The Art of Persuasion in Julius Caesar: A Psychological Study

Author: Mahmood MawloodKhalaf and Jawed s. Ahmed

Published On: 2021-12-14

Julius Caesar is the greatest of Shakespeare's historical drama that it is the most popular and the most which have been acted on the theatre and published since its production more than 400 years ago. There are many reasons that stand behind this popularity of the play other than the representation of the historical figure of "Julius Caesar" and his reign era. The events of the play from its opening scene till its end are socially and politicallyconnected not to a specific time, but happens repeatedly throughout the ages and everywhere. The main problem which lead the characters of the play to their tragic flaw is not the conspiracies nor the conflicted political viewpoints, but it is the art of persuasion. Most of the leading characters of the play had been fallen because the psychological pressure of the persuasion. In Julius Caesar, it is the art of persuasion of those who make others lend their ears and then get things done as they desired.Julius Caesar, Brutus, Mark Antony and Cassius have tried the art of persuasion  to affect others' activity for their own benefit, neglecting the friendly advices or the results of their decisions.Shakespeare psychologically treated this subject by exposing the personality of each character with his psychological disorder  and used the role of the mob in changing the direction of the political events of Rome.

Key words: persuasion, psychology, Rome, Julius Caesar, Brutus, Cassius.