Power Hungry Throughout works of fiction, and real life evidence, humanity has been shown that power can have negative side effects. The psychological effects of elevated status can sometimes take time to establish themselves in the mind. However, some of these effects take very little time to take root. A prime example of this lies within both the factual and fictional interpretation of Julius Caesar in his rise and fall from power. The methods in which Caesar demonstrates the proverb: absolute power corrupts absolutely vary from his arrogance and ambition, to changes in his relationships and how he treated people. Before he truly came into power, Caesar had to rise from the ground up on his own. Through his use of alliances, and manipulation,
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The way he treated those close to him after he gained power transformed into condescension and arrogance. As Caesar needed a higher status, he put on a facade of care for the Plebeians below him. Their support would ensure his rise to the status of an emperor. Caesar absolutely had to treat them with all the care he could to gain their utter loyalty and approval. In his quest for power, Caesar even turned away his closest childhood friends. When Cassius first introduces the idea of assassination to Brutus, he tells of past memories of Caesar, and how he has changed. “I was born free as Caesar; so were you...ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried, ‘Help me, Cassius, or I sink!’...And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature, and must bend his body If Caesar carelessly but nod on him...It doth amaze me, a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world, and bear the palm alone.” (Wiggins 901). Cassius recalls the times that he saved Caesar and had a close friendship with him, only to watch him become more loved and powerful, even though they started equal. A bit later in scene two, Caesar even greets Cassius as though he were an enemy. Through the changes Caesar undertook, he has become paranoid of those closest to him and treats them like enemies. “Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; he thinks too much: such men are dangerous.” (Wiggins 903). Despite growing up friends, Caesar now sees Cassius as a lower being and closer to an enemy than a childhood friend. As Caesar gained more power, he turned his back on those he held dear and changed the way he treated
The way he treated those close to him after he gained power transformed into condescension and arrogance. As Caesar needed a higher status, he put on a facade of care for the Plebeians below him. Their support would ensure his rise to the status of an emperor. Caesar absolutely had to treat them with all the care he could to gain their utter loyalty and approval. In his quest for power, Caesar even turned away his closest childhood friends. When Cassius first introduces the idea of assassination to Brutus, he tells of past memories of Caesar, and how he has changed. “I was born free as Caesar; so were you...ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried, ‘Help me, Cassius, or I sink!’...And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature, and must bend his body If Caesar carelessly but nod on him...It doth amaze me, a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world, and bear the palm alone.” (Wiggins 901). Cassius recalls the times that he saved Caesar and had a close friendship with him, only to watch him become more loved and powerful, even though they started equal. A bit later in scene two, Caesar even greets Cassius as though he were an enemy. Through the changes Caesar undertook, he has become paranoid of those closest to him and treats them like enemies. “Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; he thinks too much: such men are dangerous.” (Wiggins 903). Despite growing up friends, Caesar now sees Cassius as a lower being and closer to an enemy than a childhood friend. As Caesar gained more power, he turned his back on those he held dear and changed the way he treated