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"Who else would soar above the view of men / And keep us all in servile fearfulness" (I.ii.74-75). In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the character of Caesar is baffling and complex. The Caesar seen by the people is altruistic and chivalrous, a hero who triumphs over Pompey. However, to those who know him best, Caesar is diminutive and obsessed with narcissistic ambition. Julius Caesar's propensity for self-aggrandizement at the expense of others leads to the disintegration of his personal relationships and ultimately to his own demise. Caesar’s ruthless status seeking is matched only by his ravenous desire to appear virtuous. On the Lupercal, the townspeople celebrate Caesar’s return from victory. Surrounded by statues of Caesar blazon in decorations, an enthralled cobbler exclaims, "we make holiday to / see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph" (I.i.30-31). The oblivious citizens of Rome are happy to praise their leader's military success. When Caesar is thrice presented the crown he sanctimoniously refuses.
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