Brutus Character Analysis

In Roman history, some elite men held certain values that they felt strong enough to take their life in order to defend it. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, there are certain characters portrayed to show how a person’s values or ideas can change their behavior and influence some significant decisions. The protagonist of the play, Marcus Brutus, supports this thought by having an idealistic view on the world and by showing his patriotism toward Rome. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Shakespeare uses Brutus as an honorable, idealistic man in order to show the depth that a high-class Roman man will go through in order to defend his honor.

Brutus definitely does not show how he is a honorable and loyal person. He focused too much about what he thoughts best for Rome and less about the people. During the play, Brutus also betrayed his wife, Portia. Portia notices something is up with Brutus. When Portia brings it up to Brutus, he will not tell her his plans to murder Caesar. Portia states, “If this were true, then I should know this secret. I grant I am a woman, but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife.” (2.1.290-293). Brutus betrayed Portia by refusing to tell her the secret she begged to hear. She eventually stabs herself, and

Pride is one of Brutus’ greatest trait and he showed how proud he was many times in the story. In Act 2, Scene 1, Brutus rejects the idea of making an oath with the conspirators because of his nobility and pride. Here he says that if the good of Rome is not

He had many positive qualities. I wish to bring these to a light and explore how they affected the plot. Brutus believes that his role in

To start off, the character Brutus alienates from his indecisive, good hearted nature into a more powerful corrupted character who easily makes decisions that may not always be based off morality. For example, in the beginning of the play Brutus shows his good-hearted character when he states, "Nor construe any further [his] neglect than that poor Brutus with himself at war forgets the show of love to other men"(Shakespeare, 1.2.45-48). Clearly, before Brutus gained power he was unsure of himself, and still wasn’t against Caesar because his heart still pushed for moral choices. Furthermore, without power Brutus did not appear to be corrupted in anyway, and rather seems to want to do everything he can for the good of Rome. While it is true, that Brutus began as an innocent it is clear that further on in the play he began to be corrupted by power and this is seen when he states, "Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar" (Shakespeare, 2.1.162-165). Obviously, Brutus quickly becomes more confident and decisive in his decisions, and is even willing to tell the other conspirators what courses of action they must take. Therefore, further proving that as Brutus gains power his arrogance, and sense of control also increase.

As noble and great as Brutus might be, all tragic heroes have some tragic flaws and make some errors of judgment, which leads them to their downfall. In this case Brutus's great flaw is that he is too honorable, and he's too naïve when he is dealing with people. An example of an error of judgment is when Brutus underestimates Antony, and thinks him incapable of being dangerous after Caesar's death, "For Antony is but a limb of Caesar...he can do no more than Caesar's arm When Caesar's head is off."  This turns out not to be the case. One example of Brutus's excessive honor being damaging to him, is when he decides that only Caesar should die and no one else even if they seem to threaten his cause, as Cassius warns repeatedly that Antony does.

In the end, Brutus was both a patriot and a betrayer. While he did kill for Rome, he betrayed his friend. I slew my best lover.” He did, and spoke this, because he was focusing on his own selfish fears. Through it all, he did what he truly believed what was best for Rome, even if that means killing his friend. He even offered his own life to Rome “shall please my country to need my death.” Despite the sin he committed, Brutus was a patriot for Rome. He killed the serpent that terrified him and threatened his people, all for his beloved country. Only a true patriot could make such

Brutus is truly “an honorable man.” He was initially resistant to Cassius’ suggestion to betray Caesar. Also, Brutus says, “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”(3.2.22) This proves that he only does what he feels is necessary to protect the Rome. In act 4, Brutus sees the ghost of Caesar, and this tells us that he is regretting his actions. He never felt right about killing Caesar afterwards. In fact, when he realized that he was wrong, he used the knife that he stabbed Caesar to take his own

Is it right to kill your friend to save your country? In Shakespeare’s tragic play, Julius Caesar, the protagonist Marcus Brutus an honorable and idealistic republican, reluctantly joins the plot against his friend Caesar when he sees Rome falling under his tyranny. Brutus could be considered a betrayer because he slew Julius Caesar, who was his friend. However, he had great integrity and put the good of the people of Rome before his own personal wishes and feelings. Therefore, Brutus is a patriot because he had a tremendous conviction in Rome as a republic, wishing the power to be with the citizens; furthermore, he was fearful of the dangers of an autocratic government where ultimate power remains with one man.

Honor is a word defined as “worthy of high respect”. In “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, honorability is one of the driving forces of the play’s central plot. From the murder plot to the incriminating funeral speeches, honorability is lost, questioned, and acted upon for the majority of the plot. When it comes to the question of who is the most honorable man between Marc Antony and Marcus Brutus, the answer is not immediately clear. Through the first two acts, as these men develop, grow, and change their ways of thinking, both men seem to be equally valid candidates. Acts three through five are when their true colors begin to emerge, and like a butterfly from its cocoon, their inner thoughts and motives are exposed. Then, the true answer becomes clear: Brutus is the more honorable man. Why is this? He thinks of others before himself when it comes to making

He may have been frowned upon by fellow men and women in the town and surrounding im but overall he was admirable. To be able to go through the decisions, movements and other situations brutus had encountered it would be shocking. To one person something so small might mean the world and something so big could mean nothing, it all matter how you are benefiting the people around you and yourself. People are going to do these things because they are doing what is right and how in the end it can come back as a positive effect and nothing to be negative. Brutus was an intelligent and thoughtful man who did anything and everything in benefit of the people who he acred about and who he wanted to show he was just no ordinary towns person he was a

The honor that Brutus gains through performing deeds without thinking of his own gain is solidified at the end of the play around the event of Brutus’s death.  At the beginning of act five, scene five, Brutus tells his servants that he believes his time living has come to an end, and he needs their help to kill him. One after another, Brutus’s servants tell him no. They respond to his request saying,  “I’d rather kill myself… That’s not an office for a friend, my lord”

Brutus made an overwhelming amount of decisions based on the good of Rome, not contemplating how it could affect or hurt himself or those around him. One example of this is after Brutus and the conspirators killed Brutus he gave a speech. In this speech he said, “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.” (3.2.20-22). This quote is saying that the reason Brutus killed Caesar was not because he disliked him, but because he thought it was for the good of Rome. Brutus made this decision solely based on patriotism. He never thought about the effects or consequences it

Brutus possesses many ideals and mannerisms that make him the tragic hero in William Shakespeare’s tragedy. To begin with, Brutus has a deep sense of love for his city, and concerns himself with its well-being. His concern for Rome is actually what causes him to backstab Caesar. He worries that he is too arrogant to be an adequate leader, “I do fear the people/ Choose Caesar for their king.” (Shakespeare I.ii. 85-86). Secondly, Brutus has an undying moral compass that navigates him on his integrity driven choices. Brutus thinks long and hard before he joins the conspirators, and wonders whether or not it is the right choice and questions his choices, “Into what dangers would you lead me…/ That you would have me seek into myself/ For which is not in me?” (Shakespeare I.ii. 69-71). His strong beliefs are what ultimately convince him to join the conspirators, for the good of Rome. Also, Brutus believes in equality and respect. He gives a speech to the public because he feels they deserve to know the reason why Caesar dies, ‘And, waving our red weapons o’er our heads,/ Let’s all cry “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”’. (Shakespeare III.i. 121-122). This heroic quality is one of the things that drives him to be a good leader, and a good person as well. As much as these traits lead us to believe