Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Does the play Julius Caesar say anywhere in the text about a physical description of Cassius, if so what does it say and where?I have a project...

An extremely clever and perceptive ruler, Julius Caesar is
aware of the importance of close observation of other men.  As he and Marcus Antony with
Caesar's train parade the streets of Rome on the feast of Lupercal; in so doing, Caesar
takes notice of Cassius and notes that Cassius has a certain look of desire and envy
about him that is dangerous:


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Let me have men about me that are fat,

Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a
lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.
(1.2.198-201)



This is as
close to a physical description as any of Cassius; however, Caesar's words are more
figurative than literal.  That Cassius is "lean" means less that he is slim than it
means that Cassius appears to be a man desirous of capturing power.  The implies
metaphor here is that of a predatory animal who is not fat and content to no longer
hunt.  The ambitious Cassius is "hungry" for power and position and will seek them when
he observes any opportunity.  Therefore, he is "dangerous." With such envy and cupidity
in his heart, Cassius is probably fairly young.

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