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…
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
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.
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
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.
Since Brutus was a part of the conspirators that does not make him a bad person. He did it because he cares for the people and nit just himself. In the story Brutus says,” Let us be sacrificers but not butchers, Caius.” He said this to Caius because he wanted them to know Caesar was killed for a reason. He also did not want the people of Rome to think the conspirators were murders.
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.
Ultimately, Brutus’s tragic flaw was his honor, and his demise was his death. Brutus shows that he is honorable through his choices to murder Caesar. Caesar was his close friend, and Brutus cared for him. However, Brutus joined the conspirators because of his honor towards the Roman people. Cassius and the other conspirators had faked and sent letters to Brutus that made him believe that the public did not like Caesar.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
In conclusion, Brutus’ mistakes and flaws are overshadowed by his honorable intentions and genuine motives. In a society littered with dishonorable, deceitful people like Antony, Brutus, with his sense of honor and integrity, contrast them all. Brutus’ greatest weakness is his tendency to believe people who script words to purposely lie or misguide him. Due to his actions, he ends up dying an honorable death of a self-suicide. Having genuine compassion and sympathy towards others is not a bad thing. However, decisions should not be so heavily influenced by the opinions of others. The significance of planning things out before doing them is clearly illustrated, as it is a way to foresee possible complications or problems that may arise. Ironically, the conspirators’ cause is for naught as Antony becomes the tyrant that they fear Caesar would have become.
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.