Act IV Quote Paraphrasing

Antony- "Octavius, I have seen more days than you; and though we lay these honors on this man, to ease ourselves of divers sland'rous loads, he shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, to groan and sweat under the business, either led or driven, as we point the way; and having brought our treasure where we will, then take we down his load, and turn him off, (like to the empty ass) to shake his ears and graze in commons."

Modern Language- Octavius, I am older and wiser than you; and although we are giving this man all these responsibilites to spare ourselves hard and stressful situations, he will not deal with them any better than a donkey deals with a heavy load. He will complain, even if he is told what to do by us; and once we have gotten what we needed from him, we will let him go (as if here were a hungry donkey) and let him be free.

This quote relates the the topic Rhetoric and Power in several ways. It relates to power because Antony is talking about how to much power and responsibility is not always what it is cracked up to be. It is true that with more power comes more responsibilty, and sometimes too much responsibility can make a man unhappy with the amount of power, and he will begin to complain. It relates to rhetoric, because Antony and Octavius are getting Lepidus to run errands for them, so they have to use rhetorical devices and appeals .

published by TopRomin919

The Triumvirate of Symphonies

(ACT I) The tragedy of Julius Caesar is filled with foreshadowing and betrayal. Showing great power in times of glory, the conspiracy against the soon to be ruler of Rome plan to kill Caesar so he does not rule their precious city. Ironically, a soothsayer told Caesar to beware the 'Ides of March', or the fifteenth of March. This did not seem to faze Caesar as he went on with his days. This song, by none other than Creedence Clearwater Revival, represents this warning in a more in depth but simple (if that makes sense) way:

href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7104013899434615859#"

I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

[Chorus:]
Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

[Chorus]
All right!

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we're in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

[Chorus]
[Chorus]

(ACT I & II) As life goes on for Caesar and everyone around him, the conspirators formed by Cassius, Casca, and Brutus, have met to decide on what to do about Mark Antony and Caesar. This song by punk band Paramore shows how careful you really have to be in these dark times:

href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/wm-A10302B0001168449R/paramore_careful_online_video_official_music_video/"

I settle down
A twisted up frown
Disguised as a smile well
You would have never known
I had it all but not what I wanted
'Cause hope for me was a place uncharted
And overgrown

You'd make your way in
I'd resist you just like this
You can't tell me to feel
The truth never set me free
So I did it myself

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more
More
More
More
More

Open your eyes like I open mine
It's only the real world
A life you will never know
Shifting your weight to throw off the pain
Well you can ignore it
But only for so long

You look like I did
You resist me just like this
You can't tell me to heal
And it hurts remembering how it felt to shut down

Can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more
More
More
More
More

The truth never set me free
The truth never set me free
The truth never set me free
So I'll do it myself

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out

Can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you won't come any closer
You've got to reach out more
More
More
More
More

Finally, as the Ides of March approach Rome closer and closer, tension rises and the conspirators are ready to make a strike. Without hiding their crime, or good deed as they say, the conspirators have decided to assassinate Caesar before he is able to take the crown of Rome. This song by Panic at the Disco, although different time periods, displays the truth of what happens when you take power for granted and you just might get what you pay for:

href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/wm-A10302B0001321253V/panic_at_the_disco_the_ballad_of_mona_lisa_official_music_video/"

he paints her fingers with a close precision
He starts to notice empty bottles of gin
And takes a moment to assess the sins she’s paid for

A lonely speaker in a conversation
Her words were swimming through his ears again
There's nothing wrong with just a taste of what you've paid for

Say what you mean
Tell me I'm right
And let the sun rain down on me
Give me a sign
I want to believe

Woah, Mona Lisa,
You're guaranteed to run this town
Woah, Mona Lisa,
I'd pay to see you frown

He senses something, call it desperation
Another dollar, another day
And if she had the proper words to say,
She would tell him
But she'd have nothing left to sell him

Say what you mean
Tell me I'm right
And let the sun rain down on me
Give me a sign
I want to believe

Woah, Mona Lisa,
You're guaranteed to run this town
Woah, Mona Lisa,
I'd pay to see you frown

Mona Lisa wear me out
Pleased to please ya
Mona Lisa wear me out

Say what you mean
Tell me I'm right
And let the sun rain down on me
Give me a sign
I want to believe

Woah, Mona Lisa,
You're guaranteed to run this town
Woah, Mona Lisa,
I'd pay to see you frown

Say what you mean
Tell me I'm right
And let the sun rain down on me
Give me a sign
I want to believe

There's nothing wrong with just a taste of what you've paid for

So far, power really is something hard to hold onto. The right person needs to know how to handle the plethora of duties put on them or people just might revolt...

(PUBLISHED BY HIKARU HUNT)

Power Poem

Power


The power of truth is in the belief

The power of love in the heart

The power of faith is felt in the mind

With every member of your being a part



Yet the power of change is hard to adjust

Because temptation is so hopelessly strong

While the power of right is substanialy hard

You must overcome the power of wrong



But the power in you is much greater than all

In you his power is born

So when the unfairness of life takes your power away

Remember to whom the power belongs...



DENNIS TAYLOR



Taylor, Dennis. "Power." PoemHunter.Com - Thousands of Poems and Poets.. Poetry Search Engine. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/power-23/.



JOK3R and TennisGazelle

This poem is (for those of you who are unaware of the blog that you're reading) relating to "Julius Caesar," the classic by William Shakespeare. This poem, like the story it is being compared to, both have extreme characteristics. Julius Caesar has tried to make use of his power he has over Rome, especially by the way his people are loyal to him, including Mark Antony.
The loyalty that Mark Antony expresses to Caesar is probalby one of the main reasons that there are many conspirators agains Caesar's reign. Especially, since he's the ultimate successor of the first Triumvrate that Rome had in his early years. Afterwards,

Click here to see the original poem at Poem Hunter.com

The Celebration of Irony

"I came, I saw, I conquered..."

The many tragedies of William Shakespeare have been considered some of the best pieces of literature in the history of writing. Julius Caesar is no exception. With all of its' blood thirst and conspiring against the ill-fated leader, Shakespeare shows us once more through his play that even history that is already tragic can be brought up tenfold.

The picture to the left, showing a battle ridden field with [who seems like Caesar], is most likely the battle that included the character Pompey. After Caesar's return to the streets of Rome, everyone cheered in jubilant victory that Julius had defeated Pompey; even though most of the people were happy of this victory, Marullus and Flavius are questioning commoners why they are cheering for a new leader when they were so faithful to the other. That is the symbol of power. Julius' victory showed the people of Rome that he had power, hence why he was offered the crown and praised for killing poor Pompey.

But in the midst of all this joy and celebration, conspiracy erupts. A group of conspirators, lead by Brutus and Cassius, plan on destroying everything Caesar stands for. Of course, to do this they must kill him. How will this tragedy end? And was this battle between Caesar and Pompey really a victory? Or a death sentence?

(Comment on what YOU think Caesar v. Pompey really brought to Rome & upon Caesar himself.)


POSTED BY (HIKARU HUNT)

RHETORIC
by TennisGazelle

Rome, & its republic is the setting of Julius Caesar
He's the dictator that overthrew Pompey
Enraged is Cassius, Casca, and Cinna wanting to overthrow Caesar
"Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; & since you know you cannot see yourself so well as by reflection I, your glass, will modestly discover to yourself that of yourself which you yet know not of."
Over Pompey's blood was the triumph which Caesar relishes in.
Right from the start, did Caesar have doubts of Cassius, and expressed those to Antony
"I'd rather tell the what is to be fear than what I fear for I am Caesar"
Cassius's plan is almost complete. All he needs is Brutus.