Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Which statement develops the theme that abuse of power leads to dest
ruction? CASSIUS: Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Caesar-what should be in that "Caesar?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name.
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well.
Weigh them, it is as heavy. Conjure with 'em,
"Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar."
Now in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs.
Explanation:
The first sentence questions man's pride, arrogance, using the word Colossus to represent man's thought of himself as being huge and being an very high level. If one bestride the world as a Colossus represents the misuse of one very little power which man often thinks of himself as being extremely powerful and untouchable. In the real sense, the world looks so huge in the worldly realm, which when man acquires a bit of power, he starts to feel as being the most powerful. Petty, describes men as not more than we are ; no matter the worldly power we have, men aren't so special, walking under the legs as the man falls into destruction despite his powers.
