The Changing Character of Caius Cassius
             William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a historically based play about the murder of Julius Caesar by a group of conspirators in attempt to prevent him from becoming a tyrant, and the civil war that followed in Ancient Rome. One of the main characters of this play is Caius Cassius, a powerful man who had once fought against Caesar, but is now among those whom Caesar pardoned when he took power. Cassius is a mysterious, shady figure with much military experience, and is Machiavellian in his philosophies. Throughout the course of the play's events, Cassius undergoes an almost complete personality alteration, from immoral manipulator to noble Roman.
             At the start of the play, Cassius is perceived by the reader or viewer as a ruthless conniver. As the organizer of a conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar to keep him from destroying the Roman Republic by becoming emperor, he has the disreputable role of a con man, for he uses such tactics as intimidation and trickery to convince people to side with him. He knows the weaknesses of people, and he preys on them. For example, Cassius knows he needs Brutus as an ally because Brutus is as loved by the people as Caesar is, and with his assistance will come the support of the Roman public. Cassius is aware that Brutus cares greatly about the preservation of the democracy and will do almost anything to see that it is conserved. Also, Cassius recognizes Brutus' innocence and genuine nobility, and he uses these traits against Brutus in his persuasions. He states "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings...There was a Brutus once that would !
             have brook'd/ The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome/ As easily as a king," claiming that, should the Republic fall to Caesar, it would be Brutus' fault for sitting idly and not opposing Caesar. Also, he appeals to Br...