#gets*

My first reflex here would be to try and stay ‘’’’’’objective’’’’’’ and not connect his actions directly to Oliver - although he is the one getting punched, and it is his story, I know. I said it in the past, I really hang on to James’s introduction of himself in the beginning when he says that he sometimes doesn’t know where his characters start and he finishes. I mean, the irony isn’t lost on anyone when it comes to Brutus and Richard as Caesar. But Romeo doesn’t have nearly as much violent and resenting feelings as Edmund does; I do believe sometimes that the pressure of the murder takes its toll on James’s psyche and those boundaries blur even further with trauma. 

James himself doesn’t really understand what comes into him, he even says so to Oliver when they make up in their room. Sure, he knows the reason but he’s spiralling out of control. He is not the strongest, steadiest character and Oliver sees that since it’s the very reason why he goes to prison for him. He knows he wouldn’t survive it. He knows what his own mind can do to him.

Now for the more subjective - but still potential - part of my opinion. And actually, maybe they mix in together.If we put if back into context, James does not start to become somewhat darker only by playing Edmund; he actually seeks the role by playing a very “aggressive” part for his audition (quoting on this), starts acting moodily towards Meredith (not that he ever was the nicest to her) and disappears for periods of time. That happens right after Christmas, when Oliver fled to New York to spend New Year with Meredith the way we know it went down. Even only as a friend, as someone who finds himself unable to open up about something that eats him from the inside, it can feel like a betrayal. Their relationship is described as “possessive” and James has showed signs of jealously since pretty much the beginning of the book. If you think he even has feelings for him, then that only makes it worse and in a way if that is somewhat true then I get it; Oliver is my favourite character but is sometimes egoistic, with his actions regarding Meredith or his sister. I like him for that, he’s a fleshed out character but James may feel left alone. He can’t ask for any support, not even from his best friend.

So there it is, his outlet: punching him square in the nose. At least for me.

edit; sometimes I also think that Richard’s actions towards James were abusive even outside of the Caesar rehearsals. After all, James has pretty much the same bruises than Meredith and gets nearly drowned that one time. A successions of bullying could definitely result in a fight or flight reaction that ended in Richard’s death.