Julius Caesar (Stoicism)

Does suppressing one’s emotions make them stronger? Or does it remove the true essence of what makes one human? Among the many themes of William Shakespeare’s drama, Julius Caesar, men reducing their emotions runs rampant. The drama delves into the assassination of Caesar and the conflict thereafter. A tale of misjudgment, greed, and corruption in some ways acts as a black mirror that illustrates the way pride can prove one more vulnerable.

Stoicism is often defined as ‘unemotional’ or indifferent to pain but stoics pursued ‘reason’. The Stoics did not seek to extinguish emotions; rather, they sought to develop clear judgment and inner calm Both Brutus and Antony exuded stoicism in there actions they took during and after the assassination of Caesar. Shortly after the assassination of Caesar, Antony must tie up loose ends in Rome and as antony comes upon his own family seems unfazed when he marks his nephew to be executed (Shakespeare 164). This not only shows the anger Antony sanctuaries but also displays the level to which he would go for Caesar. Yet as Antony suppressed his emotions Brutus too reaches into the depths of himself to mask his humanity. Take the case of Brutus who discovers that his dear wife Porcia has committed suicide due to the pressure of never seeing her husband Brutus once more and in reaction, Brutus responds to the news saying ‘Speak no more of her – Give me a bowl of wine In this-I bury all unkindness, Cassius.'(Shakespeare 188). This too perpetuates the running theme of repressed feeling without a doubt, Antony and Brutus are principal examples of stoicism. Furthermore, the reader must ask themselves how does repressing these emotions affect these men and there struggles one simply cannot assume that by merely acting as if one’s emotions do not matter would make them a better warrior the reader witnesses these men delve into madness progressively onward into the book there own ideas and principles slowly consuming them. A Final example of stoicism is displayed when Brutus comes upon the body of cassius and must continue to move on the battlefield rather than stay and bury his dear friend he does this not only to show his managerial strength but also does this to remain in the upper hand after their decisive victory (shakespeare 228). This truly illustrates the lack of emotion brutus harbors even though brutus and cassius seemed to have a bond he continues to uphold his stoic behavior as a way of disguise his true feelings and emotions.

To reiterate the men of William Shakespeare’s drama Julius Caesar have preemptively defeated themselves by perpetuating a society where men does not convey there feelings and emotions will only cause future conflicts this is why by suppressing one’s emotions one truly weaken yourself and remove the very qualities that give anything life emotion.

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