Julius Ceaser

Julius Ceaser

 Aryn Lacy

Honors English 10

Mr. Moore

12/16/09

Moral Issues within Julius Caesar

When reading Julius Caesar you can find an assortment of different moral stages according to "Kohlberg's theory of moral development". Kohlberg theory of moral development is has 3 levels, each level is split into 2 stages. The first level of moral development is Preconventional which means that the individual responds to decisions only in terms as punishment and reward. If its rewarded the decision is good; if punished the decision is bad. The second level of Kohlberg's theory is called Conventional. In other words the character feel this incredible sense of duty and loyalty to his family, friends, or some other group and bases his decisions off of whats best for them. The final level of Kohlberg's theory is know as Postconventional. This level is where you base rules off of ethnic principles,  e.g- The Golden Rule. At this point you are more concerned about others than you. At this level you are very selfless and do things to help better others whether they have and effect on yourself or not, Independent decision. Two characters that showed a variety of a different stages throughout this book. Brutus showed many moral stages and came to his highest point of stages at the end of the book in Act 5, Scene 5. Mark Anthony, also shows many moral stages; his highest being at the end of the book with Brutus in Act 5, Scene 5. In Act 5, Scene 5 there is a war going on between the conspirators that murdered Julius Caesar and the friends that Julius Caesar had. Brutus and Anthony had very different morals, but at the end still manged to reach the highest stage of moral development, Personal Conscience.  

In this act Brutus kills himself; his final words "Caesar , now be still; / I killed thee with half not so good will". Brutus was one of the conspirators that helped end Caesar's life and he as was also one of his best friends. In the act before this one, Caesar had...