Julius Caesar

Student Response

# 16

Andrew Beck

Per.7 5/23/99

Mr. Luizzi

“A great conqueror, soldier, and politician, Caesar was popular because he gained territory for Rome and because he frequently sent money back to the city to be used for public works or to help the common people. Because of his conquests he was ultimately given the honor of ruling Rome for as long as lived, but he was still not satisfied; many suspected that he wanted to set up a monarchy so that the power could pass to his heirs as well. Caesar was married to Calpurnia, but thus far she had borne him no children”(376).

This particular passage from the text, portrays the type of person Julius Caesar was. His persona is one which carries great weight, being that he is of such high stature. While he is such an accomplished man he has a hidden vulnerable side. That vulnerability is due to his own fault of never ceasing to enjoy what he had gotten. Julius always wanted more which eventually brought about his demise. His unending ambitions led him out to where he was vulnerable and others could take advantage of him. Julius’ dissatisfaction with his his wife’s inability to bear him children brought the same feelings that he had provoked the people of Rome with, to his own household. Nobody but himself was good enough. A similar figure to Julius Caesar was the French’s, Napoleon Bonaparte. Like Julius Caesar, Bonaparte had an unquenchable thirst for victory and success. Bonaparte went through his life attempting (and succeeding) to conquer as many foreign lands as he could. He would bring back many treasures for France and in return the people of France loved him dearly for it. Bonaparte was also “a great conqueror, soldier and politician.” It was when Napoleon didn’t know when to stop and instead strived to conquer impenetrable Russia did he and the nation he fought for fall.