Question

Read the excerpt from Act II, Scene i of Julius Caesar. Then answer the question that follows.

DECIUS:
Never fear that. If he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him. For he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betrayed with trees,
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
Lions with toils, and men with flatterers.
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says he does, being then most flatterèd.
Let me work.
For I can give his humor the true bent,
And I will bring him to the Capitol.

Which of the following universal themes is most present in these lines from the play?
Honor is the most valuable of attributes.
Power has the ability to corrupt and ruin those it touches.
Things aren't always what they seem.
Words have the power to move mountains.

Answer 1

The theme that is most present in the lines from Decius in Act II, Scene i of Julius Caesar is "Words have the power to move mountains." Decius manipulates language and understanding to persuade Caesar to go to the Capitol, highlighting the influence that speech and rhetoric can have on people's decisions and actions. This shows how powerful words can be in shaping outcomes and swaying individuals, particularly in the context of political maneuvering.