Module_C_Conflicting_Perspectives_-_Julius_Caesar

Question: [To what extent has Textual form shaped your understanding of conflicting perspectives' ref. your prescribed text and at least ONE other text.] Humans exist as creatures of conflict. Exploring different perspectives of these conflicts provides an accurate insight toward the basis of humanity. Both Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Cormac McCathy’s The Road affected by textual form that illustrates the complexity of the human condition through the mediums of ancient Roman political society, and a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. The conflict between characters within Julius Caesar can be better appreciated with the knowledge of how textual form affects perception of characters and their actions. The character Julius Caesar is subject to many various conflicts both internally and externally. One such conflict is Cassius’ hate for Caesar. Cassius’ perspective of Caesar is one clouded by jealousy and envy. Cassius cannot respect a man of “such feeble temper” (alluding to caesar’s illness of epilepsy). Cassius also sarcastically refers to Caesar as “this God” further pronouncing his dislike for Caesar and the conflict between them. Cassius also initiates the use of animal motifs to describe Caesar “Roars as the lion”, outlining the numerous perspectives of Caesar’s character; the metaphorical “wolf” hunting the Roman “sheep”. Brutus’ opinion directly corresponds the exclamatory language of Cassius “so vile a thing as Caesar,” though his motives are less personal, rather Brutus prefers to work towards the greater good - or more accurately, his interpretation of what that may be. This conflict between characters is more easily recognised and defined by an appreciation of textual form. Self conflict is represented within the play predominately by the characters Caesar and Brutus. this self conflict, aided by an understanding of textual forms provides an accurate insight into the basis of humanity. Brutus’ greatest conflict is based upon a manipulated decision based on the conditional tense “so Caesar may” and the continuation of the use of animal motifs “...and therefore think him [Caesar] a serpent (which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous) and kill him in the shell. However Brutus’ conflict lies in the killing itself. Brutus loves Caesar the man, but fears the idea of another “tarquin king” such as his ancestors removed. It is this conflict that eventually leads to both Caesar and Brutus’ deaths. Caesar’s conflict lies between his ‘public face’ and his private self. Caesar the ruler is arrogant, referring to himself in the third person “Yet Caesar shall go forth” and considering himself more dangerous than danger - another continuation of the use of animal motifs - “...and I the older and more powerful lion.” Conflicting the ruler Caesar is the feeble man Julius - “...for always am I caesar... Come on my right hand as my left is deaf.” These conflicts masterfully evoke an audiences thoughts as they explore emotions that are timeless and relevant to all humanity. Textual form in Caesar’s funeral ceremony is used by Antony and Brutus to sway the mob. Brutus appeals to a sense of pathos “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears” in an attempt to convince the mob that Caesar’s murder was for the greater good. Antony appeals to a sense of logos, reasoning to the crowd that if the conspirators had good reason to kill Caesar they would have some proof, not just an appeal to the crowd’s sense of logos as he sarcastically refers to them as “honorable men.” Cormac McCathy also uses Textual form in The Road to illustrate conflict. The whole story is based on an appeal to pathos for the father and son - referred to only as “The man” and “The boy”. This further adds to the conflict by deliberately causing a lack of connection to the characters. The notion of holding life in your own hands and the idea of the father having to murder his own son rather than let the “Road agents” torture him provides an excellent conflict into the essence of humanity; What defines a human. McCathy masterfully shows conflict that, like Shakespeare, are timeless. The concept of youth and innocence is placed in direct juxtaposition with the reality of age and experience to portray an accurate image of humanity - A knight in tarnished armor, having to commit sins for the greater good, and the innocence of youth wanting to always be the “good guys.” Both McCathy and Shakespeare masterfully incorporate textual features and forms into their respective genres to illustrate the notion of conflict being a timeless aspect of humanity and the human condition, lending to a greater awareness of attitudes and behaviors through conflict.