Marcus BrutusWilliam Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is mainlybased on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character who was incharge of the assassination was, ironically, Marcus Brutus, a servantand close friend to Julius Caesar.
But what would cause a person to killa close friend? After examining Brutus’ relationship to Caesar, hisinvolvement in the conspiracy, and his importance to the plot, the truthcan be revealed. Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Caesar, has a strongrelationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and itspeople. Brutus is very close to Caesar. In Roman times, the only way forsomeone to get close to a person of high rank is if he/she is close tohim/her. In many points of the play, Brutus was talking and next toCaesar.
Brutus also loves Caesar but fears his power. In the early actsof the play, Brutus says to Cassius, “What means this shouting? I dofear the people do choose Caesar for their king?yet I love himwell. “(act 1, scene 2, ll. 85-89), as he is speaking to Cassius. Brutusloves Caesar, but would not allow him to “climber-upward?He then untothe ladder turns his back?”(act 2, scene 1, ll.
24,26). As the quotesays, Brutus would not allow Caesar to rise to power and then turn hisback 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, scene1, ll. 185-186). Brutus says that Antony cannot see their(members of theconspiracy) hearts, which are full of pity.
Again, this shows how Brutusloved Caesar but cared for the life of Rome and its people more. This isthe only reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. For Brutus says tohimself, “I know no personal cause to spurn at him?How that might changehis nature?”(act 2, scene1, ll. 1,13) Caesar’s relationship with Brutusis also strong. Just allowing Brutus to speak to Caesar shows hisrespect for Brutus.
Caesar feels that Brutus is noble to him and doesthe right thing regardless of personal danger. On the Ides of March, asCaesar was assassinated, Caesar’s last line is: “Et tu, Brute?–Thenfall, Caesar. “(act 3, scene 1, l. 85).
This shows that Caesar would notdie without Brutus’ stab. Caesar realizes that there must be a noblereason for this assassination if Brutus was in it. This again shows howmuch Caesar respects Brutus. Brutus and Caesar both respect each other,but in different ways. Marcus Brutus had a very important role in the conspiracy againstCaesar. He was the “back-bone” of the plan.
According to Cassius,Brutus’ main purpose in the conspiracy is for an insurance policy. Thepeople will think, since Brutus is noble to Caesar, that there is a goodreason for Caesar’s assassination. Brutus will also be the leader of theconspiracy for another “insurance policy” for the assassination. Cassiusis the one who declares this, “Brutus shall lead the way, and we willgrace 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 willthink that the death of Julius Caesar wasn’t such a bad thing. Brutusalso declares to himself that his role in the conspiracy is to saveRome. He says to the people that, “If then that friend demand whyBrutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesarless, 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, theconspiracy would probably not have worked. Since Brutus “?loved Romemore. “(Act 3,scene2, ll. 23-24), he decided to be a part of theconspiracy.
If he hadn’t loved Rome more than Caesar, he would not havejoined in the assassination of Julius Caesar. Cassius and the rest ofthe conspirators would probably not have continued on without Brutusbecause they would have no “insurance” afterwards. The people wouldthink that there was no reason for Caesar’s death and most likelybeheaded all the conspirators. Also, if Brutus was not in the play, thewhole end of the play would not ever occur. Brutus would not be there tohave an army or kill himself, and Cassius will already be beheaded.
IfBrutus 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’ valuesthen made him join a conspiracy against Caesar put together by Cassius. Brutus joined this mainly because he didn’t want Caesar to turn his backon Rome so there would be a reasonable reason for killing Caesar.
IfBrutus wasn’t in the play, there would be no “Tragedy” in The Tragedy ofJulius Caesar. ————————————————————–
