Julius Caesar And Antonio Friendship Essay

The friendship of Sir Andrew and Sir Toby and Sebastian and Antonio have differences as well as similar aspects. In Sir Toby and Sir Andrew’s friendship both men view each other as equal in status. When Sir Andrew enters the room in which the party is being held, he enthusiastically greets Sir Toby and says, “Sir Toby Belch! How now, Sir Toby Belch?”, and Sir Toby replies “Sweet Sir Andrew” (1.3.44-45); this short greeting shows how both men are recognizing that they are equal in social status as they refer to each other as “Sir”. Antonio and Sebastian’s friendship contradicts this dynamic of treating each other as equals as Sebastian has more power than Antonio because Antonio submits himself to Sebastian following the shipwreck. Antonio asks Sebastian if
Sir Toby is reluctant to dress his wounds after he is injured by Cesario. Sir Andrew talks with Sir Toby and lends his support to him by saying “I’ll help you, Sir Toby, because we’ll be dressed together” (5.1.214-215), implying that they will dress the wounds together. After the shipwreck, Antonio persistently asks Sebastian if he can join him. Sebastian says “the malignancy of my fate might perhaps distemper yours… I may bear my evils alone”(2.1.4-6), implying that Sebastian would like to continue his travels by himself as his fate is unlucky and may cause harm to Antonio. However, this danger does not stop Antonio from deciding to follow Sebastian to Illyria as “that danger shall seem sport” (2.2.47), demonstrating how Antonio is willing to put himself danger in order to be with Sebastian. The dynamics of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew’s friendship compare and contrast to Antonio and Sebastian’s friendship. The similarities show how each man must put forth effort in order for the friendship to be successful, while the differences demonstrate the socio-economic factors that affect