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Owen Sun
Mark Brown
English 9A
15 April 2016
Malleability of the Masses: Plebeians Leading the Course of History
Stupidity is powerful. In Julius Caesar, a tragic play written by Shakespeare, the
intelligence of people, be it high or low, holds a tremendous influence over decisions formed as a
group. When an idea is shown to the ignorant masses, immediate acceptance is observed, with
subconscious persuasion and manipulation of the plebeians towards each other occurring as
communication takes place. Even though one should pause and reflect whenever they find
themselves on the side of the majority (The Wisdom of Mark Twain, 5), this clearly does not
happen with the thoughts of the plebeians. However, since the majority holds extreme power in
terms of sheer physical action, they are able to proceed with the goals that are instilled within
their minds. This allows other individuals to utilize this attribute, since whenever a speech is
given, the plebeians instantly bombard the speaker with numerous words of praise, despite their
previously conflicting opinions and thoughts. However, as the plebeians are the majority, even if
they do not have the brain capacity to come up with their own ideas unlike other individualistic
individuals who create their own causes, they nevertheless hold the ultimate power to execute
large plans. Furthermore, when the plebeians are set in motion, the momentum created crushes
anyone else that tries to go against them. Therefore, even though the plebeians do not possess
bad intentions at heart, their uneducated stupidity and ignorance leads the major plot changes in
Julius Caesar.

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The plebeians malleability allows for honorability of Caesars death. Their previous
affection for Caesar is forgotten due to their easily swayable nature as they dont simply listen;
they follow with passion whenever someone speaks. As the plebeians mental capacity is
unusually low, they can be persuaded to abhor something that was once loved with great passion.
The plebeians all did love Caesar once (3.2.100). However, when Brutus states that [Caesar]
was ambitious (3.2.25) and inquired about any objections, the plebeians all say none, Brutus,
none (3.2.32) wholeheartedly in unison. This response shows that the plebeians completely
forget their love for Caesar and say that this Caesar was a tyrant (3.2.67), basing their claim on
nothing else than Brutuss speech. When the plebeians leave their previous leader, Caesar, a new
leader is sought for, like sheep that are lost without a shepherd. Therefore, after renouncing their
old leader, they attach themselves to Brutus, by offering numerous things such as giv[ing] him a
statue with his ancestors, let[ting] him be Caesar, and crowning Caesars better parts in
[him] (3.2.46-49). Everything that the plebeians once held for Caesar due to their love for him,
are offered to Brutus after some mere words, making the death of Caesar a righteous and
honorable act. Though, the plebeians loyalty wavers.
Although the plebeians are thoroughly convinced that the murder of Caesar is truly
honorable, Antonys nobility emerges as the sign of honor flows. He is the last to orate to the
crowd whom persuades themselves Antony is right, and as there isnt another individual present
to convince them otherwise, they hold firm to that state of mind. After Antonys speech, the first
person who agreed with Antony comments that there is much reason in [Antonys] sayings
(3.2.106), creating a snowball effect on the rest of the plebeians, with everyone chirping in about
how they agree with what each other is saying. However, since there were no other attempts to
sway the plebeians by anyone else, since there was no one else to tell them otherwise, the

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thought that theres not a man in Rome nobler than Antony (3.2.14) stays in the minds of the
plebeians, unlike the other thoughts such as let[ting] [Brutus] be Caesar (3.2.47) that were
erased from their minds once Antony started to speak. Thus, since nobility is subjective, and the
majority believes Antony is the most noble man in Rome, he becomes what they think he is,
causing the plebeians to execute his plans of revenge; resulting in the exile of Brutus and
Cassius. Yet, it is worth considering that the plebeians may oppose others as a result of their own
decisions on some occasions.
Even though opposing the will of the majority will lead to their mistreatment towards
their adversaries, the individualistic characteristics of Octavius contrasts the sheepish
intelligence of the plebeians. Whenever an idea is given voice, the plebeians are quick to follow.
However, as Octavius contemplates his own decisions, he stays strong and firm to his
conclusions. This is clear when Antony commands him to lead his troops upon the left hand of
the even field, Octavius replies that he will lead upon the right hand (5.1.17,18); when
questioned, he simply states that [he] will do so (5.1.20). However, if an individual with such a
characteristic opposes the crowd, or even just appears to do so, even if the opposition is
exceedingly slight, they will be destroyed for opposing the brainless majority. This is the tragic
fate Cinna the poet suffered, as when he tells the plebeians that truly, [his] name is Cinna, they
tear him to pieces with no justifiable reason but his bad verses (3.3.26~29) after he informs
them he is a poet, not a conspirator. This makes it clear that no matter what someone does, says,
or even is, as long as the majority finds a slight fault, they will be disposed of as an unneeded
nuisance, which makes them incredibly hard to go against unless given the right circumstances.
Hence, even though unlike the plebeians, Octavius does not blindly follow whatever he is

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commanded and ponders upon questions for himself, doing so in the presence of the plebeians
will lead to an unfortunate death.
And so as Brutus and Antony try to persuade the crowd with speeches despite having no
ill will, immediate acceptance and execution of what they are told to do is observed due to the
mindlessness of the plebeians. This causes the murder of Caesar to seem righteous, the exile of
Brutus and Cassius, and ultimately, their death. The doltishness of the plebeians is what separates
them from the major characters, such as Octavius, who thinks and stays true to his opinion even
when other individuals tell him otherwise. However, since in a democracy the poor and
uneducated "will have more power than the rich due to sheer population, and the will of the
majority is supreme (Aristotle, 10), even though the plebeians do not have the ability to make
the right decisions, they have the means to execute the actions, be it right or wrong, which makes
an opposition against the plebeians incredibly hard. Therefore, even though the plebeians are
unintelligent and ignorant, their idiocy is probably irrelevant, as long as they have the numbers.
However, what if every single plebeian is actually educated, and can contemplate their own
decisions? If so, it would lead to utter chaos, as intelligent individuals tend to have ideas that
differ in regards to an optimal society. Therefore, it is thanks to the plebeians that there will
always be an eternal political recurrence of replacement, and such is the nature of mankind; that
is, them being servants to define their masters.

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Works Cited
Aristotle. The Basic Works of Aristotle. New York: Modern Library, 1941.
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Ed. Alan Durband. New York: Barons Educational Series.
1984.
Twain, Mark. The Wisdom of Mark Twain. United States: Philosophical Library/Open Road,
2010.