Julius Caesar Today Monday, July 7, 2008 While we all might groan at the memory of having to navigate through pages of Shakespearean plays while in high school, the language that William wrote with was not considered antiquated at the time of its publishing. Actually, the stories were written in very common language to be performed in front of very regular people. Unfortunately, most of William Shakespeare’s fame came long after his death, through his genius works however, he has been immortalized. In Act III, Scene I of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” a petition is brought before Caesar that Publius Cimber be allowed to return to Rome from his banishment. Caesar chooses to uphold the law and not reinstate Cimber. He launches into a long winded speech about his firm and unmovable resolve. Perhaps he should have been a little more humble for later in the scene he is murdered. I’ve always been drawn this speech as it gives insight to the deity-like view in which roman rulers were not only viewed by others but often times by themselves. This pious speech is eloquent and ridiculous at the same time. As with most Shakespearean works, there is a solid dose of poetic justice buried in a much larger message. In this case, pride truly does come before a fall. I have reprinted the text below as well as offered my own modern paraphrase. Julius Caesar: From Act III, Scene I I could be well mov’d if I were as you; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me; But 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, Unshak’d of motion: and that I am he, Let me a little show it, even in this, That I was constant Cimber should be banish’d, And constant do remain to keep him so. Julius Caesar: From Act III, Scene I I’m not weak like the rest of you; I’ll never bend to the petitions of others. Praying wouldn’t even help me change my own mind, so your prayers are equally ineffective. I am as stationary as the North Star, a celestial anchor unmatched. There are a plethora of stars and they all twinkle brilliantly, but among all the stars there is only one that never moves. Just like on earth, there are myriads of men and women, boys and girls all made of skin and bones and possessing a shaky disposition; Yet there is only one human who never wavers, firm and focused: I’m talking about me. Allow me to demonstrate my resolve by using this Cimber matter as a small example. I was firm that Cimber should be exiled and with the same firmness I’ll leave him exiled. Hail Caesar! Alexander Michael Gittens Home Page © 2008-2007 Copyright Alexander Michael Gittens. Contents may be used without permission when credited |