Julius Caesar: Was Brutus A Villain Or A Hero?

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Was Brutus a villain or a hero? Even though he participated in the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, Brutus enjoyed a reputation in his day among Romans as a noble and fair-minded statesman. Brutus believed the action of killing Caesar was necessary to prevent Caesar from becoming a dictator. In Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar” Brutus is a selfless hero because he killed Caesar for the good of the people, he kills himself, and many Romans respected him.

Brutus was respected by many Romans which shows he was a hero in many eyes. Brutus was an important piece to the puzzle in getting rid of Caesar. Cassius needed Brutus to be part of the conspiracy because Brutus would be able to justify for killing Caesar and persuade the Romans he did it for a good cause. After the death of Caesar, Brutus went out to the Roman Forum and said his speech. In Brutus’ speech he tells all the Romans he will kill himself with the same blade he killed Caesar with if they want him to. “I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death.” (Act 3 Scene 2 Line …show more content…

In “Julius Caesar” the other conspirators did not feel any remorse but unlike Brutus, he realized his guilt and Caesar’s ghost entered the scene. Caesar’s ghost tells Brutus “To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.” (Act 4 Scene 3 Line 282) This quote foreshadows Brutus’ death. After he saw Caesar’s ghost he asks Strato to hold his sword and to turn his head away. “Hold then my sword, and turn way thy face, While I do run upon it. Wilt Thou, Strato.” (Act 5 Scene 5 Line Line 47-48) These quotes show Brutus was an honorable man and a selfless hero taking his own life because of the guilt of killing his closest friend. Villains do not kill themselves of guilt because they killed someone. Villains are able to put their feelings down and that is the difference between a hero and a

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