Was Brutus A Betrayer Or A Patriot

Was Brutus a patriot or a betrayer? A patriot is someone who supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors. Brutus was a patriot because his actions were driven by his love for Rome. His intentions were not motivated by his own ambition rather he acted to ensure that Rome would not be taken over by a dictatorship. Some might argue that Brutus was not a patriot, but a betrayer, after all, who conspires and murders someone they claim to love? Brutus claimed to have a deep love for Caesar, but he conspired with traitors and assassinated Caesar by stabbing him in the back. Brutus claims to be an honorable man in his speech at Caesars funeral. Would an honorable man have acted in the same manner as Brutus?

Brutus struggled with his decision, however, he was deceived into believing that Caesar would destroy Rome, he felt it was his duty to prevent Caesars rise to power by any means necessary.

Some might argue that Brutus was not a patriot, but a betrayer, Brutus claimed to have a deep love for Caesar, but he conspired with traitors and assassinated Caesar by stabbing him in the back. I can’t argue that Brutus did not betray his friendship with Caesar, but when looking closely at the evidence it became apparent to me that Brutus was acting in what he felt was in the best interest of Rome. Brutus struggled with the idea of betraying his friend. He did love Caesar, but was concerned that his ambition would destroy Rome. Brutus made the final decision to be part of Caesars assassination after Cassius deceived him by planting fake letters convincing him that Caesar was up to no good. Brutus felt that he must act and act quickly before Caesar was crowned king. Brutus had no personal vendetta against Caesar, he was only concerned with the future of Rome. In Act 2 Scene 1 Brutus is struggling with how he will handle Caesar when he comes to the conclusion that his only choice is to kill him: “It must be by his death, and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for

the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question.” Cassius and his followers were jealous of Caesar, and the power they thought was about to be entrusted to him. Because Caesar was loved by the citizens of Rome the conspirators knew that they needed Brutus, who was someone that the citizens of Rome looked up to and trusted. They also knew that with Brutus on their side Caesar would not see the attack coming. Caesar did not seem surprised by the confrontation of Cassius and the other conspirators at the capital, but showed his shock by saying: “Et Tu Brute? Then fall Caesar” when Brutus plunged his knife into Caesar’s back. Did Brutus act as an honorable man? "Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear: Believe me for my honour and have respect for mine honour that you may believe “Brutus claims to be an honorable man in his speech at Caesars funeral. But would an honorable man act in the same way as Brutus? I do not believe that Brutus acted honorably, he could have handled Caesar differently. However, he was manipulated into believing that Caesar was evil. Brutus’s actions were not motivated by power or jealousy he believed he was an honorable man acting in the best interest of the people of Rome. “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Brutus was driven by his love of Rome and he unfortunately saw no other way. Brutus was haunted by what he had done to the man he claimed to love and I do believe that he later regretted killing Caesar but he remained committed to his cause until the end.

Despite his bad choice, I do believe that Brutus was a patriot because his actions were driven by his love for Rome.

His intentions were not motivated by his own ambition rather he acted to ensure that Rome would not be taken over by a dictatorship. When the other conspirators wanted to go after Marc Antony as well, Brutus stood up to the others stating that their cause would be lost if they went after Antony. "Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius to cut the head off then hack the limbs. Like wrath in death and envy afterward. For Anthony is but a limb of Caesar. Let us be sacrifiers, but not butchers, Caius." Brutus could have just run off and hid when the townspeople turned against him, however fought The Battle of Philippi because he believed so strongly in his cause. Before the battle he begins to realize that he had put too much trust in Cassius as he disagrees with Cassius methods. Brutus refuses to bully the peasants into supporting him as Cassius has. “You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, for I am armed so strong in honesty that they pass by me as the idle wind, which I respect not. I did send to you for certain sums of gold, which you denied me, for I can raise no money by vile means. By heaven, I had rather coin my heart And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring From the hard hands of peasants” Although he regrets having killed Caesar and can now see that Cassius did not have the same honorable

intentions he still believes that he standing up and fighting to keep Rome a free country. When Brutus realizes he has been defeated and takes his life he acknowledges his mistakes Brutus shows his regret by shouting out to Caesar before killing himself: “Caesar, now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will. Although he was angry with Brutus even Marc Antony is forced to acknowledge that Brutus was a true patriot. “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar. He only in a general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements. So mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a man.”

Brutus was a patriot because his actions were driven by his love for Rome. He wanted to see Rome remain free and not under the rule of a dictator. Deceived into believing that Caesars ambition would lead Rome down the wrong path Brutus saw no other option but to assassinate him. Throughout most of the play Brutus was conflicted and haunted over his decision. He did in fact love Caesar and felt tremendous guilt over killing him. Brutus believed that he was a man of honor and was therefore acting honorably in what he believed in, he continued to fight for these beliefs as the Battle of Philippe. Brutus eventually took his own life after losing the battle, and although they were fighting one another, even his enemies could not deny that Brutus did in fact act out of honor and patriotism to Rome.