Students' Work on Theme Analysis on Julius Caesar Project

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Write two comparative essays
In each essay, discuss how the theme is illustrated through characterization , imagery, or any other literary elements by using references from Julius Caesar and another related literary work you have read.

E4 Andy Mak

Ms. Wu 4/30/98

Theme Analysis

In all works of literature, the theme is always revealed through literary elements.

The theme is a "generalization about life at large that the subject leads you to see". We

will select one theme from the playwright, "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare and

show how the theme from "Julius Caesar" is "illuminated" in another literary work, such

as the novel, "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville through literary elements.

The theme that was selected from "Julius Caesar" was "Too much ambition will

inevitably lead to disaster". We will discuss how this theme and is "illustrated" in "Moby

Dick" by "looking into" the literary elements of the novel.

In "Moby Dick", the writer uses characterization to "illustrate" the theme of "too

much ambition" and how it will lead to "impending doom". Captain Ahab, who is the

captain of the voyage to hunt down the "Great white whale" called Moby Dick is

described as obsessive, determined, and egotistic. Captain Ahab is a man that is

obsessed with a whale and has dedicated his whole life to tracking this whale. The

captain is so consumed with the ambition to kill the whale, he loses his humanity and his

soul because of the ambition that consumed him. The overwhelming amount of ambition,

which the captain possessed caused him to go mad and eventually led to his demise.

The writer also uses dramatic irony to illuminate the theme of "the disastrous

consequences of too much ambition". "Moby Dick" tell the tragedy of one man’s

relentless quest for vengeance. The "mad" Captain Ahab is always pursuing the "great

white whale" because he was defeated and lost his leg in a battle against the

"monstrosity". The irony is that the captain is "destined to fail" in his quest to seek

revenge, but the captain never learns that he cannot defeat the creature from the costly

battle and continues in his "useless quest" because of the ambition that keeps drawing him

to his "tragic fate". The captain’s ambition finally leads him to the whale again, but he met

the fate that was "bestowed upon" him and perished in the final battle against Moby Dick.

I conclude that themes are "illuminated or ‘uncovered’ through literary elements".

For if we "read between the lines" and understand the uses of literary elements, our

understanding of literature will become more enriched.