AboutRandy Sus Expertise I`m a retired high school English teacher from central Wisconsin. I taught Shakespeare for years and am very familiar with his writing style, his themes, his sonnets, and most of his plays. I taught Julius Caesar, King Lear, Richard the Third, and A Midsummer Night`s Dream for years. I`ve memorized many of the lines from these plays and I know many sonnets by heart. I`d be glad to respond to questions regarding Shakespeare`s life, works, and times if anyone desired such information.
Experience I have a master's degree in education and I take most pride in having ENJOYED teaching for over 30 years. Not everyone can honestly say that.
I coached undefeated high school soccer teams for fun too. I like public relations work and have served on P.R. committees for most of my professional life. I continue to do so in retirement.
Question QUESTION: If the assignment is to find a metaphor in Julius Caesar and describe how it furthers a theme, are the lines I have chosen from Act 3 and the following commentary appropriate??? Please respond SOON. I need to be sure I am right.
Thanks so much,
Devin
Caesar, in a display of arrogance, defies the omens that his life could be in danger, and goes to the Senate on the ides of March. Sitting among the noblemen, he is approached with requests to repeal the banishment of Publius Cimber. In his reply, Caesar denies their requests, unmoved by their pleadings. He uses the North Star and its constant position in the sky, as a metaphor for his own resolve. He is constant as the North Star, firm and unwavering in his decisions. This demonstrates Caesar’s excessive arrogance as he speaks to the conspirators, particularly in comparing himself to the brightest star of all, and one unmoved as an ordinary man might be. His ego and inflated sense of power is demonstrated in his denial of their request. He brushes aside the numerous warnings of coming danger as if he was all-powerful and as a result the events in Act 3 unfold as they do. Ultimately, Caesar’s tragic flaw of pride, ego, and ambition made others envious and fearful of him, leading to his death shortly after these words were spoken.
ANSWER: Hi, Devin,
Thanks for calling upon "Allexperts" for assistance in appreciating literary devices used by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar.
What you've written is appropriate commentary for expanding a SIMILE rather than a metaphor. Caesar says, " I am AS constant as the northern star" as he compares the steadfast placement of that star in the heavens to his "sticking to his rules" even in times of struggle. Your comments DO explain how the lines develop a theme, but, if you need a METAPHOR, you might go to lines said a bit earlier in the play when he compares himself to danger, and use THAT (metaphor) with your commentary.
Best wishes in your continued study of the master of the English language.
Randy
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: OK,I hear what you are saying.However, I found the following on an Internet website www.amrep.org:
"Caesar, too, constructs his own image through metaphor, indeed whatever strength he has as a ruler is fashioned almost exclusively from his self-characterizations. “I am constant as the northern star,” he declares moments before his murder."
I do understand that "as" is used in similes, but why can't you say "Caesar was the Northern Star" because of his resolve to stick with his initial decision about Publius? The website goes on to mention the part where he compares himself to danger. But I also think that he compares his resolve to the constant Northern Star. What do you think?
Thanks,
Devin
Answer Hi again, Devin,
You CAN say that Caesar was the Northern Star, but that's NOT exactly what Shakespeare said. Everything you propose is 100 percent correct. I commend you for your reasonings, BUT, I'm being an old fuss-budget. A simile is a simile and a metaphor is a metaphor. Technically, your choice of lines deal with a simile.
Earlier, when Caesar says, "Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he" Shakespeare is really using personification (literary device) but one could say THERE TOO that the lines speak metaphorically with the comparison of Caesar to "Mr. Danger."
Remember too, Devin, that, just because you found some material on an internet website, doesn't mean that you've found a perfect gem of truth. Even MY comments are just my educated OPINION and are to be valued no higher than another person's viewpoint.
YOUR OWN rationalization is of value too. So, go ahead and make your point, defend it with lines from the play, and let it ride. If your instructor sees the thoughts you put forth and the logic you use to come to YOUR conclusions, I suspect that he'll grade you handsomely.
Whatever you do, DON'T copy verbatim ANY internet information and claim it as YOURS.
"Caesar should be a beast without a heart if he should stay at home for fear" ------NOW, get the project finished -- and see what your instructor has to say.
