CHAPTER V

THE CHARACTER OF CAESAR 57

Peculiarities of Shakespeare’s Delineation—The Influence of Medieval Conception of the Character—Pescetti’s Treatment—His Appreciation of Caesar’s Nobler Qualities—Their Submergence in the Action and his Emphasis of Caesar’s Weaknesses—Caesar’s Susceptibility to Flattery, his Pride, his Boastfulness, his Vacillation—Reasons for Pescetti’s Delineation—The Parallels in Shakespeare’s Treatment—Caesar’s Relative Inferiority in the Action—His Spiritual Domination of the Tragedy.