The Importance Of Human Flaws And Behaviour In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

“The fault… is not in our stars, But in ourselves” quoted Cassius by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s plays and works are yet to be abandoned by modern society but studied and compared. Moral teachings and political and cultural criticism in his plays question the flaws of human nature. Why was Shakespeare’s works so similar to the ideals of today’s society?

Julius Caesar is a play written by Shakespeare that features the forces of superstition beliefs and the moral dilemmas of Brutus. Under modern society his works theorise many aspects of human nature responding to desires and mistakes. Soothsayers, warnings and ominous dreams, Shakespeare has always found a way to in cooperating omens within his play, Julius Caesar. Omens and superstitions are events and rituals that are prophetic and can be regarded as a sign of good or evil. Superstition is self-believed to become a reality when an individual doesn’t act to improve or recognise the superstition.

In Julius Caesar before a tragedy takes place, omens featuring bad weather, animals and ghosts are portrayed, these negative connotations are repetitively warned, however why were they never avoided? “Beware the ides of March”, warned the soothsayer. “Help ho, they will murder Caesar”, warned Calpurnia. “ Foreshowing is present as they are warning Caesar of future dangers in the play. Repetition of the warnings are frequently said, to stress the importance of Caesar’s upcoming death, despite it coming true. As individuals we always need to predict. Thus, omens and superstitions are developed. In modern day society, they are entrenched in culture and society it becomes a norm, like Halloween and Valentine’s day.

George Gmelch is a modern anthropologist who conducted research upon baseball players and found the majority of them having habits. Superstitions and omens have become insurance to many, and are strongly believed to become possible warnings in both Shakespearian and modern-day society. The pursuit of perfection, the philosophy of high ideals, this was what a man named Brutus strived for. Idealism is basing actions and behaviour upon a belief; these beliefs are often very strong or unrealistic, however, individuals can have a confused idea of idealism, causing them to make bad decisions and Brutus was one of them.

Brutus was an idealist who believed that actions should be done with a good purpose. He received an offer from the conspirators, asking him to join in murdering Caesar. Killing is morally wrong, however, Brutus acted in the best interest on Rome and its citizens to satisfy his strong ideals. “What means this shouting? I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their king…yet I love him well”. This quote is juxtaposing Brutus’s statements, showing his clear self-conflict against his friendship for Caesar and loyalty for Rome. Overly strong idealism often makes the situation worse, like Vladimir Lenin. He was the soviet union’s former premier who vigorously implemented his ideals of socialism over many areas of Russia, however, the result killed millions. “Brutus was an honourable man”, quoted Mark Antony, and he was, however the strong pursuit of his ideals brought chaos upon Rome and himself. In conclusion, Shakespeare has evidently drawn the importance of human flaws and behaviour in his play Julius Caesar, like implementing omens and the behaviour of idealism, significantly relavant to our contemporary society.