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Aaron Long 11/04/07 Comparison Essay

The Soles of Two When comparing two “soles” one looks at their actions. These actions say everything that even words can’t express. Evil can be characterized in many different times and places. Cassius from __The Tragedy of Julius Caesar__ by William Shakespeare and Mark Kinney from __Killing Mr. Griffin__ by Lois Duncan are both characters that are the masters of their destiny, have evil spirits, and are deceiving. These characteristics cause them to be villains in each story. To make decisions as awful as some of theirs they need to be in control at all times. In __The Tragedy of Julius Caesar__ Cassius must always be in control to be able to kill Caesar. “I do not know the man I should avoid so soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much, He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music. Seldom he smiles,” (I ii 200-205 Shakespeare) Caesar is saying that because of Cassius’ intellect he controls the situation and that is what Caesar wants to avoid. In the beginning, Mark Kinney, has this cool expression on his face when he says, “that Griffin is guy I could kill.” Acting like it has all been planned out. Then, after everything goes wrong and Mr. Griffin ends up dying, Mark doesn’t let everything stop there, he thinks up a story about Mr. Griffin having a lover that he runs away with to Colorado. Then, as things spiral downward, he was completely calm person when he tries to kill Sue to cover it all up. But as Cassius sees Caesar as a threat he would rather kill him self than be a slave under Caesar. Just as Mark under Mr. Griffin. “I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.” (I iii 89-92 Shakespeare) Each character took charge to defeat their slavery from their owners, Julius and Mr. Griffin. By this, they needed an evil spirit to perform the deeds that are ahead of them. The Evil that is present in Mark could be seen in the emotion that wasn’t present on his face. He’s sleepy and lean looking. As though the world has turned there back to him. Caesar began to talk about Cassius like a dangerous man because of how he looks. “Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed, and such as sleep o’ nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much, such men are dangerous.” (I ii 193-195) He then says later, “ Seldom he smiles, and smile in such a sort As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit That could be moved to smile at anything. Such men as he be never at heart’s ease Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, And therefore are very dangerous.” (Iii 205-210) This making them both look like they have a have evil thought. But Marks could be traced back to the time where he killed his father after his father was going tell the police to that he stole something. Still, the emotion on his face was that of what it always is, blank. And with the blank and calming face these two characters pulled people to help them in their awful schemes. Deceiving other characters is what made it possible to reach their goal. In Cassius goal to kill Caesar, he needs Brutus to help. So he tells him all these good things about him to make him feel like he is better than Caesar. But Brutus was on the edge because he didn’t want to kill a fellow friend for nothing. “ O Cassius, if you could But win the noble Brutus to our party- Be content. Good Cinna, take this paper And look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, Where Brutus may but find it, and throw this In at his window… Him and his worth and our great need of him You have right well conceited.”(Iiii 142-165 Shakespeare) But then he uses the other views of the Romans to persuade that it is best for Rome. Where as Mark tells the other students, like Sue, to lie to the police to make the story fit. But then Cassius used Brutus to help kill Caesar so that the Romans accept killing Caesar. Cassius says, “Well, Brutus, thou art noble yet I see Thy Honorable mettle may be wrought from that it is disposed.” (Iii 308-310 Shakespeare) Which is the same on how Mark manipulates Sue and David into helping kidnapping Mr. Griffin. By deceiving the others, Mark and Cassius get what they wanted in the end. When killing is the common denominator then Cassius and Mark can be seen as one person. Through the evil, deceiving, and master minding techniques these two are one in the same in the course of accomplishing their goals. And ultimately “bad soles” are always mended in the end.