In the “Modernity of Julius Caesar”, Maynard Mack argues that William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar can still represent society today. Reflecting back on his composition, I started to agree with most of his points. His clear and calculated writing style successfully supports his argument. In addition to his straightforward writing, Mack utilizes the idea of a duality in people to supports his thesis. Subsequently, by using the sentiment of rationality versus irrationality and its consequences, Mack was able to further support this idea. Throughout his paper, Mack’s examples and ideas counter any disputing opinions.
Similar to how people have different attitudes towards different people, Mack exploits the idea of a duality of personas in Julius …show more content…
While some may argue that the idea of rationality versus irrationality is not relevant to our knowledgeable society today, Mack utilizes examples that could relate to a person of the twenty-first century.
For instance, he uses Calphurnia’s dream to touch on the idea of rationality versus irrationality. As her dream seems irrational, Caesar ignores her desperate pleas to rest at home. However, Mack points out how everything in Rome is backward. Therefore, the irrational is rational just like how Decius rationalizes the irrational to Caesar. Linking this to modern times, Mack one can see how some believe they are in control while, in reality, they are not.
Brutus’s and Antony’s speeches further emphasize the debate of rationality versus irrationality. By using the populace to act as a metaphor to the current world, Mack shows how Brutus’s less passionate, abstract, and reasonable speech is less effective than Antony’s. This shows how the world has not changed as people are still moved by passion, materialistic items, and emotion than knowledgeable ideas. At the end of that scene, Maynard Mack notes how Antony wins and “confirms the victory of unreason” (Mack 165) by creating a crazed mob. In relation to modern times, it is not uncommon for riots or mobs to break out from impassioned events. One can just look back to the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot as an example of the consequences of losing one’s
Similar to how people have different attitudes towards different people, Mack exploits the idea of a duality of personas in Julius …show more content…
While some may argue that the idea of rationality versus irrationality is not relevant to our knowledgeable society today, Mack utilizes examples that could relate to a person of the twenty-first century.
For instance, he uses Calphurnia’s dream to touch on the idea of rationality versus irrationality. As her dream seems irrational, Caesar ignores her desperate pleas to rest at home. However, Mack points out how everything in Rome is backward. Therefore, the irrational is rational just like how Decius rationalizes the irrational to Caesar. Linking this to modern times, Mack one can see how some believe they are in control while, in reality, they are not.
Brutus’s and Antony’s speeches further emphasize the debate of rationality versus irrationality. By using the populace to act as a metaphor to the current world, Mack shows how Brutus’s less passionate, abstract, and reasonable speech is less effective than Antony’s. This shows how the world has not changed as people are still moved by passion, materialistic items, and emotion than knowledgeable ideas. At the end of that scene, Maynard Mack notes how Antony wins and “confirms the victory of unreason” (Mack 165) by creating a crazed mob. In relation to modern times, it is not uncommon for riots or mobs to break out from impassioned events. One can just look back to the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot as an example of the consequences of losing one’s