The bust is purported to be of Julius Caesar who was, as most of us know, assassinated on the 15th March 44 B.C. It is quite extraordinary that this should be remembered over 2000 years after the event. I suggest that the main reason for this, if not the sole reason, is the activity of the story teller, and since 1599 the top teller's version of events. First published (apparently) in 1623. Stories surrounding the event and the various personalities have overwhelmed us all over the centuries. One of the distinguishing features of the tale is that there is no real villain in the piece. Each of the characters has his or her reasons for behaving as they do, either out of love, conviction or what they believe to be their duty to a greater cause. All are in their way honourable men, moved by events, who are driven to a decision and compelled to act; not so much that they have no choice, but by the very nature of their character.
Brutus & Anthony Part 1(James Mason-Marlon Brando)
Anthony Part 2
This method of story telling is by far the most enduring. An examination of character - background and motivation - the seeds of ideas that are explanations for behaviour, action and inaction. It is how most people function in any event, and extraordinary incidents are always of interest.
Why is it then, that there now seems to be an insistence on portraying certain characters as completely villainous.
One has to admit that there has been something of a glut of people to revile, or who have given us all cause to pause; but, surely, there must be some redeeming feature, some missing mitigating factors we know not of. It cannot just be that there mothers love them. Maybe they didn't?
Quite apart from the ring of fire and its earthquakes, it seems we must contend with a bloody seam across the world, between the Tropic of Cancer and the 45° parallel - and particularly in North Africa across to the far east - that is throwing up a great deal of bile. There is a lot of discontent, sufficient to cause great harm and injury to a number of citizens. A view must be taken:
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves
Or lose out ventures.
So spoke Brutus who took part in the events of the Ides of March, and of him Anthony said:
This was the noblest roman of them all:
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!'
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