Please skim through Plutarch's Life of Caesar. Pick out a section that particularly well shows Caesar's ability and his versatility or a section that shows particularly well why Caesar is such a controversial figure. Explain your choice.Some of you might find particularly interesting the accounts of Caesar's battles, something I don't talk about in class much. Note Sections 15-20, for instance, a summary of Caesar's campaign in Gaul.
"But since the praetor cast longing eyes on their money, which was no small sum, and kept saying that he would consider the case of the captives at his leisure, Caesar left him to his own devices, went to Pergamum, took the robbers out of prison, and crucified them all, just as he had often warned them on the island that he would do, when they thought he was joking."
ReplyDeleteI chose this because, like today, it was fairly controversial to go about killing people due to your own personal views of justice without due process. We even have people today against the death penalty, something that IS assigned through due process (although there is always the case where justice is not served/is mishandled).
To have Caesar imprison the pirates was fine; to be wary of the person in charge of them due to his obvious greed was fine; it was when he personally took them back out of prison and crucified them that it became something that many would deem controversial.
It is not only controversial in the shock factor, but it is controversial in the sense that there would be disagreement over whether or not he was justified. Many would say yes, given what they put him through. Others would say no, as Caesar should have allowed justice to go through the motions before something was decided. Regardless, Caesar took things into his own hands, and the pirates were crucified.
Caesar is a man of many stories and feats which put him center stage for the Roman people. I noticed a familiar line, one we covered in class that sticks with me:
ReplyDelete(After Clodius had been caught trying to go after Caesars Wife Pompeia)
Caesar divorced Pompeia at once, but when he was summoned to testify at the trial, he said he knew nothing about the matters with which Clodius was charged. 9 His statement appeared strange, and the prosecutor therefore asked, "Why, then, didst thou divorce thy wife?" "Because," said Caesar, "I thought my wife ought not even to be under suspicion."
To me this shows the diplomat and cold precision within Caesar. He holds the image of himself and his legacy as important that even the sneaking suspicion that his wife maybe participated in this affair is unacceptable.
"But the most open and deadly hatred towards him was produced by his passion for the royal power. For the multitude this was a first cause of hatred, and for those who had long smothered their hate, a most specious pretext for it."
ReplyDeleteI will say, I have no idea if Caesar actually wanted to be a king or not, because I didn't know the guy. But with Caesar being appointed dictator for life, as well as achieving many other things in his conquest, apparently some people really didn't like him. These people thought, or maybe just made up the fact that he maybe wanted to be a king. Actually, there were times where Caesar straight up denied being a king, so it's really hard to say that he wanted to be one. In fact, there could be a strong argument made that he didn't want to be a king. I think that this is part of what makes him such a controversial figure in history. Ultimately, we can see that Caesar was hated by many of the Roman people, yet loved by many of the Roman people, which shows how controversial of a figure Caesar was.
^ Kyle
DeleteThe quote I chose from Plutarch was "Of those who had crossed the Rhine into Gaul four hundred thousand were cut to pieces, and the few who succeeded in making their way back were received by the Sugambri, a German nation". I think this shows how controversial Caesar was as a political figure. If these numbers are true it would show that Caesar killed around 400,000 German men. Nowadays that could be considered Genocide against a nation. I believe it shows Caesars disregard for the enemy and how we truly will slaughter anyone who stands against him no matter how many people that is.
ReplyDeleteMitch Rux
DeleteIn like manner we are told again that, in Spain, when he was at leisure and was reading from the history of Alexander, he was lost in thought for a long time, and then burst into tears. His friends were astonished, and asked the reason for his tears. "Do you not think," said he, "it is matter for sorrow that while Alexander, at my age, was already king of so many peoples, I have as yet achieved no brilliant success?" - Chapter 12
ReplyDeleteThis passage shows Caesar's ambition not only politically, but also on the battlefield. He wanted to be great, like Alexander, and he said in the line before this that it was better to be the most powerful person in Spain than the second most powerful in Rome. Caesar wanted to be someone who was remembered, like Alexander. This led to his great ambition throughout his time in Gaul and Rome. This ambition may have been what made him so popular in Rome, but it also led to his downfall when he was killed by the Roman elites.
-Jorja
Dylan Schimke -
ReplyDelete“At one time, when in Spain, after reading some part of the history of Alexander, he sat still a great while, and then burst out into tears. His friends were surprised, and asked him the reason of it; he said, ‘Do you not think it is a matter for sorrow, that while Alexander, at my age, was already king of so many nations, I have as yet done nothing remarkable?’”
I think this shows how controversial of a figure Caesar was. He was in a great position politically and militarily, and yet he still wanted more. For a man to have so much yet still break down and cry is shocking. It is rare, I think, for a human to have such a want to conquer other nations and truly take over the world. Maybe that is just a modern philosophy and perhaps a hint of the midwest-nice way of thinking, but I truly cannot relate to how Caesar felt in this situation. That is exactly why he was such a controversial figure, he is such an oddball out of normal people, even at that time in history. It shows the genuine hunger for more power and glory to fulfill himself, which is very alarming. Even other figures, like Pompey wanted to have more power but I doubt there is a recorded instance where Pompey bawled because he wasn't like Alexander the Great.
"the richest of the Romans, who had need of Caesar's vigour and fire for his political campaign against Pompey."-
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because i just thought that the richest people needed hum because he was that rude and determined to do anything and the rich people needed someone that would do it for them. He had just got Spain which is said just a little before this and they needed the help and he needed find another way to Crassus.
" Caesar will be found to surpass them all in his achievements. One he surpassed in the difficulty of the regions where he waged his wars; another in the great extent of country which he acquired; another in the multitude and might of the enemies over whom he was victorious"
ReplyDeleteThis was from section 15, and I believe it shows Ceasers great military abilities. It goes on to talk about the triumph in many of his battles. Ceaser was a great leader, he was able to adapt to different wars and military tactics. he took over lots of nations, won many battles, and killed many of his enemies. this is why he surpassed other great military leaders of the time and why he became so highly respected as a leader in Rome.
“When the pirates demanded twenty talents for his ransom, he laughed at them for not knowing who their captive was, and of his own accord agreed to give them fifty. And when he was left with one friend and two attendants among the most murderous of men, he held them in such disdain that whenever he lay down to sleep he would send and order them to stop talking. For eight and thirty days he shared in their sports and exercises with great unconcern, wrote poems and sundry speeches which he read aloud to them, and often laughingly threatened to hang them all.”
ReplyDeleteThis passage highlights Caesar’s crazy confidence and ability to control the room. Even as a captive, he kept calm and composed. He was fearless and in complete control of those around him. His ability to influence hard headed pirates shows his strength of character and leadership. This early story of Caesar shows the qualities that would later make him a masterful general and statesman.