Marcus Brutus Character Analysis, From Julius Caesar Essay, Research Paper
Marcus Brutus character analysis, from Julius Caesar
William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is mainly
based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character who was in
charge of the assassination was, ironically, Marcus Brutus, a servant
and close friend to Julius Caesar. But what would cause a person to kill
a close friend? After examining Brutus’ relationship to Caesar, his
involvement in the conspiracy, and his importance to the plot, the truth
can be revealed.
Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Caesar, has a strong
relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and its
people. Brutus is very close to Caesar. In Roman times, the only way for
someone to get close to a person of high rank is if he/she is close to
him/her. In many points of the play, Brutus was talking and next to
Caesar. Brutus also loves Caesar but fears his power. In the early acts
of the play, Brutus says to Cassius, “What means this shouting? I do
fear the people do choose Caesar for their king?yet I love him
well.”(act 1, scene 2, ll.85-89), as he is speaking to Cassius. Brutus
loves Caesar, but would not allow him to “climber-upward?He then unto
the ladder turns his back?”(act 2, scene 1, ll.24,26). As the quote
says, Brutus would not allow Caesar to rise to power and then turn his
back onto the people of Rome. After the assassination of Julius Caesar,
Brutus talks to Antony about Caesar’s death. “Our hearts you see not;
they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong of Rome?”(act 3, scene
1, ll.185-186). Brutus says that Antony cannot see their(members of the
conspiracy) hearts, which are full of pity. Again, this shows how Brutus
loved Caesar but cared for the life of Rome and its people more. This is
the only reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. For Brutus says to
himself, “I know no personal cause to spurn at him?How that might change
his nature?”(act 2, scene1, ll. 1,13) Caesar’s relationship with Brutus
is also strong. Just allowing Brutus to speak to Caesar shows his
respect for Brutus. Caesar feels that Brutus is noble to him and does
the right thing regardless of personal danger. On the Ides of March, as
Caesar was assassinated, Caesar’s last line is: “Et tu, Brute?–Then
fall, Caesar.”(act 3, scene 1, l.85). This shows that Caesar would not
die without Brutus’ stab. Caesar realizes that there must be a noble
reason for this assassination if Brutus was in it. This again shows how
much Caesar respects Brutus. Brutus and Caesar both respect each other,
but in different ways.
Marcus Brutus had a very important role in the conspiracy against
Caesar. He was the “back-bone” of the plan. According to Cassius,
Brutus’ main purpose in the conspiracy is for an insurance policy. The
people will think, since Brutus is noble to Caesar, that there is a good
reason for Caesar’s assassination. Brutus will also be the leader of the
conspiracy for another “insurance policy” for the assassination. Cassius
is the one who declares this, “Brutus shall lead the way, and we will
grace his heels with the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. “(act 3,
scene 1, ll.135-136). Again, if Brutus leads the way, the people will
think that the death of Julius Caesar wasn’t such a bad thing. Brutus
also declares to himself that his role in the conspiracy is to save
Rome. He says to the people that, “If then that friend demand why
Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar
less, but that I loved Rome more.”(Act 3,scene 2,ll.21-24).
If Brutus was not in the plot of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the
conspiracy would probably not have worked. Since Brutus “?loved Rome
more.”(Act 3,scene2, ll.23-24), he decided to be a part of the
conspiracy. If he hadn’t loved Rome more than Caesar, he would not have
joined in the assassination of Julius Caesar. Cassius and the rest of
the conspirators would probably not have continued on without Brutus
because they would have no “insurance” afterwards. The people would
think that there was no reason for Caesar’s death and most likely
beheaded all the conspirators. Also, if Brutus was not in the play, the
whole end of the play would not ever occur. Brutus would not be there to
have an army or kill himself, and Cassius will already be beheaded. If
Brutus was not in the play, the title would have absolutely no meaning.
Marcus Brutus was a good friend to Julius Caesar, but not good enough.
He had moral values dealing with Rome and its people. Brutus’ values
then made him join a conspiracy against Caesar put together by Cassius.
Brutus joined this mainly because he didn’t want Caesar to turn his back
on Rome so there would be a reasonable reason for killing Caesar. If
Brutus wasn’t in the play, there would be no “Tragedy” in The Tragedy of
Julius Caesar.