In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus kills his best friend ostensibly for a greater cause. He is a well-known man, recognized throughout the Roman Empire as an upstanding citizen, who follows a path of rigorous moral and ethical code. With this in perspective, we must wonder why Brutus would the kill the leader of Rome and his best friend. Perhaps the best way to understand the rationale would be by digging deeper into Brutus probable intention for taking the life of Cesar. A leader who is shown not to have unduly abused the powers of his office.
Shakespeare characterizes Brutus as a reputable man who has no faults. Paradoxically, his well-known honor is what causes Cassius to push for his inclusion in the plot. The plotters think that …show more content…
He does not care to cross check the authenticity of the letters which were sent by Cassius. He allows Antony to speak in the Senate who systematically rips the moral façade of Brutus. Antony repeats how fair Brutus is throughout his soliloquy to the mob of Rome. He does this with a purpose: he wants the civilians of Rome to question if Brutus is the man who lives up to the perfect personality he has built for himself. Antony states “Was this ambition? / Yet Brutus says [Caesar] was ambitious, /And, sure, he is an honorable man” but he lets the people of Rome ponder the evidence that the noble Brutus is wrong (JC.3.2.96-98). Through the repetition of “…Brutus is an honorable man,” Shakespeare juxtaposes the true actions of Brutus (JC.3.2.93). Antony brings attention to the unethical assassination by focusing on Brutus’s apparent “honorable[ness]”. This rhetorical device forces the Romans to consider Brutus’s character and leads to them understanding the hypocrisy of his decision to kill his best friend. Maybe Brutus was naïve but when Rome uncovers Brutus’ real identity he falls from society’s …show more content…
Brutus utters this line after he commits suicide. At the point of death, people reveal their true self as they have nothing to lose. He probably is indicating that he regrets his action of taking the life of his Cesar and this shows him to be truly an honorable man. This impression is reinforced later, when Antony upon discovering Brutus 's body, says "This was the noblest Roman of them all…" and committed the act not out of any personal gain, but in a "general honest thought/and common good to all." This is key as Antony after all was the person who changed the perception of the Romans about Brutus’s righteousness after Cesar’s assassination.
Brutus centers his entire world on the virtue of righteousness. Brutus’s morals, however, put him in a position where his projected character hinders him. This results in the eventual demise of Rome and ultimately himself. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus’ personality causes his ruin. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus’ action hides a horrible moral misjudgment and snowballs into his hamartia. However, he was an honorable man to the
Shakespeare characterizes Brutus as a reputable man who has no faults. Paradoxically, his well-known honor is what causes Cassius to push for his inclusion in the plot. The plotters think that …show more content…
He does not care to cross check the authenticity of the letters which were sent by Cassius. He allows Antony to speak in the Senate who systematically rips the moral façade of Brutus. Antony repeats how fair Brutus is throughout his soliloquy to the mob of Rome. He does this with a purpose: he wants the civilians of Rome to question if Brutus is the man who lives up to the perfect personality he has built for himself. Antony states “Was this ambition? / Yet Brutus says [Caesar] was ambitious, /And, sure, he is an honorable man” but he lets the people of Rome ponder the evidence that the noble Brutus is wrong (JC.3.2.96-98). Through the repetition of “…Brutus is an honorable man,” Shakespeare juxtaposes the true actions of Brutus (JC.3.2.93). Antony brings attention to the unethical assassination by focusing on Brutus’s apparent “honorable[ness]”. This rhetorical device forces the Romans to consider Brutus’s character and leads to them understanding the hypocrisy of his decision to kill his best friend. Maybe Brutus was naïve but when Rome uncovers Brutus’ real identity he falls from society’s …show more content…
Brutus utters this line after he commits suicide. At the point of death, people reveal their true self as they have nothing to lose. He probably is indicating that he regrets his action of taking the life of his Cesar and this shows him to be truly an honorable man. This impression is reinforced later, when Antony upon discovering Brutus 's body, says "This was the noblest Roman of them all…" and committed the act not out of any personal gain, but in a "general honest thought/and common good to all." This is key as Antony after all was the person who changed the perception of the Romans about Brutus’s righteousness after Cesar’s assassination.
Brutus centers his entire world on the virtue of righteousness. Brutus’s morals, however, put him in a position where his projected character hinders him. This results in the eventual demise of Rome and ultimately himself. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus’ personality causes his ruin. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus’ action hides a horrible moral misjudgment and snowballs into his hamartia. However, he was an honorable man to the