Have you ever had a hard choice to make, and at the time it seemed stupid or bad, but later you realize you made the good choice? Most of us have. This is what Brutus went through in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. He joined a conspiracy to kill the up and coming tyrant leader- Julius Caesar. Brutus clearly made the right choice, but others think he did the wrong thing. Overall, he had many good reasons to join this conspiracy, even though in the end, he paid for it with his life. First of all, the conspiracy needed him to keep from looking like an offensive group that was just out to murder in cold blood. They also desperately needed leadership. “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts, and that which would appear offense in us his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and worthiness.”( 1218) This highlights the fact that even the brains behind the conspiracy- Cassius, admitted that Brutus was needed for the conspiracy. This …show more content…
quote means that Brutus is very highly regarded by the common people and if Brutus were to support the conspiracy, then the common folk would be behind it as well. Brutus was known as a smart man and scholar by most Roman citizens, so he was respected in this way. Although some people might say that they could have done the murder the same way even if Brutus wasn’t helping, this is wrong because Brutus was the one that delivered the speech to the Roman people and he is the one that was very very close with Caesar. In this way, Brutus was honorable by killing Caesar with the conspiracy. Secondly, the murder of Caesar is for a good cause, because Caesar was a threat to the freedom of the Roman people. Some may say that Caesar was not a threat because he denied the crown three times, but Caesar merely did this as a publicity stunt to prove to the people that he was honorable and didn’t want to lead, when really he did. “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”(1220). This shows that while Caesar may have been a good person, he needed to be killed. There was no personal reasons behind the murder, it was simply for the good of Rome and the people. Caesar was friends with these people, so why would they kill him in cold blood for no reason? They wouldn’t. Lastly, Caesar would have made a bad leader anyways, he was ambitious and stuck up.
Seeing Caesar as leader would have left Rome in disaster. “But I am as constant as the North Star”(1241). Caesar says this when arguing with Metellus Cimber, saying that he is constant and that he is very strong. This quote shows he is ambitious and thought too highly of himself. Caesar saw himself above all other people and emotions. “Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he”(1232) This is said by Caesar to Decius Brutus when Decius tries to get Caesar to come to the capital. This quote proves that Caesar puts himself above danger itself, showing how dangerous his ambition is. For Caesar to say that he is better than danger is very ambitious is very arrogant and shows he is unstable and nor wise, therefore, being a bad leader. Even though some might say that Caesar was only making a comparison and not being serious, they have not seen the context around these quotes, for Caesar has no reason to exaggerate or
joke. In Conclusion, Brutus was right to join the conspiracy to kill Caesar. He was needed for the cause or else they wouldn’t be taken seriously. Also, Brutus was keeping Rome from falling to a tyrant who was ambitious and dangerous. Anyways, Brutus would have made a bad leader because he was so self absorbed. Any Person who reads this play knows that Brutus made the right choice.
There are many pros and cons as to Brutus being the plot. A pro for Brutus being in the plot would be that he could help the public and make thing great unto the people. Since the people enjoy Brutus, he could get things done and nobody complain about the way he's running the state. Because not many people really like Caesar, Brutus would be helping his friendship with Caesar by taking
His tragic flaw is that he trusts people too much and is easily manipulated. The real reason for him joining the conspiracy was because he “loved Caesar but loved Rome more. Marcus Brutus joins the conspiracy because he thought that he is preventing Caesar’s tyranny. He also thinks that by joining the conspiracy he is saving the people of Rome. He also trusts . After entering the conspiracy, he became responsible for Caesar’s death, which led to a civil war, which led to Brutus’s death. Brutus’ downfall is caused by his tragic
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was one of the most outstanding leaders in history. He was the first ruler of the Romano-Hellenic civilization and achieved his goals with great success throughout his life of 56 years. He was assassinated by the conspirators, who accused him for practicing tyranny. This essay will discuss whether it was right for the conspirators to murder Caesar and what its consequences were.
Throughout most of the play Brutus is constantly internally conflicted. Does he do what he believes is best for Rome or stay loyal to his friend and leader? Should he assist in the murder of one person to benefit many? Although killing Caesar was in the end a bad choice, Brutus always tries to do what is best for Rome and for the people. However even though all of Brutus’ motives are good he still has the tragic flaw of pride, which ultimately leads to his downfall. The reason that Brutus gets caught up in the conspiracy is because Cassias appeals to his pride and flatters him with forged letters from the Roman people saying he is a greater leader then Caesar.
He has two opposing desires that he has to choose between. These are killing Caesar to preserve democracy in Rome and to save Caesar, since he is a friend of Brutus. A quote from J.L. Simmons that summarizes this well is, “Certainly the material lends itself to a conflict between private and public affections” (Simmons 64). Brutus wants to kill Caesar for Rome because the citizens of Rome want to preserve democracy and Caesar is preventing that by being dictator for life. A quote that puts this in other words is, “The ultimate factor in persuading Brutus to join the conspiracy is his belief that his countrymen wish him to act on their behalf” (Shalvi 71). Killing Caesar would be a choice made for not himself, but the citizens of Rome while saving him would be for himself and to preserve his friendship with Caesar. Saving Caesar would be a deed for himself and would strengthen his relationship with Caesar. He could have warned Caesar of the conspirators’ plans and put a stop to them. Brutus ultimately makes the choice of following through and assassinating Caesar. His plan was for this to be a honorable action, but it ended up negative on his behalf. The majority of the citizens in Rome did not take this lightly and wanted revenge for his actions. This is the main mistake made by Brutus that lead to his own
Brutus’ leadership and compassion for others make him a popular figure amongst the Roman people, and it is his reputation that establishes him as an influential individual. For example, despite the fact that Brutus loves Caesar like a brother, he warily joins the conspiracy to assassinate him. He does this because he believes that Caesar’s ambition would become tyranny and that Caesar’s death is a necessary evil in order to preserve the liberties of the Roman people. In his own words Brutus claims, “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.”(Act 2, Scene 1, Page 1116). In addition, Brutus takes the reins of authority from Cassius and becomes the leader of the conspiracy. He gains this prerogative because of his convincing tongue and powerful influence. His leadership is evidenced when he begins to challenge Cassius’ ideas. When Cassius asks the conspirators to “swear our resolution”(Act 2...
When Brutus betrayed Caesar for the good of Rome by killing him, he had no idea that he would regret it later on in his life. Brutus wanted to kill Caesar because he thought that if Caesar became king, he would forget who his real friends are and he would not pay attention to them. He also thought that Caesar would become too powerful and therefore did not want him to be king. This is shown when Portia says, “…Brutus hath a suit / that Caesar will not grant…” (2.4.41-42). Although Brutus had a clear conscience, the people of Rome did not. This eventually led to Brutus being driven out of Rome by the citizens. Not being associated with Rome anymore made Brutus’ life worse and he eventually took his own life as the only way to...
Brutus was a very selfish and self-centered person. He continually ignored Cassius’ and the conspirators’ ideas. He was the leader and everyone was supposed to go along with them. Not to mention that all of his decisions went against Cassius and they were all the wrong moves. Brutus refused to admit that he was wrong or listen to other people.
First, Cassius and the conspirators used his honor for Rome to convince him to join them. Their fake letters from the citizens that they sent Brutus assisted in making his decision. Brutus said, “It must be by his death. And for my part/I know no personal cause to spurn at him, /But for the general.”(II.i.10-12) His extreme honorability to Rome had blinded him from the real reasons why the other conspirators wanted him to join. Cassius only wanted Caesar dead because of his jealousy and Brutus would have been a great asset. Brutus did not have any personal reasons for Caesar’s assassination. However, it was his assumptions on what may happen to Rome that caused him to join the conspiracy.
Brutus was a devious man, even though what he thought he was doing was right. Brutus told his fellow conspirators to kill Caesar “boldly, but not angerly.”(3.1.256-257) Brutus was one of Caesars right hand men, and yet Brutus kills his own friend. When Antony asks to speak at Caesars funeral, Cassius says no, but Brutus tell him that Antony will speak, but only what Brutus tells him to say. Brutus also embraces the fact that he just killed his friend, and also tells the senators who had just witnessed it to not be afraid, but to stay because ambition has paid its debt.
Caesar’s power in Rome was growing, and people were afraid he was going to turn Rome into a monarchy. However, Caesar did not want to be known as a king, but he was appointed dictator for life.
Brutus's fatal flaw is his trustworthy nature. He joins the conspiracy not because he "loved Caesar less but loved Rome more." ( ) Brutus joins the conspiracy under the impression that he is preventing Caesar's tyranny and saving the people of Rome. He also trusts the motives of the other conspirators. In entering the conspiracy he is also responsible for the death of Caesar and the movement of the plot. The civil war is a direct result of Caesar's assassination and eventually Brutus's own death. Brutus's fall is definitely caused by his trustworthy nature.
The demise of the Roman Republics authoritative power is an event that still holds the focus of modern society. While he is often held accountable for the fall, Gaius Julius Caesar’s rise to power and continuing ambition was not the only factor that caused its eventual downfall. His involvement and inclusion in the creation of the First Triumvirate and the ongoing civil war between Pompey and himself brought around his rise to power, and his reforms quickly affected the social, economic and political structure of Roman society. His rule both started in civil war, and ended in it; ultimately causing an end to republican institutions.
For even his good intentions and conviction that "did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake" could not convince the Roman people to adopt his worldview (4.3.19). And, despite the fact that Brutus "only, in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of [the conspirators]," he had to die with his vision unfulfilled and with the Roman republic in a worse state than it started the play in (5.5.72-73). Due to the errors Brutus makes throughout the play and the harm that befalls him as a result, he represents the true tragic hero of Julius Caesar. For despite holding one of the few sets of good intentions in the play, Brutus ultimately suffers and dies farther away from achieving his dreams than he started from.
One reason why Brutus is a better leader is because he is just as good as Caesar was. Brutus was a nobleman for Caesar and was also close to him. In the story Cassius tells Brutus,” Brutus and Caesar- What should be in that “Caesar”? Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” Cassius is telling Brutus that