William Shakespeare s Julius Caesar And Richard II Essay

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Richard II are plays of tremendous interest for their political discourse. The commons play a lesser, but no less significant, role in this presentation of competing political and social ideologies. Shakespeare’s treatment of the commoners in both plays is thought provoking in both their similarities and differences. In Richard II they are gifted with intellect, empathy and resolve, while in Julius Caesar they are a fickle collective lacking independence and reasoning. Nevertheless, both representations are political entities. This paper will begin by evaluating the importance of commoners as a political force, and then go onto examine abuse of power as a stimulus, the role of nationalism and the different ways in which commoners are depicted in their intelligence, understanding and attitudes. The commons are regarded as a significant political force in both Julius Caesar and Richard II. This might be due in part to Shakespeare’s target audience (Doty 2010, 192). Julius Caesar stresses the importance of commoners in the realm of politics as a force to be controlled and manipulated. Gil (2007, 73) notes the plebeians political weight stops Caesar from accepting the crown. Further political power is indirectly suggested in the plebeians through the speeches of Brutus and Antony who both consider it important for the general population to be persuaded to their way of thinking (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, 3.2). And, when Antony proves theShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar Essay1833 Words   |  8 Pages INTRODUCTION The seemingly straightforward simplicity of â€Å"Julius Caesar† has made it a perennial favourite for almost 400 years. Despite its simplicity, almost Roman in nature, the play is rich both dramatically and thematically, and every generation since Shakespeare’s time has been able to identify with some political aspect of the play. 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