Brutus – Death Of Brutues Essay, Research Paper

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.

337