Justification of Brutus’ Betrayal of William Shakespeare´s Julius Caesar

In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar, the character of Marcus Brutus is tasked with making a difficult choice: either kill one of his most beloved friends, or risk the corruption and downfall of Rome. Though Brutus acknowledges the ethical and moral concerns of his actions, he commits to the conspiracy against Caesar, and carries it out with conviction. The question, however, is whether or not Brutus’ actions are justifiable from an objective point of view. Unlike most other political assassinations, Brutus isn’t a hysterical stranger distraught with the target, but a close ally, and trusted friend. Brutus justifies his own doings by convincing himself and others that they’re sacrificing, not murder Caesar, and acting not out of greed or personal gain, but to prevent what he truly believes to be a legitimate and potent threat to the Republic in Julius Caesar’s rising power; however, while this may be a coping mechanism to quash his own culpability, there are numerous feasibly supportive reasons that make Caesar’s death defensible. The primary reason for the necessity of Caesar’s death is the very real possibility that he would become corrupt once his power is no longer suppressible by the senate. This is Brutus’ main concern, as he seeks to ensure the freedom and safety of the Roman people, as well as the integrity of the Republic. Additionally, the combination of Caesar’s ego and ever-growing aspirations are threatening to Rome, as the socio-political foundation on which it has flourished would be disassembled. Ever since the genesis of the first Roman Triumvirate, Caesar’s lust for power rampaged forth, ultimately leading to the disempowerment of the senate and his own rise to power via military imposition.

Alth...

... middle of paper ...

...y was an unrivaled general, however Caesar, while a talented leader and tactician, rose mostly due to his family’s name. Crassus governed Syria and Pompey ruled Hispania, while Julius Caesar ruled over Gaul and what is now Croatia and Albania. This is just one of ways the Caesar before Shakespeare’s play opens displays his overwhelming ambition and green. After the death of Julius Caesar, Rome entered a period of unparalleled prosperity. Augustus assumed control of Rome and transformed it into a full-blown empire, which is what Brutus feared the most; however, that is not to say that Julius Caesar would have been would have taken Rome down the same path, thus Brutus’ decision, while impossible to prove, stands justified.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.” Elements of Literature: Kylene Beers. Austin: Holt, 2009. 842-963. Print.