Julius Ceaser – The Importance Of Brutus Essay, Research Paper
Throughout
Julius Caesar, Brutus’s actions have very extensive ramifications, I wish to
review his actions, and the motivating factors behind those actions. I intend
to prove that Brutus had a strong and well grounded personae. He had good
intentions; however, he made one fatal mistake and that was his downfall. He
had many positive qualities. I wish to bring these to the light and delve into
how they affected the plot.Brutus is
a very sincere man. He truly believes that his role in Cassius’s assassination
plot is for the good of Rome and her citizens. This becomes very apparent when
he says, "But for the general. He would be crown’d: How that might change
his nature, there’s the question." (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 12-14) This
truly innocent way of thinking allows him to be persuaded by Cassius to go
against Caesar. He is also an honest man. He refuses to take a bribe in lines
75-78 of Act 4, Scene 3. "By any indirection: I did send to you for gold to
pay my legions, which you denied me: was thatdone like
Cassius?" This is an honesty that gained him the respect of the people.
Brutus was a naive man as well. Sincerity is often misconstrued as being naive;
however, I will treat each as a separate characteristic. Brutus’s naive spirit
is mostly shown not in onesingle
action, but in the overall willingness he has to believe that those around him
are essentially good. "Only be patient till we have appeased the
multitude, beside themselves with fear, and then we will deliver you the cause
why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him, have thus proceeded." (Act
3, Scene 1, Lines 179-183); And alsowhen he
said: "So fare you well at once; for Brutus’ tongue hath almost ended his
life’s history: night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest." (Act 5,
Scene 5, Lines 38-42) Brutus was also of noble birth. This isn’t really a
character trait, but it is one reason why he may have been in such a high
ranking political position. "I will with patience hear, and find a time
both meet to hear and answer such high th
upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager than to repute himself a son of
Rome. (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 169-173)Brutus is
also a philosophical thinker. He has predetermined ideas on life that govern
his actions and decisions throughout the play. Such examples are his
unwillingness to let the conspirators kill Marc Antony in their zealous goal to
create a political coup. "For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: Let us be
sacrificers, but notbutchers,
Caius. (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 166-168) He also allows Antony to speak at
Ceasar’s funeral, and on top of that allows him to speak last. Allowing him to
be the latter speaker at the funeral is a very important matter. Some can say
it was a blunder, others might say it was Brutus’s way of being honorable.
Speaking last to a crowd like that allowed him to effectively get the last word
and impart his thoughts as first and foremost to the crowd. The crowd believes
in what the conspirators did until Antony spoke, and if the crowd believes in
the conspirator’s cause, then the outcome would be much different. "Our
arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts of brothers’ temper, do receive you
in with all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. Cassius: Your voice shall
be as strong as any man’s in the disposing of new dignities."(Act 3, Scene
1, Lines175-179)
Another point in which Brutus stood up for the philosophy by which he lived was
at the battle of Phillipi where he decided to risk everything. This strategic
viewpoint is either a sound or unsound decision, depending on your point of
view. Regardless ofthat it is
what Brutus believes in, and he stood up for it.I
initially began this thesis having the opposite point of view. I thought that
Brutus was a poor template for the role that Shakespeare put him in. However, I
soon realized that Brutus, in fact, was a staple of moral fortitude because of
the reasons I havepreviously
stated. The plot revolves around Brutus and thus his actions are often
scrutinized and are important to understand. Brutus is a statue of honor and
should be recognized as such.