Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar is a tale of honor and betrayal. Julius Caesar is murdered early into the play, so the play is really about the conspirators and the supporters of Caesar and the struggle for power that comes after his assassination. The persuasion of language (Marc Antony and his speech, "Friends, Romans, Countryman/Lend me your ears') and the fickle nature of society are only a few of the themes that Shakespeare explores. When Brutus and Antony each deliver their respective addresses to the crowd following Caesar's death Shakespeare demonstrates a universal truth that people can be persuaded by words and that most people are susceptible to a good propagandist.