When the play first begin Julius Caesar, the man himself is entering Rome, returning from battle. He has defeated Pompey, and the crowd is happy. However, not all citizens are happy. Already there is conspiracy being planned. Marullus and Flavius make fun of the commoners, because did they not cheer for Pompey the same way that they cheer Caesar. Marullus angrily yells: O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climbd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat the livelong day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome... And do you now strew flowers in his way, That comes in triumph over Pompeys blood? Be gone! (I: i) Pompeys defeat is crucial to Caesars rise to power. Many men volunteered to fight, unpaid, under the general Caesar. There was not a single deserter during the Civil War. Julius destroyed the few episodes of insubordination. He was a firm, yet fair leader. His troops were never addressed as My soldiers, but as Comrades. His attitude was much different then Pompeys. Whereas Pompey declared that all who were not actively with the government were against it and would be treated as public enemies, Caesar announced that all who were not actively against him were with him. (Suetonius, pg. 45) Caesar was favored among his men, but this favor was soon lost entirely. The senate soon awarded Ceasar with many awards. Julius Caesar did not rise to greet them. the senate considered this an act of arrogance. The Senators began to feel the beginnings of a murderous hatred for Caesar. This feeling was increased by another incident. Upon returning from the Alban Hill, a member of the crowd placed a wreath of laurels and white fillet upon the statue of Caesar. Epidius Marullus and Caesetius Flavius demanded that the wreath be removed. Caesar dispatched these tribunes, who we met qu...
