A Comparison Of The Plebeians In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

The common man is essential to nearly any piece of literature like how humans need oxygen. This need is exacerbated in plays and novels where the plot is essential in the evaluation of interpretation. This is shown in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by the plebeians in Act 3 Scene 2. Plebeians in the dramatic text are looked down upon as how they are treated in the first act and how easily they are swayed and stirred. Within the dramatic text the Plebeians are shown weak, puerile and irrational mob. However, in the theatrical text the Plebeian mobs were intimidating, systematic but still irrational. This difference had major ramifications throughout the play as they project fear onto the conspirators and the audience for …show more content…
The plebeians seemed very passive throughout the scene except when they were either praising or villainizing the conspirators. The Plebeian went from wanting to build Brutus a statue to rioting in the streets. The plebeians were initially swayed by Brutus’s rhetoric, reason and his credentials. Brutus was a nobleman with great ancestors and a lineage to be desired. Brutus is a trusted man in Rome, so many Plebeians just accepted his word as fact because he was an “honourable man”. However, Brutus’s reputation could not carry his message alone to convince the Plebeians the murder of Caesar was justified. The content of his speech was not sub-par. Brutus is a man of reason and rhetoric and accordingly his speech was full of reason and rhetoric. The Plebeians, the working man is not as susceptible to reason and rhetoric as bright minds and thinkers. Brutus had tried to relate the Plebeians, trying to show his true feeling “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was …show more content…
As Shakespeare has written it leaves much to open interpretation. This performance is no different. The way Brutus carried himself in the speech was perfect as he was trying to employ. Brutus has respect for the common man, using his superior knowledge of Logos to try to persuade the Plebeians. It is known to all who have watched and read the play that Brutus and the conspirators would lose control of the Roman people. It would not make sense for the director to have Brutus give a passionate and awe-inspiring speech as the Plebeians do not understand Logos well and that Anthony would convince the Plebeians that the conspirators are villains. This interpretation shows a true view of Rome and its events. After the assassination Rome was in turmoil. The people attacked a man who had the same name as a conspirator. Shocking events shows the true nature