Often times, individuals will find themselves in a position where a difficult decision must be made. This common occurrence is used by authors to develop plots as well as characters. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar is gaining power among the Romans after defeating the previous leader, Pompey. Some Senators are taking note of this, and believe that they need to end this accelerated growth in power by assassinating Caesar. Marcus Brutus, one of Caesar’s dearest friends, must make a decision whether to remain in his friendship, or accept his invitation to the conspiracy in the name of his country. Brutus is right in joining the conspiracy because it helped Rome while causing minimum harm, Caesar was a tyrant,
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Without Caesar’s sudden popularity, he would not be in power. Because he manipulates and captures the attention of all Romans, they are attracted to him. Cassius explains this to Brutus as he tries to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy, telling him, “I was born free as Caesar. So were you. / We both have fed as well, and we can both / Endure the winter’s cold as well as he” (I.ii.99-101). What Cassius implies by saying this is that Caesar does not have any special attributes and should not be protected. He is not someone sent from the gods to better Rome, and should not be treated so. The Romans, however, do not believe this, and think Caesar could do no harm, because of what they hear of him. They do not hear of the bad he does, and are left in the dark. To bring them out of this, it is important that Brutus joins the conspiracy to guide Rome away from the type of rule Caesar used and serve as a better leader. At the time after Caesar’s death, the Romans are confused, and can be easily manipulated. They will believe whatever they may hear. When Brutus speaks at Caesar’s funeral, he immediately turns the crowd from rambunctious and hassled to content with Caesar’s death. Minutes later, Antony convinces the same crowd to avenge Caesar’s death. This displays the Romans’ vulnerability at the time, and how simple it was to change their viewpoint. Because of this, they need to have a truthful leader who will not take advantage of them, as Caesar would have. Brutus exhibits this by saying “If it be aught toward the general good, / Set honor in one eye and death i ' th ' other, / And I will look on both indifferently” (I.ii.87-89). Here, Brutus expresses that he is willing to die to protect the general good, showing he is deeply concerned with the safety of Rome, whereas other leaders may be concerned with themselves and how much power they hold. He
Without Caesar’s sudden popularity, he would not be in power. Because he manipulates and captures the attention of all Romans, they are attracted to him. Cassius explains this to Brutus as he tries to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy, telling him, “I was born free as Caesar. So were you. / We both have fed as well, and we can both / Endure the winter’s cold as well as he” (I.ii.99-101). What Cassius implies by saying this is that Caesar does not have any special attributes and should not be protected. He is not someone sent from the gods to better Rome, and should not be treated so. The Romans, however, do not believe this, and think Caesar could do no harm, because of what they hear of him. They do not hear of the bad he does, and are left in the dark. To bring them out of this, it is important that Brutus joins the conspiracy to guide Rome away from the type of rule Caesar used and serve as a better leader. At the time after Caesar’s death, the Romans are confused, and can be easily manipulated. They will believe whatever they may hear. When Brutus speaks at Caesar’s funeral, he immediately turns the crowd from rambunctious and hassled to content with Caesar’s death. Minutes later, Antony convinces the same crowd to avenge Caesar’s death. This displays the Romans’ vulnerability at the time, and how simple it was to change their viewpoint. Because of this, they need to have a truthful leader who will not take advantage of them, as Caesar would have. Brutus exhibits this by saying “If it be aught toward the general good, / Set honor in one eye and death i ' th ' other, / And I will look on both indifferently” (I.ii.87-89). Here, Brutus expresses that he is willing to die to protect the general good, showing he is deeply concerned with the safety of Rome, whereas other leaders may be concerned with themselves and how much power they hold. He