Outline For Julius Caesar Research Paper

Brutus vs. Cassius A leader is a person who follows through and knows what they want. Cassius, in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is the character who wants to kill Caesar based on his political ranking in Rome. Cassius recruited Caesar's best friend, Brutus, to help him catch Caesar before he gets too big and in Cassius’ opinion destroys Rome. Cassius Is a very effective leader compared to Brutus. Cassius gets his way in the end of the play, although he does not live to see what effects the death of Caesar has on Rome.

These two quotes also portray his change of thought between acts 1 and 5. In the start Brutus refuses to fall for Cassius ' persuasion; he claims he loves Caesar and would not turn against him. He would, however, listen to Cassius ' reasoning. Soon he made up his mind ' Caesar must be killed. After a short time, Antony convinced the plebeians Caesar was a good man who must be avenged and Brutus was named a murderer.

Brutus 's speech: Brutus speaks to the people of rome why he killed caesar so they will not turn on him. He talked about how he didnt kill him because he didn 't love him but because it was for the better of rome. He also tells the people of rome that letting caesar become king would mean the government type would change and all the wars and hard work his family had put into the government would go away. He also states, for the welfare of rome that he would die for rome if rome demands his death Rhetorical devices: Brutus used questions, logos, parallelism, and pathos to stir the people of rhome. Question- “ who is so base, that would not be a roman”?- this makes his argument better because it get the people of rome to think.

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. Although Brutus did end up killing Julius Caesar but he did do it for what he thought was a good cause.

Cassius influenced Brutus to conspire against Caesar by stating, Caesar “is now become a god… and his name has been sounded more than [Brutus’s]” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 118-145-6). Cassius’s arguments convinced Brutus in proving Caesar's murder would be just, but Caesar’s death is unjust because he is being murdered out of Brutus and Cassius’s jealousy. Both of the individuals are envious of the power that Caesar is being given by the people of Rome and want to end his life before they will lose their own power in the senate after Caesar becomes king. Brutus’ naive mind was easily convinced by Cassius that Caesar was not the best choice to assume the Roman throne because he would not listen to their political thoughts. Individuals, such as Cassius and Brutus, in the senate were afraid of having their power decreased because Caesar, as Brutus states, is an “unhatched serpent’s egg” (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 33).

This is one of Marc Antony's strongest characteristics as it helps him triumph in war, rally the Romans, earn respect, and become a leader of Rome. One of the best examples we see of Antony's quick thinking is after Caesar dies. Brutus leaves to speak to the other Roman citizens, and leaves Antony to talk to the citizens after Brutus convinces them that, "I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him." Act III, Scene II of Julius Caesar. He convinces them that killing Caesar was the best .

This form of betrayal can be seen in the relationship between Brutus and Caesar. A friend to Julius Caesar, Brutus loves the man greatly, but he loves Rome even more. Sensing that Caesar’s rising ambition will lead to tyranny over the free Roman people, Brutus feels forced to act. He goes against Caesar and works alongside the conspirators to overthrow Caesar. When planning to kill him, the conspirators gather around Caesar and he sees his trusted friend Brutus among them.

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.

He came to the conclusion that killing Caesar was the right thing to do, not just for himself but for the public’s greater good. His reasoning is because he believes that if Caesar is ruler, than everyone would become slaves to him. Brutus says in Act V, “I found no man but he was true to me. I shall have glory by this losing day more than Octavius and Mark Antony by this vile conquest shall attain unto.” Brutus calls his own time of death because he sees Octavius and Antony’s victory as Rome’s freedom being stripped. Brutus accepts his death with honor because he believes killing himself rather than his enemies killing him is honorable/loyal.

However, I believe that Brutus was portraying a patriot by killing Caesar, he knew Cassius had planned something harsh for Caesar and I consider Brutus thought that Caesar didn’t deserve to be killed off that way. So, he took action and did what he needed to do to save Caesar from being tortured or killed higher than he needed to be. Even when Cassius plants artificial notes that are from “Rome”, Brutus knew the truth and didn’t want people to be slaves to Caesar when Caesar didn’t write them in the first place. Brutus might also be seen as a traitor as a result of him killing himself rather than being captured for life for what he did to Caesar. But, to me this just proves that this was his way of paying the ultimate price for what he did, and his only way to find peace.