Journal Eleven- Option #36


Caesar, though an aristocrat, decided to join the party of the people because he knew, in the long run that that was what would catapult him into power. The commoners were the ones that would determine what would happen, because if incensed, they could always revolt. Caesar knew this. He also wanted to be in the party of the people because he could get more done for the benefit of Rome and the people of Rome (by, of course, having support from these people). Caesars lust for power was what led to his downfall. This lust for power led the senators to believe that he wanted the position of king. Even if Caesar did not want to become king, he was still a threat to them, because he had had so much power, so they decided to reveal a possible falsity, that Caesar wanted to become king. The people were horrified, and when the senators killed Caesar, they hoped that the talk of king would be subdued, and that no one with that power could ever emerge again. Yet, killing Caesar was in vain because bitter warfare followed and his (Caesars) nephew, Octavius became king anyways, and there was a long line of emperors after him. The conspirators failed to realize that if you give someone a taste of power (such as giving themselves feelings of power when they killed Caesar because they thought they were doing what was best for the city) that they will want more and more. Antony felt this after the death of Caesar, and then he helped lead Octavius to become king. Everything was in vain, yet, if Caesar had lived, what we know as Europe today may have been very different.


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