Why is the mob important in Julius Caesar?How do they fluctuate from one extreme to another?

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sagesource's profile pic

sagesource | High School Teacher | (Level 1) Associate Educator

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The mob is important in Julius Caesar because of their power. Anyone who can command the allegiance of the mob can control the city of Rome itself, and anyone controlling the city of Rome is more than half-way towards total control of the Roman empire.

All of the major players in Julius Caesar recognize the power of the mob. However, some of them understand what moves the people more accurately than others, and are so rewarded with greater success.

The conspirators are uneasily aware of Caesar's popularity with the common people as they are plotting his assassination, and it is probably no coincidence that Casca, who gives a half-contemputous account of how well the people love Caesar (Act I, Scene 2), is also the first to urge Brutus to take the podium to justify Caesar's murder (Act III, Scene 1). A bit further on in the same scene, Brutus says to Mark Antony,

Only be patient till we have appeased
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,

Thus, the conspirators understand the power of the mob and the need to get the common people on their side. However, Brutus goes about this in an intellectual rather than an emotional way, and is so swept away by notions of fairness and justice that he allow Mark Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral service. Cassius is horrified by this, realizing what Antony might be able to do by appealing to the mob:

You know not what you do. Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter? (Act III, Scene 1)

Brutus ignores this advice, with the result that his own justifications are forgotten by the popular masses when they hear Antony's passionate appeal to their sentiments, and the conspirators are run out of town (Act III, Scene 2) by a lynch mob so furious that it even murders one man for merely having the same name as one of the conspirators (Act III, Scene 3).

Thus, the mob is important in Julius Caesar because they hold the key to power in the city of Rome, capital of the Roman Empire. The conspirators' failure to win them over highlights their lack of understanding of the political and military situation, and foreshadows their defeat and death.

dkgarran's profile pic

dkgarran | Middle School Teacher | (Level 3) Adjunct Educator

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Shakespeare intentionally portrays the Romans as unintelligent and easily swayed. When Brutus addresses the masses, they are convinced that the conspirators did the right thing by slaying Caesar and that they saved Rome from an overly ambitious leader. However, the crowd quickly turns when Antony begins his soliloquy, citing Caesar's loyalty and dedication to the people of Rome.

Shakespeare's portrayal of the Romans is far from positive. In short, the people are shown as incapable of thinking for themselves. Also, the masses seem to have an overly emotional response to events and are prone to rioting.

mwestwood's profile pic

mwestwood | College Teacher | (Level 3) Distinguished Educator

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The examination of the behavior of the mob in "Julius Caesar" is yet another study of how well Shakespeare understood human nature, a study which is so relevant today.  More specifically, in Act III of "Julius Caesar" after the assassination of Caesar, who was loved by the Roman people as a celebrity today is idolized, whoever could gain control of the mob would control Rome.

Interestingly, it is Brutus who speaks first and reasons with the angry mob.  That the Romans listen to his logic is certainly to the credit of Brutus's powers of speech and to the receptiveness of the crowd, given the feverish pitch of emotion that prevailed after the slaying of their beloved leader.  However, the reader must be somewhat disappointed in this crowd when Antony is able to rouse the emotional side of the people to the point that they completely discard what their reason has told them.  Unfortunately, though, this choice of emotional response over rational is all too common in human nature as many famous as well as infamous leaders of countries, much like Marc Antony, have been able to tap into the visceral urges of people and move them to crusades, wars, genocide, and relinquishing their personal rights without demurring.


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