The Difference Between Brutus and Cassius in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

The Difference Between Brutus and Cassius in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

In Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar', Brutus and Cassius are contrasting

characters. They differ in the way they perceive Antony as a threat to

the assassination plot, their dominance in personality, and their

moral obligation. In Julius Caesar, Brutus is the more naïve, dominant

and noble character, while Cassius is the more perceptive, submissive,

and manipulative person.

Brutus and Cassius are very different in the way they perceive Antony.

Brutus is very trusting and naïve when he judges Antony. When the

subject of killing Antony comes up among the conspirators, Brutus

underestimates how dangerous Antony could be and says, "For Antony is

but a limb of Caesar". This statement means Brutus does not think it

is necessary to kill Antony and he thinks that without Caesar, Antony

is worthless. Another incident where Brutus misjudges Antony is when

he allows Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral. Brutus trusts that

Antony will not say anything bad about the conspirators or him: "What

Antony shall speak I will protest he speaks by leave and by

permission, and that we are contented Caesar shall have all true rites

and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage us more than do us wrong".

Brutus actually thinks that by letting Antony speak the conspirators

and he will have a better situation for themselves because it will

make their plot seem honourable. Cassius, on the other hand, is a very

perceptive person; he sees how dangerous Antony can be. He notices

that Antony is clever and that he might not be trustworthy. When

Brutus suggests that they shouldn't kill Antony,...

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...tus is, he talks about seducing Brutus into

allying with him. To show that he says, "Therefore it is meet that

noble minds keep ever with their likes; for who so firm that cannot be

seduced". The word seduced itself means that Cassius is planning to

trick Brutus into helping him. Again, Cassius shows his mischievous

nature when he says how he is going to write false letters to Brutus

and throw them in his window. This shows that Cassius is clever but

not trustworthy. These examples prove that Brutus and Cassius differ

between being noble and honourable, or conniving and mischievous.

Brutus and Cassius have different ways of perceiving people, different

personalities, and different values. They contradict each other in

these three important ways, but together they play an important part

in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.