[Focusing on Cassius's intellectual preoccupations, self-sufficiency, championship if liberty and equality, and rljection of the supernatural, MacCallum contends that the character's behavior is guided by his beliif in the philosophy if Epicureanism. Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who asserted that pleasure was the highestgood in life. For Epicurus, the greatest joy derived from emotional calm and serenity; he therifore considered intellectual activities superior to all others. The philosopher also extolled the virtues iffreedom and denied that gods had any control over human offairs. MacCallum also discusses Cassius's strengths and weaknesses of character, faulting his spitifulness, jealousy, and lack if fortitude, but praising his enthusiasmfor the cause of republicanism and his keen powers of judgment For further commentary on Cassius's character, see the excerpts by Lawrence Danson, Robert E. Knoll, and Gayle Greene.]
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