Brutus is a very bad judge of character, gullible and affected by flattery. Cassius knew this and used it against Brutus to butter him up, he tells Brutus that Caesar has done badly for Rome, and he compliments Brutus by saying
“Brutus and Caesar. What should be in that ‘Caesar’?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?”
Cassius wants Caesar to die because he is jealous of his power, however, Brutus believes what he will do is best for Rome. The language in the following quote suggests that Brutus does fall for Cassius’ flattery; this must be a relief for Cassius whose hard work has paid of in persuading Brutus. The reason I believe that Brutus has fallen for the flattery is because he used to be someone who never doubted Caesar until Cassius talked to him.
“I fear the people choose Caesar for their king.”
This quote shows Antony is the complete opposite of Brutus, and has no regard for family and doesn’t follow the saying ‘Blood is thicker than water’, this also shows he is cruel and mean. Antony is with Octavius and Lepidus known as ‘triumvirate’ a group of three leaders with equal power, they are writing up a list of those who should die. Lepidus asks if Antony’s nephew should be among the list, and without thinking twice Antony replies
“He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him”
Brutus on the other hand shows that he feels blood is thicker than water when his wife asks him to tell her what’s happening and suggests he has a sickness in the mind rather than body, to prove she is a trustworthy wife she wounded herself in the thigh to which Brutus replies “Render me worthy of this noble wife.” She tells him, he sees her as his harlot rather than his wife, but he replies (referring to blood as ruddy drops)
“You are my true and honourable wife,
As dear to me as are ruddy drops That visit my sad heart.”
When Lepidus leaves the room what Antony really thinks about Lepidus, he tells Octavius what he thinks. This shows he is two faced or too much of a coward to say the following quote to Lepidus’ face.
“This is a slight unmeritable man, meet to be sent on errands.”
Brutus tries to keep his word when the conspirators want to kill Antony he tells them
“Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius………….
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers”
He doesn’t kill anyone else and this proves it because he also tells the crowd is.
“People and senators, be not affrightened.
Fly not, stand still. Ambition’s debt is paid.”
Brutus loves his family and many times in the play he refers to them, he respects his wife, for example after the conspirators have left Brutus’ home, Portia (Brutus’ wife) comes to ask Brutus what’s troubling him, she begs him. This shows she loves Brutus very much and wants to help with his problems, she begs on her knees. He says “Kneel not, gentle Portia.” This shows he doesn’t want her to beg because she is worth more than that. This is shown in the language in the following quote.
He thanks God to have a wife like he does yet she doesn’t know that he can’t tell her for her own good.
“O ye gods.
Render me worthy of this noble wife.”
Antony doesn’t have a wife, the language in the next quote describes how Antony has many ‘friends’ and how he is the opposite to Brutus because he is always out and about and is a bit of a player. This is a quote from when Caesar tells Antony that he is weary of Cassius because
“He loves no plays,
As thou dost Antony; he hears no music;
Seldom he similes,”
Brutus is an older man, wise, deep, serious and a man of thought. He thinks before he acts and when he does he normally always has a good reason to do so. For instance when the others conspirators want Cicero to join the conspiracy, Brutus again uses his power to overrule them saying
“O name him not; let us not break with him;
for he will never follow any thing
That other men began”
Brutus is reasonable. He wants to justify his actions to Rome and to Antony, because he believes he killed Caesar because he was ambitious, he tells the crowd that he will tell them why he killed Caesar.
“And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Caesar when struck him,
Have thus proceeded”
Again he keeps his word to the crowd and in his speech he tells them the reason, this shows he is clever and is a “great orator” like Antony says he was, he changes the crowd’s view on a person who in there eyes was the greatest ever ruler of Rome.
“I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him”
Brutus and Antony also have some things in common, for example Antony in his speech to the crowd is very clever. He says many things that influenced them, but took care not to say anything which would offend them like when Antony says
“I come not to disapprove what Brutus spoke.”
However we know that he is lying, another reason why Antony should not be trusted.
Other clever parts in the speech are that Antony uses a technique to sway the crowd he keeps saying that Brutus is “honourable” and each time he says this the crowd cheering die down to eventually silence, the last times he says “honourable” he uses a hint of irony.
“Who (you all know) are honourable men.”
Another brilliant idea is when Antony says that Caesar left a will the crowd beg him to read the will, but, Antony uses the crowd eagerness to his advantage telling them to wait to keep them interested in what he had to say.
“Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?”
Then just to make sure that the crowd is definatly on his side he tells them
“I have o’ershot myself to tell you of it.
I fear I wrong such honourable men
Whose dangers have stabbed Caesar, I do fear it.”
His predictions are true and the crowd are against the conspirators, this shows he is very clever because he turns the crowd is such a very short space of time.
“They were traitors. Honourable men.”
When he feels safe enough he tells the crowd what he really thinks of the conspirators and begins to insult them saying that they were traitors he works upon their pity and many of the people in the crowd begin to cry and weep for Caesar.
“If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle.”
Another similarity between Brutus and Antony is that they both misjudge other characters in the play, as I said before Brutus believes Antony will cause no threat to them so he doesn’t kill him and then even lets him address the crowd at Caesar’s funeral. Antony misjudges Cassius at the beginning of the novel when Caesar tells him his doubts about him.
“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.”
But Antony tells Caesar
“Fear him not Caesar, he’s not dangerous.
He is a noble Roman, and well given.”
Cassius tells Brutus early on that due to Caesar, Rome’s most noble people are suffering. Cassius tells Brutus that he will help him see how others see him.
“Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respected in Rome-
Except immortal Caesar-speaking of Brutus,
And groaning underneath this age’s yoke,
Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.”
Another quote where Brutus is seen as weak his after he has been talking to Cassius and left Cassius says in a soliloquy
“Well Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see
Thy honourable mettle may be wrought
From that it is disposed.”
Brutus lies to his wife only to protect her and not to worry her
“I am not well in health that is all.”
Or maybe this also shows that Brutus is becoming old and feeble.
On the battle just before they start to fight the opposing army leaders talk and insult each other Brutus talk to Octavius
Octavius tells Brutus that they would rather fight then talk but Brutus says
“Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.”
This shows Brutus would rather fight then die in unnecessary battle it shows he is wise and thinks before he acts.
Cassius also tells Antony what he thinks of him, however, he says it to insult him but he doesn’t think it can be really true, but it is.
“Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leaves them honeyless.”
Another quote that shows Antony enjoys his life too much and is always out, but this time he is scolded by Cassius for being like this.
“A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
Joined with a masker and a reveller.”
The language used by Cassius suggests that Antony is immature.
Antony changes in the novel the turning point being the murder of Caesar, before the murder he enjoys life.
“Given too sports, wildness and much company.” And
“not gameson like Antony.”
After the murder he takes on a more serious role and becomes ruthless and passionate. That is why he is happy to condemn his nephew. He turns from a nice athlete to a ruthless thug.
