William Shakespeare’s great work, “Julius Ceasar” tells the story of Roman men caught up in conspiracy so much so, that they kill their beloved leader, Julius Ceasar. Many main characters Shakespeare wrote to have strong similarities to Biblical, and generally Christian figures.
Ceasar draws upon clear parallels to Christ. He is a noble leader, a figure of consistency:
“I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine,
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion:” (Act III, scene I)
The Bible portrays Jesus Christ as an immovable figure; a Constant presence:
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”(Deuteronomy 32:4)
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust” (Pslam 18:2)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”(Hebrews 13:8)
In Caesar’s last will and testament, he gives, “to every Roman citizen … seventy-five drachmas… moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours and new-planted orchards… and to your heirs for ever…” (Act III, scene II) Leaving his lands and wealth to be inherited by the people.
Christ also leaves for us a wealth of inheritance. Romans: 8:16-17 says, “We are the children of God: And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”
Both honest men:
“Shall Caesar send a lie?” (Act II, scene II)
“Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”(John 1:17)
Caesar and Christ were both murdered in innocence, and both figures resurrected to some extent.
There is, however one very large difference between the two: according to the Bible, Christ came back from the grave as a resurrected being having rescued mankind from the bonds of death and hell, but Caesar returns as a ghost for the purpose of haunting his murderer.
Cassius: Clear Parallels to Satan
Cassius is jealous of Caesar’s power, and hateful that he is in a position subservient to the latter,
“Caesar: 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” (Act I, scene II)
In his jealousy, conspires to bring Caesar down.
In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:27 it reads, “the devil… seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself”
2 Nephi 9:9 describes Cassius very well:
“…we become devils… to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.”
Cassius--and the Devil—actually do not care about the people, “he sees the Romans are but sheep…those that with haste will make a mighty fire Begin it with weak straws: what trash is Rome” (Act I scene III)
Cassius uses a Combination of flattery, and temptation in Act I, scene II: “Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that Caesar
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?...
O, you and I have heard our fathers say
There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king”
In the Bible, the book of Matthew chapter 4 versus 1-3 The Devil is tempting Christ with egging words: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil… If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread”
Versus 8-9 he uses the tactic of potential gain, as did Cassius:
“he taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee”
Brutus: Parallels to Judas Iscariot and/or Peter
The Book of Matthew 26:74-75 reads, “then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered he word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”
Judas Iscariot, one of Christ’s apostles, betrayed him by showing the Roman guards where he was, knowing that their intent was to kill him.
Jesus’ closest friends and companions betrayed him. Brutus, one of Caesar’s best friends conspired against and ultimately betrayed him by participating in his murder.
And furthermore the Roman crowds could represent humans in general, in our weak and fallen state.
Adam and Eve fell at the temptation of Satan, and according to Shakespeare, the Roman citizens are fallen, weak, simple, easily persuaded beings. With every man’s speech, the crowds vehemently agree, even if it is completely opposite of what they had just been shouting:
Citizens: ’t were best he speak no harm of Brutus here… This Ceasar was a tyrant… that’s certain: We are blest that Rome is rid of him
Antony: You all did love him once, not without cause: what cause withholds you the not mourn for him? O judgement! Thou art fled to brutish beasts
Citizens: They were traitors: honourable men!... they were villains, murderers!.. We’ll burn the house of Brutus… Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death
Spoken from the devil figure, Cassius, who knows the flaws in humanity: “Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our starts, But in ourselves, that we are underlings”(Act I, scene II)
Octavius in Act V scene V, says that he will easily take charge of the men who once served Brutus, because men are so easy to change loyalty.
Mark Antony knows the power of mob mentality and uses it to stir up a passionate rebellion to fulfill his own thoughts of revenge. These men are malleable, and in such are predictable to do whatever they are told (even by reverse psychology):
“I fear I wrong the honourable men Whose daggers have stabb’d Caesar; I do fear it”…“let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny”…“Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt” (act III scene ii)
Shakespeare clearly drew very strong parallels in Julius Ceasar to the Christian story of Jesus Christ. But because in this case Christ is not actually a redemptive figure, I believe Julius Ceasar is a pessimistic commentary on humanity.
Ceasar does not completely fit the figure of Christ, which means that Cassius isn’t quite Satan. I think Shakespeare might be saying that we do not need the devil incarnate to come ruin our lives. But that men are weak, and have very little conviction, and we can ruin our own lives, with little or no help from hell. Whether or not Satan exists is more or less irrelevant to the fact that his role is in our own weak flesh.
Friday night I saw MacBeth with the Grassroots Shakespeare Company and they did a PHENOMINAL job. The show was minimal and goofy: they had no budget, no director, 2 weeks of rehearsal, and were borrowing the venue. Each character costumed/prop-ed themselves, and they staged the play as a cast. It was the true Shakespearean expirience:
