killing Caesar was the right thing to do, even though it was not. Any
way one looks at it, Brutus was a great man, and a tragic hero.
"This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save
only he-- did that they did in envy of great Caesar; He, only in
general honest thought-- and common good to all, made one of them. His
life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might
stand up-- And say to all the world, 'This was a man!'" -Marcus Antony
Julius Caesar - Analysis of Brutus
William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is
mainly based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character
who was in charge of the assassination was, ironically, Marcus Brutus,
a servant and close friend to Julius Caesar. But what would cause a
person to kill a close friend? After examining Brutus' relationship to
Caesar, his involvement in the conspiracy, and his importance to the
plot, the truth can be revealed.
Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Caesar, has a
strong relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with
Rome and its people. Brutus is very close to Caesar. In Roman times,
the only way for someone to get close to a person of high rank is if
he/she is close to him/her. In many points of the play, Brutus was
talking and next to Caesar. Brutus also loves Caesar but fears his
power. In the early acts of the play, Brutus says to Cassius, "What
means this shouting? I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their
king...yet I love him well."(act 1, scene 2, ll.85-89), as he is
speaking to Cassius. Brutus loves Caesar, but would not allow him to
"climber-upward...He then unto the ladder turns his back..."(act 2,
scene 1, ll.24,26). As the quote says, Brutus would not allow Caesar
to rise to power and then turn his back onto the people of Rome. After
the assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus talks to Antony about
Caesar's death. "Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and pity
to the general wrong of Rome..."(act 3, scene 1, ll.185-186). Brutus
says that Antony cannot see their(members of the conspiracy) hearts,
which are full of pity. Again, this shows how Brutus loved Caesar but
cared for the life of Rome and its people more. This is the only
reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. For Brutus says to
himself, "I know no personal cause to spurn at him...How that might
change his nature..."(act 2, scene1, ll. 1,13) Caesar's relationship
with Brutus is also strong. Just allowing Brutus to speak to Caesar
shows his respect for Brutus. Caesar feels that Brutus is noble to him
and does the right thing regardless of personal danger. On the Ides of
March, as Caesar was assassinated, Caesar's last line is: "Et tu,
Brute?--Then fall, Caesar."(act 3, scene 1, l.85). This shows that
Caesar would not die without Brutus' stab. Caesar realizes that there
must be a noble reason for this assassination if Brutus was in it.
This again shows how much Caesar respects Brutus. Brutus and Caesar
both respect each other, but in different ways.
Marcus Brutus had a very important role in the conspiracy
against Caesar. He was the "back-bone" of the plan. According to
Cassius, Brutus' main purpose in the conspiracy is for an insurance
policy. The people will think, since Brutus is noble to Caesar, that
there is a good reason for Caesar's assassination. Brutus will also be
the leader of the conspiracy for another "insurance policy" for the
assassination. Cassius is the one who declares this, "Brutus shall
lead the way, and we will grace his heels with the most boldest and
best hearts of Rome. "(act 3, scene 1, ll.135-136). Again, if Brutus
leads the way, the people will think that the death of Julius Caesar
wasn't such a bad thing. Brutus also declares to himself that his role
in the conspiracy is to save Rome. He says to the people that, "If
then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my
answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more."(Act
3,scene 2,ll.21-24).
If Brutus was not in the plot of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,
the conspiracy would probably not have worked. Since Brutus "...loved
Rome more."(Act 3,scene2, ll.23-24), he decided to be a part of the
conspiracy. If he hadn't loved Rome more than Caesar, he would not
have joined in the assassination of Julius Caesar. Cassius and the
rest of the conspirators would probably not have continued on without
Brutus because they would have no "insurance" afterwards. The people
would think that there was no reason for Caesar's death and most
likely beheaded all the conspirators. Also, if Brutus was not in the
play, the whole end of the play would not ever occur. Brutus would not
be there to have an army or kill himself, and Cassius will already be
beheaded. If Brutus was not in the play, the title would have
absolutely no meaning.
Marcus Brutus was a good friend to Julius Caesar, but not good
enough. He had moral values dealing with Rome and its people. Brutus'
values then made him join a conspiracy against Caesar put together by
Cassius. Brutus joined this mainly because he didn't want Caesar to
turn his back on Rome so there would be a reasonable reason for
killing Caesar. If Brutus wasn't in the play, there would be no
"Tragedy" in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
Julius Caesar
In the play of Julius Caesar, we see a brief picture of Roman
life during the time of the First Triumvirate. In this snap shot, we
see many unfortunate things. Shakespeare gives us the idea that many
people try to circumvent what the future holds, such as unfortunate
things, by being superstitious. Superstition seems to play a role in
the basic daily life of most Roman citizens. For instance, the setting
of the first scene is based upon superstition, the Feast of Lupercal.
This feast is in honor of the god Pan, the queen of fertility. During
this time, infertile females are supposed to be able to procreate, and
fertile ones are supposed to be able to bear more. It is also a
supposed time of sexual glorification and happiness. Other scenes
depict how throughout Rome, roaming the streets are mysterious
sooth-sayers, who are supposedly given the power to predict the
future. Dictating what is to come through terse tidbits, these people
may also be looked upon as superstitious. In the opening scene, one
sooth-sayer, old in his years, warns Caesar to "Beware the Ides of
March," an admonition of Caesar's impending death. Although
sooth-sayers are looked upon by many as insane out of touch lower
classmen, a good deal of them, obviously including the sayer Caesar
encountered, are indeed right on the mark. Since they lack any formal
office or shop, and they predict forthcomings without fee, one can see
quite easily why citizens would distrust their predictions.
Superstition, in general elements such as the Feast of Lupercal, as
well as on a personal level such as with the sooth-sayers, is an
important factor in determining the events and the outcome of Julius
Caesar, a significant force throughout the entire course of the play.
Before the play fully unravels, we see a few of signs of
Caesar's tragic end. Aside from the sooth-sayer's warning, we also see
another sign during Caesar's visit with the Augerers, the latter day
"psychics". They find "No heart in the beast", which they interpret as
advice to Caesar that he should remain at home. Ceasar brushes it off
and thinks of it as a rebuke from the gods, meaning that he is a
coward if he does not go out, and so he dismisses the wise advice as
hearsay. However, the next morning, his wife Calphurnia wakes up
frightened due to a horrible nightmare. She tells Caesar of a battle
breaking out in the heart of Rome, "Which drizzled blood upon the
Capitol," with Caesar painfully dying, such that "...The heavens
themselves blaze forth the death of princes." Although Caesar realizes
Calphurnia is truly concerned about his well-being, he seeks another
interpretation, coming to the conclusion that the person who imagines
the dream may not be the wisest one to interpret it's meaning. Later
Caesar tells his faithful companion Decius about it, and he interprets
it quite the contrary, "That it was a vision fair and fortunate," and
indeed, today is an ideal day to go out, since this is the day "To
give a crown to mighty Caesar." Perhaps Decius is implying here that
today is a day where much appreciation and appraisal will be given to
Caesar, surely not the endangerment of his well-being as Calphurnia
interprets it. Caesar predictably agrees with him, as most citizens
enjoy believing the more positive of two interpretations.
After Caesar's assasination at the hand of Brutus, Cassius, and
the rest of the conspirators, Brutus and Cassius are chased into the
country side, where we see a few superstitious signs of their
forthcoming painful death in battle. In a dream, Brutus sees
Caesar's "ghost", interpreted as an omen of his defeat. He also looks
upon the ensign, and instead of the usual stock of eagles, ravens and
kites replace them, construed as another sign of their loss at
Phillipi. Not surprisingly, Caesar's death is avenged in the end, with
the two of the conspirators' double suicide. As superstition is
inter-twined within the basis of the entire play, we can reasonably
conclude that it is because of this irrational belief of why certain
events occur and how to avoid them, that Caesar is retired and
eventually avenged. In the words of Caesar's devoted follower and
companion Mark Antony, "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed
in him that Nature might stand up and say to the world, 'This was a
man!'"
Julius Caesar
By: Christina
In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius are both considered honorable men by the public. But, like all traits honor is in the eye of the beholder. Honor is defined as evidence or symbols of distinction. Those who are placed in power are often chosen because of their traits, which include being honorable. If those in power have any faults, it could diminish their position in the eyes of the public. Brutus is considered an honorable man by all those who live in Rome. He is a close friend of Caesar, husband of Portia, and is also a Senator. Brutus is drawn into killing Caesar by Cassius, who was jealous of Caesar's degree of power. Brutus was pulled into the scheme by letters brought to his house by Decius to make him think that the people of Rome wanted him to replace Caesar. Brutus also feels that Caesar is being given too much power and will destroy Rome's democracy. Brutus' reason for killing Caesar is to benefit Rome, he proves this when he states"If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." After losing to Mark Antony and Octavious, Brutus runs onto his own sword. He sticks to his beliefs, not altering them for others. Cassius is the leader of the conspirators. He is jealous of the power that Caesar holds and wants for himself. Caesar says that Cassius"...Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks to much. Such men are dangerous.", meaning that he looks sneaky and is not to be trusted. The whole idea to kill Caesar begins with Cassius, he convinces the other Senators to do as he wishes. Cassius commits suicide because he is afraid of what will happen to him if Mark Antony and Octavius find him. Another reason for his suicide is because he believes that his men have lost the battle and he does not want to face the consequences. Brutus is the more honorable man because he continues to act upon his beliefs. He never gives in to the ideas of others forced upon him, like Cassius' idea to kill Caesar because of jealousy and to receive power from the act. Brutus stated that his role in Caesar's murder was to help Rome not himself specifically. Even his enemy Mark Antony says of him "This was the noblest Roman of them all." To be known as honorable by your enemies is to definitely be an honorable man
