Understanding Irony in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar To add interest and complexity to their works of literature, authors often employ the various forms of irony. In the Tragedy of Julius Caesar, conflicts arise in Rome when general Julius Caesar defeats Roman king, Pompey, and seizes power of the empire. Playwright William Shakespeare weaves dramatic, verbal, and situational irony throughout the play. The forms of irony affect the plot and characterization, and conveys the themes: words are powerful weapons, deceit is often cloaked in innocence, and recognize and heed warnings. Dramatic and verbal irony influence the plot and characterization of Caesar, while conveying the theme of recognizing and heed warnings. Caesar’s character flaw
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Brutus’s reason for joining the conspiracy against Caesar was to rid Rome of tyrannical rule. He had noble intentions; however, he incites a civil war in which he ultimately dies. Although Brutus’s honorable justifications for assassinating Caesar illustrate his determination and a desirable outcome, he does not achieve his idealistic goal. Instead, Antony is victorious and controls Rome with two other triumvirs. Another example of situational irony occurs when Caesar explains that he is as “constant as the Northern Star” (3.1.60). By comparing himself to a fixed star, Caesar is suggesting that he is the direction by which people follow, and that he is above everyone else. The situational irony is that the conspirators murder him almost immediately after his speech about how he is “[u]nshakened of motion” (3.1.70). The pride that Caesar demonstrates through his monologue is crushed when the plotters suddenly stab him to death. The defeat of Brutus and Caesar support the theme, deceit is often cloaked in innocence. Brutus trusted that Antony was honest in his aim to follow Brutus. However, Antony deceived Brutus by turning the Romans against him. Decius, a plotter, misleads Caesar by interpreting Calphurnia’s nightmares as positive dreams and no causes for concern. In turn, Caesar goes to the capitol, where the conspirators murder
Brutus’s reason for joining the conspiracy against Caesar was to rid Rome of tyrannical rule. He had noble intentions; however, he incites a civil war in which he ultimately dies. Although Brutus’s honorable justifications for assassinating Caesar illustrate his determination and a desirable outcome, he does not achieve his idealistic goal. Instead, Antony is victorious and controls Rome with two other triumvirs. Another example of situational irony occurs when Caesar explains that he is as “constant as the Northern Star” (3.1.60). By comparing himself to a fixed star, Caesar is suggesting that he is the direction by which people follow, and that he is above everyone else. The situational irony is that the conspirators murder him almost immediately after his speech about how he is “[u]nshakened of motion” (3.1.70). The pride that Caesar demonstrates through his monologue is crushed when the plotters suddenly stab him to death. The defeat of Brutus and Caesar support the theme, deceit is often cloaked in innocence. Brutus trusted that Antony was honest in his aim to follow Brutus. However, Antony deceived Brutus by turning the Romans against him. Decius, a plotter, misleads Caesar by interpreting Calphurnia’s nightmares as positive dreams and no causes for concern. In turn, Caesar goes to the capitol, where the conspirators murder