“Well Brutus you are noble, but I can tell that honorable qualities can be given in a new direction.” – Cassius. This quote spoken by Cassius demonstrates his desire to persuade Brutus to join the conspirators. Additionally, it emphasizes that Brutus is highly esteemed and possesses qualities of honor. The literary work “Julius Caesar” was penned by William Shakespeare and is set during Caesar’s rule in Rome. Several characters, such as the conspirators, despise Caesar’s ambition and hence conspire to obstruct his dominance over Rome.
Brutus’s sense of patriotism and integrity compelled him to make two crucial choices: Caesar’s death and his own. While his level of patriotism may seem insignificant to the story, it greatly influences many of his key decisions. Throughout the play, Brutus consistently demonstrates his patriotism by prioritizing his country over his friendship. As the play unfolds, Brutus’s patriotism intensifies as he aligns himself with the conspirators’ beliefs about Caesar. The conspirators strategically incorporate Brutus into their group, as it lends a noble and worthy aspect to the eventual assassination.
They believed that if the people discovered that friends of Caesar were killing him, the assassination would be justified. During the planning of Caesar’s assassination, Cassius sought revenge, while Brutus, being patriotic, continuously emphasized to the conspirators that they had to do it for the benefit of the country. However, Brutus believed that killing Caesar without a clear reason was not the most noble approach. Therefore, before making his final decision, he considered whether it was for the common good. Both Cassius and Brutus expressed fear of Caesar becoming king of Rome.
Cassius convinces Brutus to explain his opinions, which helps Brutus comprehend the reason behind the necessity of killing Caesar. “I was born free as Caesar; so were you,” Cassius remarks. In response, Brutus states, “What you have said I will consider.” This quotation exposes Brutus’ contemplation of Caesar’s rule and his apprehension about the possible consequences. It also demonstrates Brutus’ agreement with Cassius’ viewpoints and his readiness to deliberate on them before making a final decision. Ultimately, Brutus is fully prepared to assassinate Caesar as he believes that Caesar is no different from any other dictator.
Brutus acknowledged that Caesar should be treated equally with everyone else, particularly the Roman people. The book also portrays Brutus as a patriotic individual on multiple occasions. Before the following quote, Brutus rises early in the morning and concludes that Caesar must be assassinated. However, he resolves to do it for an honorable cause: “O Rome, I promise you, if justice will follow, you will receive your full request from me, Brutus.” This quote signifies that Brutus ultimately agrees to kill Caesar, but only in the righteous manner.
Brutus, depicted as a highly patriotic individual who prioritizes the welfare of others over his own, took action to preserve the republic of Rome. While he did not advocate for Caesar’s assassination without justification, he believed in killing him for the sake of the people. Additionally, his decisions were strongly influenced by his unwavering integrity. At the start of the play, Julius Caesar was rapidly amassing power, which some believed was not in the country’s best interest. Brutus’ loyalty to both the people and his dear friend, Caesar, stemmed from his strong moral character.
Despite his loyalty to Caesar, Brutus’s loyalty to his country surpassed that. He declares, “Shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes,” indicating his refusal to be manipulated. Determined to uphold his principles, Brutus concludes that he must assassinate Caesar due to the latter’s intentions. His motivation stems from the desire to follow his own path, unaffected by external influences. In his words, “Strato. Countrymen, my heart doth joy that yet in all my life I found no man but he was true to me.”
In this losing day, I will obtain more glory than Octavius and Mark Antony will achieve from this vile conquest. The previous quote demonstrates Brutus’ affection for Caesar and his belief that Caesar was loyal to him. Brutus killed Caesar in a manner that any friend would. He did it for the people, but as an individual, Brutus still loved Caesar as much as Caesar loved him in the past. Brutus killed Caesar not only for the sake of the people, but also out of love they shared. “This was the noblest Roman of them all.” According to Antony, Caesar’s loyal servant, all the conspirators, except Brutus, acted out of envy towards great Caesar. This quote shows that their motivation for stabbing Caesar was not to benefit Rome by removing a king, but driven by selfish reasons. Brutus’ principles and integrity made him one of the most noble conspirators. Brutus felt justified in Caesar’s death due to his patriotism and honor. Ultimately, many people concluded that Brutus acted with a pure heart and admired him for his actions. In the end, Brutus died for Caesar, which illustrates his love for both Caesar and his country.
