The never ending question 'Why do we have to read Shakespeare?' 'Miss Macdonald, who cares about Julius Caesar?' Well, cherubs, my answer is 'Jay Z does!' and if it hadn't been for our glorious unit on The Tragedy of Julius Caesar last quarter you would have no idea what Jay Z was talking about in his remix with Coldplay to their song 'Lost.' The song, to me, is about exactly how quickly someone can fall from success - 'just wait until the shine wears off.' If you climb the ladder of ambition (as Brutus tells us) you will be killed by those who oppose you or feel you are a threat. Look at the examples of historical figures and celebrities he uses to make his point:
With the same sword they knight you,
they gon' good night you with
that's only half if they like you
That ain't even the half what they might do
Don't believe me, ask Michael
See Martin, see Malcolm
See Biggie, see Pac,
see success and its outcome
See Jesus, see Judas
See Caesar, see Brutus,
see success is like suicide
Suicide, it's a suicide
If you succeed, prepare to be crucified
He is rapping about the very theme of Shakespeare's play. If you succeed in life, prepare to be crucified either metaphorically or actually. When you consider Shakespeare's own experience in the theatre business he was an overnight sensation. He flew up the ladder of success and was ostracized (Holden's word) by rival playwrights. They despised him solely for how talented he was. It wasn't until just now that I realize, perhaps Shakespeare could identify with Caesar - the alienation - the suspicion - the inability to be content with what you had acheived for fear of what others might do.
Here's the video for the song 'Lost' - Jay Z starts rapping at about 2:25.
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2 comments:
Whoah - it's so strange how Jay-Z incorporates Shakespearean themes in his rap - It's just really mind-blowing
Let's not forget the other side of the coin. For those who achieve success the risks and rewards are great. But what about those who live in the shadow of greatness? In the shadow the contrast of dark to light is deeper and the reflection shimmers in a haze at the edges.
In the glow there is Caeser, there is Michael, there is Jesus, to cite a few of Jay-Z's inspirations. Absolutely, they have earned their places at the top. Only in the afterglow...
These few, these Judas', these Brutus' are deigned to serve their masters. Whether it be through circumstance or their own undoing that they could not achieve the same exalted status, whatever the case they are now destined to toil in subservience. To coddle the aspirations that perhaps they themselves once had, only to give in to the desires of someone else, certainly this can be an uneasy position.
Or maybe there was complete respect and a desire to serve from the beginning. As was the case with the disciples of Jesus; for who could not worship before God in all his manifestations (that is, should we believe in God)? Except those who serve can fall from grace when they do not have the fortitude to handle the deeds bestowed upon them.
Whatever the case, jealousy, and envy, and fear, and a whole other host of emotions hold continence in the human psyche. And, when released under the strain of pressure from others, as was the case with Brutus dealing with his fellow senators, or there is an internal misstep from lack of self restraint as it was with Judas' the problem is the same. We are weak and power is a strong seducer.
The shadow is daunting, the lines it draws waiver and there is no certainty to the path they take. To look upon greatness is also to stew in it's darker realms. And Caeser and Jesus, and the like were not short of this. Even as Jesus was the son of God he also questioned his ability to control himself in the face of temptation. To be among his disciples and to observe this weakness where others are left only with an image of the exalted, is to imbue in the depths. This is the other side, to know this weakness, and this is also the crux and why eminence can be so easily erased.
Because success is quickly achieved but the achievers are as quickly crucified when mankind proves it's follies. From the upside to the underside, no one is exempt when fault can so quickly be establish. What's had is lost and we move on to seek that which shines again.
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