Brutus's Character In Julius Caesar

Abraham Lincoln once stated, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” One key term in Lincoln’s statement is character, which is defined as one of the attributes that make up and distinguish an individual. Someone’s character defines who that person is and the qualities that person possesses. Another central term in his statement is power, which can be interpreted as possession of control or influence over others. Taken altogether, Lincoln’s statement means that being able to overcome hardships does not reveal a person’s true disposition because underneath that person’s apparent strength and bravery, there is always a different side to people when they become superior to others. Furthermore, …show more content…
For example, after Cassius attempts to persuade Brutus to join the conspirators, Brutus decides that he must kill Caesar during a soliloquy in his orchard. Brutus claims that assassinating Caesar is the only way to save Rome from the evils of tyranny (II.i.10-17). This clearly demonstrates that Brutus begins to change because it shows how his honor towards Rome causes him to relinquish his loyalty to his best friend Caesar and murder him. By eliminating Caesar, Brutus feels he has saved Rome from Caesar’s ambitions, and believes the citizens should praise him for doing this deed. This affects the work as a whole because it marks the beginning of Brutus accumulating power over the people of Rome now that Caesar is dead. Shakespeare includes this situation because it also develops the theme that if one’s love for something is strong, that person would do anything to protect it. In this incident, Brutus’s love for Rome is stronger than his love for Caesar. This example of characterization clearly shows that the Critical Lens Statement is true because it demonstrates how Brutus’s honor is diminishing because he is given the power to turn against his best friend, and he uses that power to kill Julius