The True Nobleman in Julius Caesar's Rome: Brutus

“A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires” -Marcus Aurelius.

In the novel Julius Caesar there are many people who claimed nobility. However there is only one noble man. There are many test that will show who is truly noble because, anyone in Rome could claim to be noble. Brutus was the only noble roman in Julius Caesar.

Brutus was one of many Romans with noble bloodlines. Although Brutus was noble, he never used it to get ahead. There are many times when Brutus could have used the fact that he is truly noble but he didn’t. Many people argue that a noble man wouldn’t have killed Caesar. In some ways that is true, but Brutus’ case was different. A noble man would only for the good of others and that is what Brutus did. He killed Caesar because 7he was afraid of how powerful he could become. Even then he had a hard time doing it, and that is what separates Brutus from the other conspirators. Every other conspirator had little or no reason to kill Caesar. Brutus was willing to do anything for Rome. During his speech about Caesar’s murder Brutus stated “I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death” (III.ii.45-46). This shows how Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (III.ii.20-22). He was too passionate about his country to let Caesar turn it into a dictatorship. Mark Antony and Octavius recognized that Brutus was the one noble roman. In his final speech mark Antony said “This was the noblest roman of them all. / All the conspirators save only he/ Did that they did i...

... middle of paper ...

.... Octavius knows Mark Antony cannot be trusted. He let it be known that he doesn’t trust Mark Antony when he said “Let us do so, for we are at stake/and bayed about with many enemies; / and some that smile have in their hearts, I fear, / Millions of mischiefs” (IV.I.48-51). Antony turned Rome against the conspirators; he could potentially turn them against Octavius. Trust is the trait of a noble man.

Ultimately there is only one truly noble roman. He has all the traits of a noble man. He is Brutus. Anyone in Rome could claim nobility. Many Romans thought noble was just a word to use to get ahead. Brutus never threw nobleness in anyone’s face. His humility made him seem even nobler. However Brutus would’ve made a bad ruler. He was to naïve and made stupid choices. That was his Achilles heel, but he still is the one noble roman.