Julius Caesar Short Essay

Julius Caesar was an opportunist who took advantage of the dire situation in Rome to fulfill his own agenda. Caesar had little respect for the ruling elite in Rome and disregarded their orders throughout his career. His ego and political ambitions lay behind most of his decisions and he destroyed anyone who got in his way. Caesar is often recognized as a hero and the savior of Rome but none of his reforms were truly to help the Roman citizens. In the end he did more to harm the Roman Empire than he did to improve it. From the death of his father to his own death Caesar was on a never ending quest to elevate his status in Rome.

There is no denying that Caesar was extremely intelligent. He recognized how the political structure in Rome worked and from an early age he used that to his advantage. He married Cornelia, the daughter of a prominent member of the Popular faction1, and built a network of connections, many who were supporters of Marius. When Sulla, the Optimate dictator, came to power he sought to wipe out any Marius supporters. Caesar's connections to Marius and refusal to divorce Cornelia led him to be arrested and he went into hiding2.

Although his refusal to divorce Cornelia is often seen as evidence of his high moral standing it was for his own benefit. As a member of a patrician family he was able to enter the army not as a common soldier but as a military assistant to a provincial governor2. At his first post in Cilicia he received recognition for saving the life of a fellow solider. Caesar's motivation for saving the soldier's life most likely came from the desire to be known as a courageous soldier and boost his reputation.

After leaving the army took up the study of rhetoric2. Caesar is known the best orator of the time which is likely a result of these studies. His gift for public speaking gained him support and furthered his political career. Caesar often spoke out about against the corruption of Rome's ruling elite but he...