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.
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
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.
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.
Keep Power or Kill If you believed that the only way to save your state was to kill one of your friends, would you? The character Brutus killed one of his friends in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar(JC) by William Shakespeare. Some people believe that he is a villain and only killed Caesar to keep his own power in the government. However many people think that he killed Julius Caesar to help prevent Rome from becoming dictatorship.
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).
Brutus has negatively affected the outlook of Rome and created more harm than good for the situation. Not only did it harm Rome, but it brought his own demise and hallucinations of Caesar’s ghost. Brutus’s speech to the plebeians after Caesar’s death, about his dilemma and his viewpoint towards Caesar, influenced the viewpoints of the plebeians and causes them to believe he is the best roman until Antony speaks to them. Brutus’s idealism led to his own death later on and brought him more misery than his idealism could
After the conspiracy he is considered a murderer and flees his own country, eventually committing suicide. “I would not Cassius, yet I love him well.” (I.II.83), “I killed not thee with half so good a will.” Dies (V.V.51). These two quotes strongly highlight Brutus ' change throughout the play.
Julius Caesar’s desire to become the greatest ruler of Rome causes the Roman people to want him dead- including his best friend. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, a group of men devise a scheme to kill the treacherous leader of their country. Conspirators believe Julius Caesar’s ambition will inevitably lead to the downfall of Rome. Each man with their own specific reason unite as conspirators to get rid of Caesar. Through his role in the conspiracy, Brutus’ actions depict Brutus as honorable and gullible.
All things considered, the only fault one might be able to find in Brutus now is that he did not seek alternatives to the assassination of Julius Caesar, but, in that he acted on his conviction of how Caesar could turn Rome into a dictatorship, and, that is what distinguishes him as a patriot. Otherwise, had Brutus acted out of jealousy or a personal vendetta, then he would be a traitor. Actions alone do not determine who or what a person is; it is the reason behind those actions that make or break a
“Our trust in the future has lost its innocence. We know that anything can happen from one minute to the next. Politics, religion, economics, and the institution of family and community all have become abruptly unsure.” This quote by John O'donohue is relevant to Brutus’s situation because it states how trusting someone or something isn't always good, just like how Brutus is feeling about joining the conspiracy. Knowing that his actions have a major impact on what he is doing can really make a difference in what he proceeds with doing.
In act ii Brutus makes a claim that supports his reason for murdering Caesar by stating “And for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general”(II, i, 10-12). In this sentence Brutus is using a form of pathos. This is considered pathos because he is saying Caesar should be killed for the people of Rome. From this statement it can be interpreted that Brutus joined the conspiracy for the needs of the people.
In fear of possible tyranny in Rome after Caesar is crowned, the conspirators are convinced by Cassius’ words to stab Caesar, while unaware of what these rash actions will ultimately result in. While planning Caesar’s murder, Cassius decides he needs a very influential and well-liked person to be the face of his conspiracy in order for them to become successful, and attempts to recruit Brutus as his co-leader. Whether dissatisfaction or envy is the motive behind Cassius’ plot to kill Caesar, Cassius says, “ Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves” (I.ii.146-148). Cassius tells Brutus that their free will is necessary to ensure the best for the Roman Empire, playing with Brutus’ morals and ideals, but it is arguable if the free will of the conspirators really had any effect on Rome. The fall of Caesar is undoubtedly an act of free will; the conspirators clearly show their faith in their own power to change Rome.
Cassius is a follower of Epicurus while Brutus adheres to Stoicism. Due to philosophy being the love of wisdom, these contrasting philosophical views help the reader understand the driving motives of the two men, as well as the rationale of Brutus’ virtuosity and Cassius’ wickedness. According to Stanley, “Epicureans believe that pleasure could not be increased beyond the removal of all disturbance” (47). Cassius’ belief in the teachings of Epicurus may have contributed to his view of Caesar as a threat and disturbance to Rome.
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).