Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

George Orwell once said, “Confession is not betrayal. What you say or do doesn't matter; only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal”. Brutus cherishes Rome with his heart, for he was an honorable man who murdered his closest friend, Caesar, after reading false letters by Cassius that further encouraged him to act against Caesar’s thrill of power. Surprisingly, Brutus has stabbed Caesar with his blade, showing rebellion against what Caesar and his people have stood for. Consequently, portraying Brutus as a sellout and a murder in the hearts of many, to forever be known as a betrayer to his former comrade and his nation. With that being said, however, there’s nothing to clarify that Brutus had

the bloodlust of a slaughter. Indeed, his actions seemed cruel, but he did not want anyone else’s bloodshed on his hands. In fact, he didn’t even want to cause physical harm to Caesar, stating, “We’re all against what Caesar stands for, and there’s no blood in that. Oh, how I wish we could oppose Caesar’s spirit—his overblown ambition—and not hack up Caesar himself! But, unfortunately, Caesar has to bleed if we’re going to stop him.” Evidently, it illustrates to the reader’s that if it were possible to stop Caesar’s ambition without assassinating him for his nation, then he will gladly do it. Likewise, Brutus was truly a man who really loved Rome, remembered as the noblest Roman of them all for taking part in the assassination out of loyalty for his nation.

Was Caesar ambitious?

Well, according to Antony within his speech, “Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man. You all saw that on the Lupercal feast day I offered him a king’s crown three times, and he refused it three times. Was this ambition?” (Act 3, Scene 2, Page 5). Indeed, Caesar showed no intentions of being blood-lusted in power, feeling sympathy when the poor cried, and refusing the seat to the throne thrice. In any case, there’s no denying that Brutus killed and murdered a living soul who sought him as his close friend, with Caesar’s dying words, “Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar” establishing Brutus as a betrayer. However, the key that pushed Brutus to such a task was the fake letters constructed by Cassius, encouraging Brutus to assassinate a friend whom he was close to with each letter sounding as they truly, “came from several citizens—all testifying to the great respect Romans have for Brutus, and all alluding to Caesar’s unseemly ambition” (Act 1, Scene 2, Page 13). Knowing deep inside that Brutus loves Rome, he claims that he’ll do any deed “If it’s for the good of all Romans”, even if it meant his very own life. (Act 1, Scene 2, Page 13). In brief, taking the life of his close friend, Caesar, unquestionably showed that even friendship won’t get in the way toward his love for

Rome.

Moreover, Brutus only took part in Caesar’s assassination to stop the overwhelming gain of power, freeing his fellow citizens from slavery after reading the false letter given to him, “Is this asking me to speak and strike?

Oh, Rome, I promise you, if you’re meant to receive justice, you’ll receive it by my hand!” (Act 2, Scene 1, Page 3). As been noted, Brutus is an honorable man who treasures his nation, willing to risk his own life to protect its people. Yet, he still murdered a man who not only denied the crown thrice but showed sympathy toward the poor. Is it possible that Brutus hungered the life of every person that posed a threat to his plans? Well, even though Brutus didn’t want Caesar to become king, it is clearly shown that he didn’t want anyone else to shed any blood in the way, agreeing to take the life of Caesar for what he felt would be right for Rome. When given the opportunities, Brutus has never gone out of his way to kill Antony, a man who was very close to Caesar. For Instance, when questioned whether they should assassinate Antony as well, Brutus replies, “Our action will seem too bloody if we cut off Caesar’s head and then hack at his arms and legs too, Caius Cassius—because Mark Antony is merely one of Caesar’s arms. It’ll look like we killed Caesar out of anger and Mark Antony out of envy. Let’s be sacrificers but not butchers, Caius. We’re all against what Caesar stands for, and there’s no blood in that.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Page 8). This

illustrates that he didn’t want the people of Rome to see him as a butcher, better yet, a murder. Furthermore, another occasion was after the assassination, where Brutus states to Antony’s servant, “Your master is a wise and honorable Roman. I never thought any less of him. Tell him, if he comes here, I’ll explain everything to him and, on my word, he’ll leave unharmed.” (Act 3, Scene 1, page 8). This doesn’t stop here, as Brutus not only confronts Antony about the issue but lets him leave with the corpse of Caesar. Therefore, expressing Brutus as a righteous and honorable Roman, not a blood-lusted serial killer as many would believe.

Brutus, not wanting to return to Rome as a prisoner, took his very own life by the sword that killed Caesar after fighting a dreadful battle against Antony and Octavian’s army. As I have noted, Brutus admitted that even if it causes him his own life, he’ll do any deed for Roman and its people. In this case, not wanting to return to his nation as a prisoner for doing what he believed was honorable, sacrificed his life with the spirit of Caesar to rest in peace. Despite this memorable action, people may disagree that Brutus was still a murder and betrayer to Rome. But even so, it still doesn’t change the words Antony spoked on behalf of Brutus’s corpse. Evidently, a man who fought on behalf ofmurderer, but taking to account of Antony’s final words to him, as well as his oath to protect Roman with his very own hands, at this point, it’s safe to assume that Brutus was an honorable Roman who treasured Roman in his heart to the very end.