prior to Elizabeth’s reign, appealing to the fear of the unknown and raising the question of the type of monarch after Queen Elizabeth’s demise. Elizabeth brought about both political and economic stability during her reign; a leader such as Elizabeth was necessary for the well-being of the nation. Furthermore, it is explicit when “Caesar…I know…would not be…sheep…he were…lion” is an implication, through the imperative ‘I know’, that the individuals in power would not want to be considered a ‘sheep’ but rather a lion. This is an allusion to Machiavelli’s The Prince, when he metaphorically states, through the animal imagery, that a leader needs to possess traits of both the “fox and the lion”, and how it is implicit within humans. Likewise, “A prudent man should always follow in the path
The nation state needs to be able to accommodate for the populace to increase credibility and retain power for a prolonged period. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the nation-state is portrayed as the source of liberty for the masses. “So often shall the knot of us be called ‘The men that gave their country liberty’” suggests, through the use of inclusive language of ‘us’, that the successful liberation of the country is a group achievement rather than a singular success. It allows leaders to subvert the perceptions of the populace and allow them to consider the actions of the nation state. This can be associated with Machiavelli’s statement: “the ends justifying the means”. This signifies that the conspirators’ action of killing Caesar is for the ‘liberty’ of ‘their country’, something that is beneficial for both the populace and the conspirators in terms of personal morality and the obtaining of power. Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral depicts illuminates his personal morality as worthy of leadership. This is evident through the repetition of “honourable” where he mocks Brutus’s actions and claims that Caesar was not ‘honourable’. Mark Antony utilises his morality to reveal the truth in front of the masses, hence diminishing the populace’s faith within Brutus. Queen Elizabeth I brought the whole of the country over in theory and practice to the protestant faith. She created a