Julius Caesar Traits

For every situation, there are multiple aspect into which it can be observed. Rarely does anything occur in which everyone has the same ideas or aspects on what happened. In the play, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare proves that many of his characters, especially Cassius, cannot merely be observed through one lens in order to be understood. Throughout the play the audience observes Cassius display two distinct personalities. Shakespeare wants to depict Cassius as being multi-dimensional in order to make his audience both sympathize as well as loathe his character. He accomplishes this by exploring Cassius’s two polar opposite sides: his cunning personality as well as his kinder and more sympathetic character.
To start, Shakespeare wants his audience
This is done primarily through Cassius’s conversation with Brutus inside Brutus’s tent. As the armies are ready to begin approaching Philippi, Cassius arrives to Brutus apparently very cross. He passionately discusses the hurt and betrayal he feels from Brutus when Brutus reveals that he believes Cassius has been earning money in immoral ways and then refusing to loan some of the money to Brutus. This scene shows the softer side of Cassius who then responds with, “Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know/When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better/Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.” This shows that Cassius feels hurt and betrayed with Brutus. Shakespeare uses this type of language in order to plainly show the audience the raw betrayal that Cassius feels. He is not pretending or faking any emotion, as he might have done earlier in the play. The scene in general, marks a new understanding of Cassius’s character. This is further done during Cassius’s suicide. He feels so guilty for thinking that he allowed his friend Trebonius become captured that he has Pindarus stab him. This shows that Cassius shows a certain loyalty to friends and that he, like normal people, experiences guilt over wrongdoings and thus tries to punish himself. Shakespeare thus uses Cassius’s feelings of guilt and betrayal to show the softer side to Cassius to allow the reader to view his character in a newfound