Brutus: A Villain In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

Brutus, According to Shakespeare The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a Shakespearean play and representation of the assassination of Caesar, is a well written and developed story in which the build up of the characters is very well done. As a matter of fact, the developing of Brutus, the tragic hero on the play, is one of the most important characters and therefore one of the better explained and exposed. Brutus is a character that is marked with three traits that allow him to be the one responsible for Caesar's assassination. Indeed, Brutus is naive, well-intended and hypocrite, as seen when the conspirators convince him to be part of it, and be one of the most important figures in it.

While the reader has been led to believe in Brutus' strength of nobility, there is a touch of weakness in the self-delusion he must create before he can join the conspirators: Brutus feels that murder is wrong and so must find a way to justify his actions. It's not for personal reasons that he will do it, but for the general; that is, for the good of the people of Rome. He generalizes about the effects of power and ambition and anticipates the damage that Caesar will do when he gains the crown. He has to admit, however, that Caesar has not yet committed any of these wrongs.

Every action Brutus took was for the good of Rome. When Brutus agrees to take part in the assassination of Caesar, he does it “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Brutus also refused to kill Marc Antony, as, in their cause, the conspirators were to be “sacrificers but not butchers.” In the end, even Marc Antony and Octavius ultimately come to the realization that “[Brutus] was the noblest Roman of them all. / All the conspirators save only he/ Did that they did in envy of Great Caesar.”

Brutus believes that Caesar will do more harm than good to the people, and reap benefits for himself. Brutus has already said this, but had said it in his own words, (II, i, 12-14). He has no clue if Caesar will use his power for the good and betterment for the people, or use it for his own needs and other

Brutus is without a doubt the most noble character in this play. Nonetheless, his impeccable sense of morality also blindfolds him to other people’s sordid motives and makes him easy to be manipulated. Indeed, Brutus is easily manipulated by Cassius in Act 1, Scene 2. In hope to convince Brutus to join the conspirators, Cassius says “Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (1.2.150-152). As a result, Brutus starts to believes that it is his job to murder Caesar, as he says in Act 2, Scene 1: “It must be by his death: and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general” (2.1.14-16).

Even though Brutus kills with the intent of helping the people, many are focused on the aspect that Caesar is the ruler of Rome and no one should kill him- especially his best friend. As Caesar is stabbed, Caesar looks his best friend as says, “Et tu, Brute?” (3.1.77). Caesar is heartbroken to see his best friend is willing to kill him. The idea of a man killing his best friend influences people’s mind to view Brutus as a traitor.

And while Brutus did work in part with other conspirators, which eventually led to him killing Caesar, he did it for a more morally sound reason which was that Caesar was going to cause the downfall of Rome because he was too ambitious, which is ironic because Caesar's death led to a string of unfit leaders, and civil unrest that eventually led to the downfall of the roman empire. Brutus was also focused on preventing corruption. “The name of Cassius honors this corruption,/ And chastisement doth therefore hide his head (IV.iii.15-6)... Remember March, the ides of March remember./ Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake” (IV.iii.18-9).

When Brutus was speaking to the people of Rome about how he helped assassinate him, he justified it by saying, “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved / Rome more” (3.2.23-24). Even though Brutus is close to Caesar, he has to think about the city he serves first. Brutus wants to do what is best for Rome so if that means he has to harm a friend, he will do so for the greater good of the city he knows and loves. All it took was the conspirator to talk to Brutus a little bit to make him realize Caesar’s potential danger and say “That at his will he may do danger with” (2.1.18).

Brutus was one, if not the only one, who helped kill Julius Caesar for reasons that were not selfish. Cassius tells Brutus that Julius was a greedy man that needed to be killed for the good of Rome. Brutus believes Cassius and gets the last blow at Julius which is the stab that ended Julius’ life. Later when Brutus finds out the truth he is angry at Cassius for lying and leading him to kill his good friend.

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar puts the definition of honor and being honorable into a many of different perspectives. He makes the reader question who is and isn’t honorable. Was Brutus honorable, or Julius, or even Mark Antony? For me, the question has an obvious answer; Brutus was honorable and acted with respectable actions. He loved and looked after his country and had stopped at nothing to make sure that Rome was in the best state. In addition to his love of the country, he also had a love for the people. Brutus had given compassion to others, even going so far as to offer his life to please the people of Rome. He also had a firm sense of loyalty, even though his loyalty lied most to Rome. Even though Brutus had much internal conflict, I truly believe that Brutus is an honorable man.

Brutus tells the people of Rome, “...had you rather Caesar were living and die slaves,” (Shakespeare 45) and “not that i loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more,” (Shakespeare 45). He said this to let the people know that he loves Rome and he was following what he thought was right. He chose his duty over his friendship with Julius Caesar. Caesar was a true friend to Brutus because he says that he cried when he killed him saying, “Caesar loved me, I weep for him,” (Shakespeare 45). Brutus was also known as an honorable man.

Brutus being the so called honorable man he is, says that Caesar was murdered for good noble reason, such as he was doing Rome a favor and showing his love for Rome. “ I say, that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his. 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”.(III. Ii. 19-22).

Brutus was a lifetime friend of Caesar 's that was deceived by a man that feared tyranny to betray Caesars trust and become an accomplice to his murder. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.” (III, II, 21-22). Brutus loved Rome more than Caesar and he

Brutus killed Caesar for the good of the citizens. He thought that Caesar would become too powerful. He thought if Caesar became too powerful that the power would get to his head and

In Shakespeare 's “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”, Brutus is presented as the tragic hero. He fits all of the criteria and requirements of a tragic hero. He is presented as the protagonist who has a tragic flaw that causes him to make decisions that lead to his death. Brutus is given several opportunities to turn back from mistakes but he never does. Brutus understands his inevitable fate of death when it is brought upon him.