Is Brutus's Soliloquy In Julius Caesar

Brutus has a long soliloquy during Act II of Julius Caesar, in which he makes several claims regarding Julius Caesar himself. Brutus claims: if Caesar were to become king, his personality will become pure ambition and ruthlessness, and killing him will be the only way to stop him. Brutus establishes his credibility by stating he has no ill will towards Caesar; however, he wants common good for the Roman people. This is a clear example of Ethos, “I know no cause to spurn at him, but for the general” (2.1.11-12). Brutus then states his concern for a personality change in Caesar if he were to become king, supporting his argument. Brutus states, “He would be crown’d: How that might change his nature, there’s the question” (2.1.12-13). Brutus continues to support his argument with an excellent example of Pathos, “Crown him that, and then I grant we put a sting in him, that at his will he may do danger with” (2.1.15-17). …show more content…
He provides this argument through a Pathos lens, as Brutus incites fear in himself by referring to threatening objects as metaphors in a foreboding manner. Lastly, Brutus stated very clearly the danger of Caesar becoming king, and explicitly says that killing him is the way to stop him. Brutus compares Caesar to a snake’s egg, “ And therefore think him as a serpentine’s egg which hatched, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell” (2.1.33-35). This claim can be interpreted as Logos or Pathos. Logos is applicable, as it ties in previous arguments into a logical conclusion to be made about Caesar. Pathos is applicable, as Brutus uses strong language and connotations to invoke emotions in himself. Brutus, of Julius Caesar, believes Caesar would be a very dangerous king. His personality would twist into even more ambition and ruthlessness, and the only way to stop his crowning is to kill