Analysis of Marcus Brutus in Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

811 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Treachery of marcus brutus

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Julius Caesar, the protagonist, Brutus, conspires against and successfully kills Caesar; to only find the city he loves in chaos and mutiny from his actions. Brutus in the eyes of many people was a noble and honorable man who loved and adored the city of Rome, and no person thought more of this than Caesar. To Caesar, Brutus was the son he never had, and his love of Brutus was known, therefore the thought of Brutus betraying him was absurd. However, imagine if not only Brutus did not love Caesar, but he hated him. If that was the situation in the Julius Caesar, the play would then change drastically, with almost every quote from Brutus changing. If this is the case, Brutus’ hatred of Caesar and love of Rome leads to the murder of Caesar because of Brutus’ fear of Caesar becoming king.

It was known that Brutus loved Rome, but was it his hatred of Caesar concealed? Brutus is a high ranking man in Rome and a very close friend to Caesar. We see in the beginning that Brutus has many eternal troubles that he is battling and that his insecurities make him easily manipulated. If Brutus hated Caesar, Brutus would not have killed Caesar for Rome, but out of envy and rivalry making his murder savage and gruesome. While trying to convince the plebeians how the murder of Caesar was for their freedom and why they should see them as honorable men protecting Rome, he said “Not that/ I loved Caesar less, but that I love Rome more.” I believe this quote would not change because Brutus wants the multitude to believe what he is saying, and adding that he did love Caesar, but loved their city more made it seem as if Brutus and the conspirators did an unselfish act. If Brutus could betray his friend he loved for...

... middle of paper ...

...wn emotions over for the fact that Caesar would become a king and then overtime tyrant, enslaving the people of Rome. He felt it was only way to protect the people of Rome, not for a personal reason, similar to the other men in the conspiracy. This quote in particular would change drastically in that his personal cause would be out his hatred and envy of Caesar and his adore for the general public of Rome. Brutus’ hatred and the love of Rome would be the only motivation to kill Caesar, making him not stopping for anything until his motivation was fulfilled.

The play Julius Caesar would be very different if Brutus’ motivation was hatred instead for the general public and city of Rome. His fear that Caesar would become king was put over his own personal relationships in hope that Rome would somehow be better and more prosperous if Caesar was no longer the ruler.

Show More
Related

  • Quotes Of Manipulation In Julius Caesar

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the audience constantly sees Brutus, an honorable man, go against his own beliefs because of men filled with hatred and jealousy. Brutus

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Quotes

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2.24) This quote reflects the motive of Brutus for the assassination of his friend, Caesar. I believe Brutus killed him not out of disrespect, but in a selfless act to protect Rome from the decree of Caesar yet to come. I also believe that he did this out of force from the manipulation from his “friend” Cassius. In Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar”, Brutus’ two most significant characteristics are virtue and unconscious hypocrisy. In order to fully understand these characteristics, it is necessary to analyze all other contributing characteristics, the manipulation of friendship that Cassius uses against him, and the motivations for

    Read More

  • Honesty Fairness In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar And Butus

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both Caesar and Brutus have a tragic flaw. In the beginning of the play a soothsayer is telling Caesar to beware the ides of march Caesar Responds “He is a dreamer; Brutus leave him. Pass” (shakespeare page??? line????) When Caesar tells the soothsayer this it shows that he does not believe that he could be harmed. Just like caesar, Brutus suffered a tragic flaw, his being trusting everyone. After Caesar is dead Antony wants to say a speech at Caesar 's funeral, after making the crowd violent says “Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, take thou the course thou wilt.”(shakespeare3.2.266-264). Brutus trusted Antony to say some nice words about Caesar, instead he turn the crowd violent. Caesar and Brutus love the roman people and would sacrifice anything for them. after Caesar dies Antony reads “ to every roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas”( page lines title). Caesar loved the romans so much he gave them all a bit of his money after he died. Even though he was prideful he loved the romans as much as Brutus. Brutus saw that under Caesar 's rule romans were suffering and says” Not that i love Caesar less, but that I loved/Rome more”(?) He Explains why he felt

    Read More

  • Brutus: A Tragic Hero in Shakespeare´s Julius Caesar

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    As a “speculative man of high motives and refined sensibility”(Catherine C. Dominic) Brutus does have his confusion of motives. Act I, scene ii, is the first we see his weakness, “his concern with reputation and appearance, his subtle vanity and pride”(Gayle Green). Yet the main bases of Brutus’s bewilderment of motives takes place in Act II, scene I, with his famous soliloquy beginning with “It must be by his death”. This speech may be the turning point in which Brutus feels better about the assassination of his once called friend.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar And Brutus Manipulation

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a tragic drama, set in Ancient Rome about the horrendous death of Julius Caesar. Brutus, leader of the conspiracy against Caesar, begins as Caesar’s friend. Cassius, instigator of the conspirator, manipulates Brutus into killing Caesar. Brutus agrees to this plan because of his plans for Rome. The bond between these two connects when Brutus agrees to Cassius about killing Caesar for the best of Rome. Cassius, very power hungry, comes up with a plan that will succeed in both of them killing Caesar. They both rely on each other because they want the power that Caesar has been requested to make the best of Rome. This dream of making Rome better was manipulated by Cassius to Brutus. However,

    Read More

  • Honor And Honor In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    1109 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the play, Brutus speaks about honor and his loyalty to his country. These two concepts become major conflicts for him when it comes to his friendship and loyalty to Caesar. Brutus life is conducted by the concept of honor. He constantly throughout the play speaks of how honorable he is and how honorable men should live. He 's very proud of how Romans view him as a noble and honorable man, who fights for what is right and is always following the moral and ethical code. Brutus ends up using the concept of honor and loyalty to his country as a reason why Caesar must die. He 's convinced that his countrymen will thank him for saving them from a tyrant and that Rome would be much better off without Caesar, but it ends up being a big miscalculation

    Read More

  • Honorable Betrayal

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    First of all, Marcus Brutus has the character flaw of poor judge of character. He cannot discern a person’s character or true motivation. He, however, acts on his judgments, regardless of whether they are true or not. Brutus feels that Caesar is too ambitious for power, and that he, along with the other eight men plotting the demise of Caesar, must prevent it, “And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg— / Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— / And kill him in the shell” (911). Brutus decides that Caesar must die because he ambitious. Ambition is not necessarily an evil and virulent thing. Ambition causes men and women to strive towards reaching an attainment. Brutus assumes that Caesar will turn his back on his supporters due to this ambition. One of the most famous lines in Julius Caesar is the dying words of Caesar: “Et tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar” (938). If Caesar had truly turned h...

    Read More

  • Why Is Brutus A Good Hero In Julius Caesar

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although some believe that Brutus conspires against Caesar out of jealousy, Brutus actually plots against Caesar for the good of Rome. To demonstrate, when Brutus justifies his motives for the conspiracy, Brutus claims, “Not that I loved

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar - A Comparison of Brutus and Cassius

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    The play Julius Caesar depicts Brutus to be an extremely noble being who is well respected and honored by all Romans, even his enemies. Brutus was a loving friend of Julius Caesar and wished anything but death on his comrade, but his love and dedication to the majestic city of Rome would force him to commit anything. He fights a war to defend Rome from a king or emperor's tyrannical rule. When the war was finished, even his enemies saw that he was the most respectable Roman of them all.

    Read More

  • What Is The Purpose Of Antony's Speech In Julius Caesar

    624 Words  | 2 Pages

    In front of the people of Rome at Caesar’s funeral whilst giving his speech, Antony makes up Brutus to up to be this honorable and noble man, nonetheless Brutus is one of the conspirators who ended Caesar’s life. Caesar has been slain by, Trebonius, Cinna, Cassius, Brutus, Ligarius, Decius, Metellus and Casca. All because most had felt that he was too ambitious for their liking, Cassius has manipulated each one of them into committing the crime alongside him. Once Caesar is killed, Brutus delivers his speech, saying, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more”(lll.ii.20). Basically just trying to justify the reason he helped to kill one of the most loved Romans in all of Rome. Antony then comes out and begins his speech at Caesar’s

    Read More

  • Jealousy in Julius Caesar

    496 Words  | 1 Pages

    Jealousy in Julius Caesar & nbsp;          Jealousy causes many of the characters in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar to commit dangerous and foolish acts.  Cassius' jealousy drives him to kill. Caesar.  All the conspirators, except the noble Brutus, kill Caesar because they feel threatened by his power.  Brutus is the only conspirator who murders Caesar. for more honorable reasons.  Jealousy is a very important theme in this play. & nbsp;          Cassius feels very threatened by Caesar's power.  He remembers when he was an equal to Caesar, and doesn't think that Caesar deserves this much power. He comments to Brutus, "I was born free as Caesar; so were you." fed as well, and we can both endure the cold winter as well as he" (Act I, p. 1).

    Read More

  • Brutus Flaws

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Brutus broods how, “It must be by his death, and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general” (Shakespeare 17). This reveals that Brutus believes Rome’s problems are because of Caesar, interpreting that he expects Caesar’s death will be for the best of Rome’s people. However Brutus killed for Rome and not himself, only one with true honorable love for his home would do such a thing.In this case not only for the people but Rome as whole he puts before himself promising him as honorable. Brutus proclaims he, “Will bear no color for the thing he is, fashion it thus, that what he is , augmented,Would run to these and the extremities;And therefore think him as serpent's egg Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell”(Shakespeare 17) This exhibits how Brutus sees Caesar as dangerous justifying his actions. Connoting he sees Caesar as a predator and Rome as the prey, yet he hasn’t attacked so Brutus must intervene before he does so. Brutus sees Caesar appearing like an enemy of Rome’s citizens and he would anything to protect

    Read More

  • Brutus Character Analysis Essay

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brutus recognizes that the “enemies have beat [Brutus and the conspirators].. to a pit” and believes it is honorable “to leap in” themselves “than tarry till” the enemies force them (5.5.23-25). Hence, Brutus requests his servant to assist him in committing suicide and finally utters “Caesar, now be still / I kill’d not thee with half so good a will” (5.5.50-51). Brutus’s action exhibits his understanding of the killing of Caesar, and now views it as irreparable. Furthermore, Brutus takes notice of the fights and unending deaths around him all due to his naivety and failure to judge people’s evil side. As a result, Brutus views suicide as the most appropriate “method” to retain his honor and dignity; otherwise, he would have to encounter the Roman citizens’ criticization and would be humiliated for his actions. In addition, Brutus requests Caesar to be done with his vengeance and to forgive him as he acts solely for the best of Rome, displaying Brutus to be a tragic hero who failed doing his best for good. Furthermore, the play ends with Antony’s summary of Brutus’s character leaving the audience to characterize Brutus to be the one who suffered the most and died in a tragic way. Antony describes Brutus to be “the noblest Roman of them all…/ [and have acted] only in a general

    Read More

  • Brutus’s main purpose in the conspiracy is for an Insurance policy According to Cassius According to Cassius

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar was a tragedy that is mainly based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character that was in charge of the assassination was Marcus Brutus. Brutus was the most complex character in the play. He was one of the men who assassinate Caesar in the Senate. Brutus was an honorable man. He was a servant and close friend to Julius 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. The reason of his complexity was because he did not kill Caesar for greed, envy, nor to preserve his social position like so many of the other conspirators. What would cause a person to kill a close friend? He joined the conspiracy in order to help the Romans get rid of Caesar. Brutus would not allow Caesar to rise to power and then turn his back onto the people of Rome. Brutus had a strong relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and its people. Brutus loved Caesar but feared his powers. Brutus advocates peace, freedom, and liberty, for all Romans, which shows that Brutus is an altruistic as well as an honorable man. Not that Brutus loved Caesar Less but he loved Rome more. Brutus had honored Caesar but Brutus felt that Caesar was too ambitious. He also felt that Caesar made the Romans as slaves. Brutus joined the conspiracy because he had the desire to help the commoners.

    Read More

  • Brutus Character Analysis in Shakespeare's Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    Brutus had a strong relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and its people. I think during Roman times, the only way for someone to get close to a person of high rank is if he/she is a close friend or relative to him/her. Brutus loved Caesar but feared his power and ambition. In the early acts of the play, Brutus says to Cassius, "If it aught toward the general good, set honor in one eye and death in the other, and I will look on both indifferently…,,"(act 1, scene 2, ll.85-89), as he is speaking to Cassius. "He then unto the ladder turns his back..."(act 2, scene 1, line 25). As the quote says, Brutus would not allow Caesar to rise to power and then turn his back on the people of Rome. This is the only reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. Brutus says to himself, "I know no personal cause to spurn at him...How that might change his nature..."(act 2, scene 1, and ll.11-13)

    Read More

More about Analysis of Marcus Brutus in Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

Open Document