The allure of power can cause men to turn upon even their closest of allies, often using knives of jealousy to increase their position in society or finalize themselves as a leader. In William Shakespeare’s fateful play Julius Caesar, a group of jealous conspirators assassinate a man quickly rising to power in Rome. Julius Caesar, a honorable general, faces hardship as many in Rome see his rising to the throne as a dangerous threat for the fate of their country. The death of Ernst Rohm in Germany, which leads to Hitler’s rise in power can be related to the assassination of Julius Caesar because of their ambition and the jealousy of others around them. The power men acquire may lead them to accomplish great things or it can lead to their undoing.
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As a leader of the Nazi party, Rohm discerns that he is unstoppable. However, many people, including Adolf Hitler and lower members of the Nazi party are jealous of Rohm and the life he leads. Similarly, many of Caesar’s so called allies think of Caesar as a “serpent’s egg” and want to “kill him in his shell” (Shakespeare 2.1. 32, 34). Many people surrounding Caesar wanted to backstab him just as Rohm’s close friends did to him. Hitler began to think that Rohm was gaining too much power and decided that he was going to have to kill him (Trueman). Even though Rohm was one of Hitler’s closest friends, he was jealous and and worried of the power that Rohm obtained. Like Rohm, Caesar believes that he could trust Cassius and Casca, however at the first chance they had they stabbed him in the back. After assassinating Caesar, Brutus, a supposed friend of him, declares to the people of Rome, “Stoop, Romans, stoop, / And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood (Shakespeare 3.1. 117-118). Hitler knew that in order for him to become the leader of Germany he would need support from everywhere, and in order to receive that support he had his closest friend Ernst Rohm arrested and killed (Trueman). Both Caesar and Rohm held positions of power, trusted the men around them, and were killed by some of their closest friends due to their ambition and the jealousy of those around
As a leader of the Nazi party, Rohm discerns that he is unstoppable. However, many people, including Adolf Hitler and lower members of the Nazi party are jealous of Rohm and the life he leads. Similarly, many of Caesar’s so called allies think of Caesar as a “serpent’s egg” and want to “kill him in his shell” (Shakespeare 2.1. 32, 34). Many people surrounding Caesar wanted to backstab him just as Rohm’s close friends did to him. Hitler began to think that Rohm was gaining too much power and decided that he was going to have to kill him (Trueman). Even though Rohm was one of Hitler’s closest friends, he was jealous and and worried of the power that Rohm obtained. Like Rohm, Caesar believes that he could trust Cassius and Casca, however at the first chance they had they stabbed him in the back. After assassinating Caesar, Brutus, a supposed friend of him, declares to the people of Rome, “Stoop, Romans, stoop, / And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood (Shakespeare 3.1. 117-118). Hitler knew that in order for him to become the leader of Germany he would need support from everywhere, and in order to receive that support he had his closest friend Ernst Rohm arrested and killed (Trueman). Both Caesar and Rohm held positions of power, trusted the men around them, and were killed by some of their closest friends due to their ambition and the jealousy of those around