Caius Cassius — ‘The goad who drives the play’s action ahead’

03 May, 2015 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday News

CASSIUS is obsessed with one idea, a thorough love of freedom and equality, and groans under the prospect of a monarchical regime. He did not want Julius Caesar to become king. Unlike Brutus, Cassius does not bear this burden with thoughtful patience, but wants this stopped forthwith.
The main lines of Cassius’ character are given by Caesar. He is lean, gaunt, hungry, disinclined to sports and revelry, spending his time reading, observation and reflection. Cassius seldom smiles and when he does it is with scorn.

Caesar says, “Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.”

In contrast to Brutus’ stoicism, Cassius is an epicurean, a follower of a doctrine that frees him from the bonds of superstition and the degrading fear of death; free from all superstitious scruples. He stands out bold in the face of such scruples. He is not afraid of the raging storm and strange things that happen before Caesar is killed. Cassius is a choleric man and hates Caesar though his hatred of Caesar is driven more by jealousy.

Cassius takes pleasure in detecting the weaknesses of his fellows. There is this lurking sense of unworthiness in himself which increases his natural impatience of alleged superiority in others. He is jealous of excellence and will not tolerate it. Caesar finds him “very dangerous” just because of this grudge against greatness in others. It is necessary to show clearly what Caesar said: “Such men are never at heart’s ease whiles they behold a greater than themselves and therefore are they very dangerous.”

We have already stated that Cassius derives pleasure in noticing weaknesses in others. Take note of what he says of Caesar. He says speaking of himself, he would as willingly die than live in fear of Caesar, who is a mortal like himself.

He was born as free as Caesar. They have eaten as well as Caesar and can tolerate cold as him. Cassius then gives examples of Caesar’s weaknesses he has witnessed.

He says once on a raw and gusty day, when the swollen (flooded) Tiber thrashed against its banks that engulfed it angrily, Caesar said to him: “Dar’st thou, Cassius, now leap in with me into this angry flood, and swim to yonder point?” Cassius says as soon as Caesar spoke he plunged into the river with his clothes on, and asked Caesar to follow him, which he did. The torrent roared while they beat it back with their strong muscles, pushing it aside with resolute courage.

But before they reached the designated point, Caesar cried out: “Help me, Cassius, or I sink.” Cassius says like their ancestor, Aeneas, rescued Anchises from the flames of Troy, he lifted up and saved the tired Caesar. But this Caesar who showed all these weaknesses of a mortal, is now thought to be a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature, and must bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him.”

Cassius relates that Caesar had a fever when in Spain, and when his fever raged, he found him trembling (shaking). He goes on saying it is true that this man now considered a god did shake. Colour left his lips which became white with fear. The eye whose stare strikes terror into the heart of the world, lost its glow. “Ay, and that tongue of his, bade the Romans mark him, and write his speeches in their books, Alas, it cried, “Give me some drink, Titinius,” as a sick girl.”

It is clear Cassius is spiteful of Caesar.
Notwithstanding this taint of envy and spite that is in Cassius, he is quite patriotic. He is capable of high enthusiasm for his cause. He is willing to be a martyr to republicanism. When he hears that Caesar is wear the crown, (to become king), his resolution is spontaneous. It is prompt and Roman-like — “Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius”. He is prepared to die if it means stopping Caesar from being king. He strides about the streets bare-chested in a tempest that fills Casca with superstitious fear and Cicero with discomfort at the nasty weather.

Cassius is practical. He displays practical efficiency on a number of incidents. He recognises that the conspiracy cannot succeed without Brutus’ help, and sets out to win him over. He uses the trickery of forged letters. This trick succeeds because he has gauged Brutus’ character correctly. Similarly, he recognises Antony as a danger to them — a danger which Brutus contemptuously overrides at his own peril. He answers with misgivings after the assassination of Caesar when Brutus says of Antony, “I know that we shall have him well to friend.”

Cassius and Brutus can be compared though. Both are brave, loved and respected by their friends and servants. But their differences are very distinct: while Cassius is a practical man and a shrewd judge of character, Brutus places too much trust in his fellows as shown over Antony. Cassius is hot-headed and short-tempered, and unable to think clearly during a crisis, whereas Brutus is not easily moved to fits of anger and remains calm during times of stress.

For example, Brutus remained calm even though Cassius provoked him during their quarrel. He remained calm even after receiving devastating news of his wife, Portia’s death.

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