Having an honorable reputation is the most important aspect of man’s character. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus is an important political figure who is close to his friend and senator Julius Caesar. In spite of that, Brutus and a group of conspirators decide that it would be best for Rome if they were to kill Caesar before he became a tyrant. Undeniably, Brutus is the most noble of the Romans due to his true intent to help Rome and how he took his life to preserve his honor. Brutus displays his faithfulness to Rome by dethroning and killing his friend for the greater good. He made it clear to the plebeians in his speech that his intentions were to stop an uprising evil by including the rhetorical statement saying “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen?”(III.ii.22-24). Brutus saw the potential danger in Caesar and had to prevent him from becoming too powerful. This exhibits his nobility by showing how he was doing it for the happiness of the people. As a further matter, Brutus had come to the conclusion that the only way to deal with Caesar “must be by his death. And for my part I know no …show more content…
In his final moments, Brutus believes that he “shall have glory by this losing day” (V.V.36) because he never stopped fighting for what he knew was right. His suicide showed his nobility by proving he would die for his country rather than be taken prisoner. Brutus’ legacy of being the most honorable Roman is upheld when he kills himself. After his death, Anthony finally realizes that Brutus “was the noblest Roman of them all”(V.V.74). Anthony now understands that Brutus was fighting for Rome and not the envy of Caesar’s power. In his death was the only time he had respect from all of Rome. Thus, the complete respect from his enemy proves Brutus’
In his speech, Brutus appeals to the loyalism of his audience by making intertwining arguments of ethos, pathos, and logos. He begins by establishing his ethos by asserting his status as an honorable fellow Roman worthy of their respect. He expands on this ethos by dividing it into three parts: his love of Caesar, his loyalty to Rome, and his relationship to his audience. Brutus tells his audience that he was a “dear friend” to the man he murdered, invoking a pathetic sense of sympathy from his audience. However, as he says himself, it was “not that [he] loved Caesar less, but that [he] loved Rome more,” strengthening his ethos as a loyal countryman with the interests of his audience at heart. After establishing an emotional connection to his audience and earning their trust, Brutus explains his logic
Brutus exclaims that the masses are worth more than an individual, that individual who is Caesar. In spite of those beliefs, Cassius offers him salvation. Cassius entices Brutus with the notion of a false faith, the end to his suffering with be at the end of Caesar's life. A dream which Brutus gladly fights when he utters, “ Let us be sacrificers but not butchers, Cassius. And in spite of the men, there is no blood”(2.1.173-175). Brutus offers insight into his notion of worth, he will kill for a righteous deed, an honorable action, but not slay wantonly. Brutus is a true martyr for a deceptive plan, when he says, “I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death”(3.2.41-43). A person of high moral values, an individual who strive to accomplish his ambition, Brutus was the most honorable Roman. However, many would view
Even though Brutus knew that Caeser had turned down the crown three times, he still felt he was too ambitious to rule over Rome. If only Brutus would have had a level head on his shoulders like Antony. If anyone can call a murderer honorable, let them know. The third and final act Brutus committed that left him with a dishonorable image, was that he ran and then killed himself just to avoid battle. In early Rome, a man was thought to be noble and brave if he fell from an enemy’s sword, not if he ran and committed suicide.
“Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2.24) This quote reflects the motive of Brutus for the assassination of his friend, Caesar. I believe Brutus killed him not out of disrespect, but in a selfless act to protect Rome from the decree of Caesar yet to come. I also believe that he did this out of force from the manipulation from his “friend” Cassius. In Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar”, Brutus’ two most significant characteristics are virtue and unconscious hypocrisy. In order to fully understand these characteristics, it is necessary to analyze all other contributing characteristics, the manipulation of friendship that Cassius uses against him, and the motivations for
As a “speculative man of high motives and refined sensibility”(Catherine C. Dominic) Brutus does have his confusion of motives. Act I, scene ii, is the first we see his weakness, “his concern with reputation and appearance, his subtle vanity and pride”(Gayle Green). Yet the main bases of Brutus’s bewilderment of motives takes place in Act II, scene I, with his famous soliloquy beginning with “It must be by his death”. This speech may be the turning point in which Brutus feels better about the assassination of his once called friend.
Brutus is considered an honorable man by all those who live in Rome. He is a close friend of Caesar, husband of Portia, and is also a Senator. Brutus is drawn into killing Caesar by Cassius, who was jealous of Caesar's degree of power. Brutus was pulled into the scheme by letters brought to his house by Decius to make him think that the people of Rome wanted him to replace Caesar. Brutus also feels that Caesar is being given too much power and will destroy Rome's democracy. Brutus' reason for killing Caesar is to benefit Rome, he proves this when he states"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." After losing to Mark Antony and Octavious, Brutus runs onto his own sword. He sticks to his beliefs, not altering them for others.
During Caesar’s funeral, he is very respectful to those who mourn and sends his condolences to those who are very lost without their leader. In addition, Brutus knows how hurt Mark Antony is by Caesar’s death, so Brutus lets him speak at his funeral. Also,Cassius theorizes that Mark Antony may be dangerous and that they should kill him along with Caesar. However, Brutus declines his proposal because he thinks that Mark Antony is not a bad man and also thinks that he will have nothing left when his leader is dead. Casca says, “Oh, he sits high in all peoples hearts, and that which would appear offense in us, his countenance, like the richest alchemy, will change to virtue and to worthiness” (I.iii.159-162), this quote basically means that because of his honor, that he was very respected and loved by the people of Rome. Furthermore, Brutus’ honor and respect shows to all the citizens in Rome and he is mainly well known by these two traits. Overall, Brutus perfectly fits into all the categories that define a hero. Brutus is a true inspiration, not only to me, but to everyone who reads the
This is just how Brutus plays by the rules, is honest and wins a respectful burial, even though he loses the battle. Brutus was an honorable and noble man with great character. Shakespeare, in his play Julius Caesar, shows readers what it means to be noble using government, politics and Brutuss experience and constant effort to bring democracy to Rome. He reveals what makes Brutus noble from the rest of the Romans and how taking challenges, risks and being strong, honorable, and able to face sorrows and having moral character is what makes someone noble. Brutus faced many challenges and risks to make Rome a democracy and through it he faced his sorrows like a god and held a good reputation in society.
...ation and well being of a country, people, and republic. “‘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’”(998). Although a seemingly menacing traitor to his country at first, Brutus makes the journey to a sympathetic and noble tragic hero in the end.
Brutus was a loving friend of Julius Caesar and wished anything but death on his comrade, but his love and dedication to the majestic city of Rome would force him to commit anything. He fights a war to defend Rome from a king or emperor's tyrannical rule. When the war was over, even his enemies saw that he was the most respectable Roman of them all. This (Brutus' body) was the noblest Roman of them all. All conspirators, save only he did what they did in envy of great Caesar....
Through his legacy Brutus leaves the world an important lesson. Marc Antony remembers Brutus as "the noblest Roman of them all."( ) Despite his death and loss in the war, Brutus is still remembered as noble, in this he represents the moral of the play.
The threat Caesar could become outweighs the loyalty Brutus has for Caesar. By killing Caesar, Brutus thinks he was saving the republic and his ancestors’ hard
...al one with his last action. Unfortunately, the audience does not know whether or not he regrets committing suicide. Had he not done so, Antony most likely would have restored some of his stature in Rome, and granted him his life, “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”(998). It is clear that Antony is saddened by the loss of Brutus, because he realizes the true meaning of Brutus’s actions.
Contrasted to Caesar, who has selfish ambitions, Brutus has selfless goals for Rome – he makes decisions not for his own selfish gain. His honourable nature makes him trustworthy, as he would not do something that is against his conscience. He would only do what he thinks is right, as he would not want to act against his moral code. Therefore, Brutus is a respectable and worthy leader for he is more likely to lead Rome in an incorrupt and righteous way.
He has to make a decision about whether or not it is noble to take Caesar’s life. Although Brutus is not exactly a hero, he is definitely a noble person. He is selfless in that he would essentially put his life on the line for Rome, he sacrifices his friendship with Caesar because he thinks it what’s best for the city, and he is up in contemplation of what direction to go in that would lead to the most serenity and the least blood spilled. Throughout the play, we know Brutus to be a respectable character which makes him a noble person.