Julius Caesar: Marcus Brutus Character Analysis Essay, Research Paper

Julius Caesar: Marcus Brutus Character Analysis

William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is mainly

based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character who was in charge

of the assassination was, ironically, Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend

to Julius Caesar. But what would cause a person to kill a close friend? After

examining Brutus’ relationship to Caesar, his involvement in the conspiracy, and

his importance to the plot, the truth can be revealed.

Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Caesar, has a strong

relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and its people.

Brutus is very close to Caesar. In Roman times, the only way for someone to get

close to a person of high rank is if he/she is close to him/her. In many points

of the play, Brutus was talking and next to Caesar. Brutus also loves Caesar but

fears his power. In the early acts of the play, Brutus says to Cassius, “What

means this shouting? I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their king?yet I

love him well.”(act 1, scene 2, ll.85-89), as he is speaking to Cassius. Brutus

loves Caesar, but would not allow him to “climber-upward?He then unto the ladder

turns his back?”(act 2, scene 1, ll.24,26). As the quote says, Brutus would not

allow Caesar to rise to power and then turn his back onto the people of Rome.

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus talks to Antony about Caesar’s

death. “Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong

of Rome?”(act 3, scene 1, ll.185-186). Brutus says that Antony cannot see

their(members of the conspiracy) hearts, which are full of pity. Again, this

shows how Brutus loved Caesar but cared for the life of Rome and its people more.

This is the only reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. For Brutus says to

himself, “I know no personal cause to spurn at him?How that might change his

nature?”(act 2, scene1, ll. 1,13) Caesar’s relationship with Brutus is also

strong. Just allowing Brutus to speak to Caesar shows his respect for Brutus.

Caesar feels that Brutus is noble to him and does the right thing regardless of

personal danger. On the Ides of March, as Caesar was assassinated, Caesar’s last

line is: “Et tu, Brute?–Then fall, Caesar.”(act 3, scene 1, l.85). This shows

that Caesar would not die without Brutus’ stab. Caesar realizes that there must

be a noble reason for this assassination if Brutus was in it. This again shows

how much Caesar respects Brutus. Brutus and Caesar both respect each other, but

in different ways.

Marcus Brutus had a very important role in the conspiracy against Caesar.

He was the “back-bone” of the plan. According to Cassius, Brutus’ main purpose

in the conspiracy is for an insurance policy. The people will think, since

Brutus is noble to Caesar, that there is a good reason for Caesar’s

assassination. Brutus will also be the leader of the conspiracy for another

“insurance policy” for the assassination. Cassius is the one who declares this,

“Brutus shall lead the way, and we will grace his heels with the most boldest

and best hearts of Rome. “(act 3, scene 1, ll.135-136). Again, if Brutus leads

the way, the people will think that the death of Julius Caesar wasn’t such a bad

thing. Brutus also declares to himself that his role in the conspiracy is to

save Rome. He says to the people that, “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.”(Act 3,scene 2,ll.21-24).

If Brutus was not in the plot of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the

conspiracy would probably not have worked. Since Brutus “?loved Rome more.”(Act

3,scene2, ll.23-24), he decided to be a part of the conspiracy. If he hadn’t

loved Rome more than Caesar, he would not have joined in the assassination of

Julius Caesar. Cassius and the rest of the conspirators would probably not have

continued on without Brutus because they would have no “insurance” afterwards.

The people would think that there was no reason for Caesar’s death and most

likely beheaded all the conspirators. Also, if Brutus was not in the play, the

whole end of the play would not ever occur. Brutus would not be there to have an

army or kill himself, and Cassius will already be beheaded. If Brutus was not in

the play, the title would have absolutely no meaning.

Marcus Brutus was a good friend to Julius Caesar, but not good enough.

He had moral values dealing with Rome and its people. Brutus’ values then made

him join a conspiracy against Caesar put together by Cassius. Brutus joined this

mainly because he didn’t want Caesar to turn his back on Rome so there would be

a reasonable reason for killing Caesar. If Brutus wasn’t in the play, there

would be no “Tragedy” in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.