Landon Wilcock
Mr Edwards
ENG 1DL
January 2, 2010

Fate and Freewill; the Drug of Roman Times


The story of Julius Caesar is that of two battling forces. Each of these forces strongly opinionated, that ones beliefs in these are so important that many things will influence them into saying or showing that they think differently. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar the theme of the play is that; fate and freewill are forces that should not come in between you and what you believe in. Other things should not let your beliefs impair which you believe in. There are many arguments through out this story based on the topic of fate versus freewill with many different opinions on each. This is a quote from one of the many arguments throughout this play; “Men at sometime were masters of their fates. / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings” (I.ii.140–142). This quote is an example of how Brutus is being influenced by a good friend who he trusts into thinking something he may usually not have unless this friends was there. This shows how exceptionally early into the play that the characters views on fate and freewill will be key in decision making and how early into the play that characters are influenced by others on the topic of fate and freewill. The second quotes are some of the simplest but also some of the most critical lines in this play when speaking of the decision making involved with fate and freewill. These lines are foreshadowing how Caesar’s arrogance, pride and how he views fate and how freewill and fate will affect his life. These lines are;


CASSIUS
Fellow, come from the throng. Look upon Caesar.

CAESAR
What sayst thou to me now? Speak once again.

SOOTHSAYER
Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR
He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass!


(I.ii.23-26). After these lines are said Caesar does not seem to worry much of what the Soothsayer says and ignores what he has said. I believe this is one of the major periods when you see Caesars views on fate and freewill being impaired. His views are being impaired from some of his powerful friends being around and not wanting them to see him worry about what a Soothsayers says therefore he disregards him. “It seems to me most strange that men should fear, / Seeing that death, a necessary end, / Will come when it will come” (II.ii.35–37). Caesar says this showing that Caesar understands that there is a thing called fate. This line shows that Caesar knows that things can not always be controlled and some things are out of you own control, out of even the gods control and out of anyones control; these things are your own pre destined fate. This is one of the first times you hear Caesar coming out and strongly showing his opinion with the idea of fate. I chose this line to show how he may act when not being influenced by something such as his friends. He accepts fate as the force that is the stronger than the belief of freewill. In ending this play supports two very different out looks on life; fate and freewill. The play shows how some may believe in fate and think and base all actions on what they believe their fate to be. The play shows that fate and freewill are forces that should never come between you and what you believe in or influence your judgment.