Brutus Character Analysis Essay, Research Paper

William Shakespeare s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is mainly based on theassassination of Julius Caesar. The character who was in charge of the assassination was,ironically, Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Julius Caesar. What would cause aperson to kill a close friend? After examining Brutus relationship to Caesar, hisinvolvement in the conspiracy, and his importance to the plot, the truth can be revealedthat Brutus kills his close friend for the love of Rome. Marcus Brutus has a strong relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationshipwith Rome and its people. Brutus is very close to Caesar. In Roman times, the only wayfor someone to get close to a person of high rank is if he is close to that particular person.In many points of the play, Brutus was talking and next to Caesar. Brutus also lovesCaesar but fears his power. In the early acts of the play, Brutus says to Cassius, “Whatmeans this shouting? I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their king yet I love himwell”(I, ii, 85-89). Brutus loves Caesar, but would not allow him to be a “climber ofambitions ladder (II, i, 24). Brutus would not allow Caesar to rise to power and then turnhis back onto the people of Rome. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus talks toAntony about Caesar s death. “Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and pity to thegeneral wrong of Rome “(III, i, 185-186). Brutus says that Antony cannot see their–themembers of the conspiracy–hearts, which are full of pity. Again, this shows how Brutusloves Caesar but cares for the life of Rome and its people more. This is the only reasonBrutus would conspire against Caesar. For Brutus says to himself, “I know no personalcause to spurn at him How that might change his nature “(II, i, 1,13) Caesar srelationship with Brutus is also strong. Just allowing Brutus to speak to Caesar shows hisrespect for Brutus. Caesar feels that Brutus is noble to him and does the right thingregardless of personal danger. On the Ides of March, as Caesar is assassinated, Caesar slast line is: “Et tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar.”(III, i, 85). This shows that Caesar would notdie without Brutus s 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.According to Cassius, Brutus s 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 forCaesar s assassination. Brutus will also be the leader of the conspiracy as a safety measurefor the assassination. Cassius is the one who declares this, “Brutus shall lead the way, andwe will grace his heels with the most boldest and best hearts of Rome (III, i, 135-136).Again, if Brutus leads the way, the people will think that the death of Julius Caesar wasnot such a bad thing. Brutus also declares to himself that his role in the conspiracy is tosave Rome. He says to the people that, “If then that friend demand why Brutus roseagainst Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Romemore” (III, ii, 21-24). If Brutus was not in the plot of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, theconspiracy would probably not have worked. Since Brutus “loved Rome more” (III, ii,23-24), he decides to be a part of the conspiracy. If he did not love Rome more thanCaesar, he would not have joined in the assassination of Julius Caesar. Cassius and the restof the conspirators would probably not have continued on without Brutus because theywould not have the safety of Brutus afterwards. The people would think that there was noreason for Caesar s death and most likely beheaded all the conspirators. Also, if Brutuswas not in the play, the whole end of the play would not ever occur. Brutus would not bethere to have an army or kill himself, and Cassius will already be beheaded. If Brutus wasnot in the play, the title would have absolutely no meaning. Marcus Brutus was a goodfriend to Julius Caesar, but not good enough. He had moral values dealing with Rome andits people. Brutus s values then made him join a conspiracy against Caesar put together byCassius. Brutus joins this mainly because he did not want Caesar to turn his back on Romeso there would be a reasonable reason for killing Caesar. If Brutus was not in the play,there would be no “Tragedy” in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.

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