The Controversy Of Brutus In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Brutus was in fact a betrayer, and while he did feel sympathy for Caesar after he died, he killed him along with the other conspirators and even started a war of sorts in Rome, causing many to fall in battle- himself included. While Brutus was persuaded by fake letters, no man should be as gullible as him to completely switch sides on only the basis of three anonymous letters that were stuck to his window. Brutus was a villain who felt that he was the hero, more concerned about the safety of the government he loved rather than the friend that he loved.

In his soliloquy, Antony praised Caesar’s great personality but at the same time, he would keep saying positive things about Brutus. An example is when he says, “He was my friend, faithful and just to me; / But Brutus says he was ambitious, / And Brutus is an honorable man.” (3.2.85-87). The way in which he spoke and by telling the citizens the context of Caesar’s will, turned the mob against Brutus and the rest of the conspirators. The anger possessed by the countrymen can be shown when a plebeian says, “Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death!” (2.2.244). This betrayal by Antony caused Brutus to break off their friendship.

Brutus first states, “[Would you rather Caesar] living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead to live a freemen” Then Antony came back with “You all did love him once, not without cause. What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?” After Brutus’ speech, Antony was able to evoke the feeling of the audience and bring them back, before his death and see what they had loved within Caesar before his death. All of his accomplishments were able to evoke the emotions they had before his death and then wanted to actually kill Brutus. In the next Scene, it mentioned a major consequence of the words that Antony had spoken. The famous poet Cinna was killed. However, he wasn’t even involved in the assassination of Caesar. That was how much emotion he was able to evoke in the people in Rome. Although ethos could establish the cold, hard truth, pathos can get under peoples skin and effect them and draw them into your cause. In which case it is Antony's'

Caesar’s words final were “Et tu Brute? Then fall, Caesar!,”which shows how hurt ,he was with Brutus’s actions. During Caesar’s deaths, many co-conspirators surrounded him and as each man stabbed him, he was not surprised by their actions until the very last person, Brutus came and stabbed him, seeing Brutus sent a pang of betrayal through him. Brutus was a person that Caesar had considered a friend and ally, so finding out that he was a part of his assassination plot, it shocked him and he felt deep betrayal that he gave up fighting and died. Although Caesar’s death was horrendous, it is important to remember that Brutus only killed Caesar, to save Rome. Between Cassius’s manipulative peer pressure informing him of the all the negatives that Caesar would bring Rome and the fake letters he received, convincing him to save Rome from the ruling of Caesar, Brutus only acted in the best interest for Rome and its people, which shows his loyalty and patriotism to

The first instance of Brutus being manipulated by a quality piece of rhetoric is seen in the very first act of the play, when Cassius manages to convince Brutus to join him in his plot to assassinate Caesar. It started when Cassius asked Brutus can see himself and the later responded by saying that a person can’t do that without a mirror, prompting Cassius (whom had likely expected that response) to say that he will be that mirror, which is essentially him saying ‘trust me, I will tell you how you feel’ ensuring that Brutus will

Cassius told Brutus, that he should kill Antony, because Antony was the weakest link out of everyone. Naively, Brutus did not listen to him, which caused more trouble. Again, Cassius also warned him to not let Antony speak at the funeral, however, Brutus ignored his warning. If Antony never spoke at Caesar's funeral, there would have never been that much chaos. The conspirators would have gotten away with murdering Caesar. Brutus' honor was the cause of his downfall. The pandemonium that ensued could have been prevented, if Brutus listened to Cassius. This clearly illustrates that Brutus was very naïve in his leadership

“You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight. This quote can be assimilates to Brutus in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar. In a way he died as a hero but he did live long enough and saw himself becoming the villain. Throughout the play, Brutus had been consumed in a lot of drama and deaths. The readers can tell the internal arguments he has with himself about it too. In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, there are many tragic deaths, drama, and heroes and villains. The question is, who is the hero and who is the villain.

Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.” This shows that Brutus was confused and betrayed. Although, this may be true Brutus

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Julius Caesar, the protagonist, Brutus, conspires against and successfully kills Caesar; to only find the city he loves in chaos and mutiny from his actions. Brutus in the eyes of many people was a noble and honorable man who loved and adored the city of Rome, and no person thought more of this than Caesar. To Caesar, Brutus was the son he never had, and his love of Brutus was known, therefore the thought of Brutus betraying him was absurd. However, imagine if not only Brutus did not love Caesar, but he hated him. If that was the situation in the Julius Caesar, the play would then change drastically, with almost every quote from Brutus changing. If this is the case, Brutus’ hatred of Caesar and love of

Cassius suggests to Brutus that the conspirators ought to kill Antony because he may be a significant obstacle (2.1.169), but Brutus resists Cassius’s suggestion because he insists on keeping their violent acts as limited and noble as possible. Next, Brutus insists to Antony, after he discovers the dead body of Caesar, “our hearts you see not: they are pitiful, and pity to the general wrong of Rome—As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—Hath done this deed on Caesar” (3.1.182). Brutus appeals to Antony, arguing that what they did acted in the interest of Rome, and Brutus seems to genuinely believe that Antony can be persuaded of this. Brutus goes on to insist that their cause is so noble that Antony, as a son to Caesar, should be totally satisfied (3.1.240). Brutus even goes so far as to argue with Cassius that Antony should be allowed to speak about Caesar’s death to the people (3.1.250).

This “ghost” is actually the manifestation of Brutus’ doubt and guilt, which is why Caesar says, “thou shalt see me at Philippi,” signifying that Brutus is not completely certain that his choice to advance to Philippi is the best decision to make (4.3.327). In the author’s plays, whenever a character sees a ghost, it foreshadows their death later in the story. Brutus becomes fearful of this, and selfishly puts his life above everyone else’s. Without thinking, Brutus orders his servants to “Bid [Cassius] set on his powers betimes before [us]...,” which divided and weakened their army as a whole (4.3.353). Sending Cassius off without the help of Brutus’ army is a futile strategy, and he is aware of that.

He wishes that he had never fallen for Cassius’s insidious plan to assassinate Caesar, “Caesar, now be still; / I killed not thee with half so good a will”(997). He regrets, that through these actions, he destroys his name and his stature. Brutus, scrutinizing all of his mistakes, and wishing that he had done things differently verifies that he is the main tragic hero in this classic work. Through these final moments of Brutus’s life, the audience of the play can truly see that Brutus is not lying about his love of Caesar, but that he honestly regrets participating, and is sympathetic about the last years of his life. Brutus, even though he has made many mistakes throughout his life, he makes one final 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.

Many people wonder whether Brutus should or should not join the conspiracy. In William Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar” play, Brutus is conflicted by joining the conspiracy, which helps Rome, but hurts his best friend Caesar in the process. Brutus did the right thing by joining the conspiracy for the better of Rome. He is able to use Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to justify the reasons for his actions against Caesar. Brutus’s main reason for killing Caesar is to stop him before he gets too powerful. As Brutus says in the story, “And therefore we think of him as a serpent’s egg which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, and kill him in the shell.” (II, i, 32-34). Not only does Brutus want to stop him before he gets to powerful, but he also

As shown in the previous paragraph, The conflicts revolve around Brutus. Brutus himself is a sincere and honorable man which is a trait of a protagonist. Another trait that makes Brutus the protagonist is his change. In the beginning of the play, Brutus is shown as a honorable and respected Roman. The play also shows Brutus as a naive man, who trusts the conspirators not to betray him. He only does this because he would not betray them. In act IV Brutus starts to change. One of his changes is when he accuses Cassius of taking bribes. “Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm, To sell and mart your offices for gold To undeservers”. Other change occurs in act V. In the beginning of scene five, Brutus asks the others to kill him, but Brutus had said that suicide was dishonorable. Strato holds Brutus’s sword so Brutus can run on to it and kill

A highly respected man, and admired by others that may of disliked him before it was Brutus’ end. “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!’” (5.5.73-75). Brutus is one with great leadership, and a loyal friend of Julius Caesar. He was easily convinced by Cassius and the conspirators that Julius Caesar was not fit for king of Rome. Before, Brutus was there and supported Caesar. Now, Cassius had talked to Brutus, and he changed his mind and thought it was best for Rome that Caesar was killed before he was crowned. Brutus then took control of the conspirators and became leader. Brutus made all the decisions with Cassius, then turned into Brutus making all the decisions by himself, regarding Cassius. Brutus’ decisions were not the best and that led him into his own death, when he ran himself into a sword. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, written by, William Shakespeare, Brutus is a man that contains great leadership skills, and does what is right; but farther in, his decisions lead to a downfall of taking Cassius out of his place when he was a good leader already, and as well as killing himself.