Why Was Julius Caesar A Bad Leader

Superior Essays
Julius Caesar, a play about the lives of Caesar, his “friends”, and the people of Rome has

escalated quickly and become a massacre. Acts I through III were mainly about Caesar coming

into power and the conspirators’ plans to kill him. Caesar was eventually murdered after being

told several times to beware of the Ides of March and to watch his back. Because Caesar was the

ruler of Rome, and was murdered, the city needed to find a new leader. The two men competing

for the role of leader were Mark Antony and Brutus. Mark Antony was not the greatest speaker,

but he won over the people by using facts to prove that Caesar was not a bad leader, as he had

been portrayed by Brutus. Octavius, the commander over the legions, came back to
…show more content…
Brutus and Cassius joined together to create an

alliance to oppose Antony and Octavius. The fates of Brutus and Cassius will be similar, and

Octavius and Antony’s fates will also be similar.

Brutus was at his camp when he heard that Cassius was coming to visit him, and that was

when things got intense. Lucillius, one of Brutus’ officers, was summoned to talk in private to

Brutus and was questioned about Cassius’ character. Brutus was informed that Cassius is not as

nice as he was previously. Once Cassius arrived to the camp, he accused Brutus of doing him

wrong, but Brutus responded by saying he does not treat enemies wrong so how could he treat a

friend wrong. The two men started to get into an argument, but soon ended when they decided to

settle their feud in private because they wanted people to see them as two loving individuals.

Once in the tent, they began to share their concerns and reveal their real reasons for being upset

with one another. Cassius was upset because Brutus sent Lucius Pella to jail for taking bribes

from the Sardians. Cassius wrote a letter saying Pella should not be punished, but Brutus
…show more content…
Octavius and Antony were becoming stronger in force and she did not want to be hurt by

them. Messala asked Brutus if he had spoken to or heard of Portia recently in his letters and he

lied and said he had not. Brutus questioned him on why he was asking about his wife Portia and

Messala responded by informing Brutus that she was dead. Even though Brutus already knew

about Portia’s death, he did not tell Messala he knew, but acted nonchalantly about the matter.

One hundred senators were reported dead. They were killed by Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus

because they were either corrupt or involved in the murder of Caesar. Brutus and Cassius

received word that Antony and Octavius were headed to Philippi to find them and punish them

for murdering Caesar (Julius Caesar).

Brutus and Cassius decided to combine their armies and fight against Antony and

Octavius, but they had two different ideas on how to approach the situation. Immediately, Brutus

wanted to go to Philippi so Octavius and Antony could not grow in number, but Cassius

disagreed. He wanted to remain where they were and let Antony come find them. If Antony

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    killed Caesar. Lucilius then admits that Cassius wasn’t his usual friendly self and Brutus takes…

    • 1384 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brutus saw what Lucius was doing was unfair, and Brutus wants to be a just ruler. Therefore he had to punish Lucius for his actions. Cassius tells Brutus about his part in the scheme, and this angered Brutus. Brutus goes on a rant about how they killed Caesar for being an unjust and ambitious ruler, but then Cassius began being an unjust and ambitious ruler. So, Cassius was being a hypocrite.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brutus, before the assassination of Caesar. Brutus was the son of a great military general, and a great military general himself. He was always seen as loyal to Caesar and a good friend to him as well. He would always bring in many people that Caesar requested to bring him from war and they have had no conflicts in their work, so why would Brutus all of a sudden turn on Caesar like he did? There is context that shows what happens and tells how it happened. Brutus was not the one who had the conflicts. So was Brutus convinced or did he really turn? That is what this document is going to talk about.…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brutus Hero Quotes

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Brutus faced many conflicts making decision but never gave up on Rome. While discussing the problem Brutus says to Cassius, “ That you do love me I am nothing Jealous. What you would work me to, I have some aim” (1.2. 162-163). Brutus knows that Cassius wants him to do, but he wants to make his own decision. Cassius informs Brutus that Caesar is a bad man, “ In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending…

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Act 4 Scene 2 of Julius Caesar, Brutus greets Titinius and Pindarus, who tell him that Cassius has almost arrived at the camp site. Brutus is eager to confront Cassius because he says that he offended him and looks forward to hearing his explanation. As soon as Cassius shows up with most of his army he immediately says that Brutus had wronged him and also wants an explanation. They decide to take the dilemma inside the tent so the armies won’t see their argument. This scene shows that even though Brutus and Cassius were best friends they still had issues.…

    • 1015 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Within Julius Caesar, the characters are on the brink of war after the death of their beloved emperor, Julius Caesar. Cassius and Brutus are fighting to create a new and better Rome. Whilst newfound enemies, Octavius and Antony are fighting to restore Rome as it was under the rule of Caesar. Considering Brutus and…

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the opening of Act II, Brutus is portrayed alone in his orchard pondering what to do about Caesar regarding the anonymous letter that was just sent to his house. Brutus says to himself, “My ancestors did from the streets of Rome/ the Tarquin drive when he was called a king./ ‘Speak, strike, redress!’ am I entreated/ to speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,/ if the redress will follow, thou receivest/ thy full petition at the hand of Brutus” (II.i. 56-61). Brutus is explaining to the audience that in the past the people of Rome had dictators and disaster struck. He promises that he will try his best to never let this happen to the people of Rome again...even if it means killing Caesar. Brutus again shows his nobility to Rome at the end of Act IV. Brutus, who was unaware until later of the conspirators’ reasons to kill Caesar, has a dream where the ghost of Caesar visits him. After the ghost tells Brutus that they will meet again at Philippi, Brutus says,”Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then./ Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest./ Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee-” (IV.iii.330-332). The dream tells Brutus that someone is going to die at Philippi. By feeling this guilt, Brutus displays nobility. He is overridden with guilt because his friend Caesar is dead. In the opening of the play, Cassius is speaking to Brutus about rumors of Caesar becoming…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Friends should not go behind one another 's back and plot against them. Brutus declares, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more,” when he is explaining why Caesar is dead to the crowd of Romans (III.ii. 21-2). The intentions for stabbing Caesar are to simply protect Rome and the people. Killing Caesar is a result of Brutus’ tragic flaw. Evidence of Brutus’ tragic flaw also occurs when he fights against Octavius and Antony at Philippi. Normally Brutus appears as a peaceful man who would not encourage fighting, but because of his flaw he decides to march his troops to the war zone. Cassius and Brutus make the decision of going to meet the enemy at Philippi when Cassius insist, “Then, with your will, go on; / We’ll along ourselves…

    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For the sake of honor, Brutus is willing to go against people he cares for. After the conspirators killed…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Who should Rome choose to be their new leader? The cold-hearted killer of their old king? Or their deceased kings’ best friend that still grieves his death that will stop at nothing to become king? Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, this book is about a murdered king and how the noblemen of Rome want to take his place,but who deserves it? Although, Antony and Brutus use ethos, pathos, and logos, I feel like antony wins the crowd because of his strong use of ethos. Brutus uses more logos to express his points on why people shouldn’t down talk him. But they both share the same goal of winning the loyalty of Rome.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Antony was the guiltiest of them, yet Brutus was not so innocent himself. Brutus’ betrayed his best friend by killing…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The mental positions that Brutus stimulates in his remarks towards himself while speaking to Cassius corresponds closely with the internal…

    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the few early scenes we are able to see Cassius promoting his own views upon Brutus. He starts off undertaking the manipulation…

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brutus’s loyalty to Rome makes him vulnerable to the manipulation of Cassius, who uses Brutus’s fatal flaw against him for his own agenda. Cassius knows that Brutus will do anything for Rome, no matter…

    • 1220 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Caesar professes his trust in Brutus, and exits the stage, leaving Cassius alone with Brutus. This is where we see the true Brutus. Cassius starts to pull Brutus to the other side, telling him that Caesar is no good for Rome, and that he needs to be... Cut from the picture. Brutus, whi was once one of Caesars most loyal followers, starts to see the light. By the next act, Brutus has his own soliloquy to discuss with himself why he wants to kill Caesar. It seems that he doesn 't think that Caesar has done anything wrong... And it even seems that he doesn 't think that Caesar may even do anything wrong in the future. Really, it seems that he 's going to kill Caesar on the off-chance that he might go power hungry in the future. Just a little strange. His wife thinks that he is acting strange also, and confronts him about it. So he lies to her as well. Anything for the good of the people, I guess. The next day, he and the other conspirators gather at the senate to prepare for the murder. Soon however, Lucius comes with the news that Caesar is not coming. So they decide to send Decius Brutus with the message that a sacrifice was slaughtered, and after it was mangled and had its guts removed, that could not find the heart. Caesar took this to be a sign that the gods were telling him that if he didn 't go to the senate, he would be a heartless beast. Of course. When Caesar arrives, Brutus…

    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays