Joining the Conspiracy
Lloyd Banks once said “I take things like honor and loyalty seriously. It's more important to me than any materialistic thing or any fame I could have.” In this quote Banks explains that being loyal and honorable is extremely serious and should come before fame and materials. This is very relevant to Julius Caesar Act II, because Brutus has to decide whether to join the conspiracy or to tell Caesar about what Cassius plans to do. In Act II, Brutus decides to join the conspiracy and even becomes the leader of it. I believe that Brutus did the right thing in joining the conspiracy, because he puts the people of Rome first and is very loyal and honorable to them, and Brutus thinks that Caesar will become corrupt and
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For example, Brutus was worried about the people when they were cheering for Caesar to be their leader and had said, “What means this shouting? I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king” (I,ii,75-89). The Roman people were unloyal, for instance, they would cheer for whomever was favored at that time without thinking about who the person really is or what they offer to Rome. These are examples of how trustworthy and honorable Brutus is, and how he needs to change the way people think of Caesar. For example, Brutus needs to show that Caesar is not better than anyone else as he states in (I,ii,98-103) “I was born as free as Caesar and so were you. We both have eaten as well, and we can both suffer the winter’s cold as well as …show more content…
First, during the Lupercal when the women aren’t able to bare children, he thinks that it is Calpurnia’s fault. Second, when Antony was trying to offer him a symbol of having the crown he denied it three times to get attention. For example, every time he rejected it the crowd cheered louder and louder for him to take it and would also praise him. These actions just proved himself to be more arrogant, self-absorbed, heartless, and showed he wanted to be in control and wanted all the attention on himself. This is evidence that Caesar showed himself to be an arrogant and inconsiderate
As noble and great as Brutus might be, all tragic heroes have some tragic flaws and make some errors of judgment, which leads them to their downfall. In this case Brutus's great flaw is that he is too honorable, and he's too naïve when he is dealing with people. An example of an error of judgment is when Brutus underestimates Antony, and thinks him incapable of being dangerous after Caesar's death, "For Antony is but a limb of Caesar...he can do no more than Caesar's arm When Caesar's head is off." This turns out not to be the case. One example of Brutus's excessive honor being damaging to him, is when he decides that only Caesar should die and no one else even if they seem to threaten his cause, as Cassius warns repeatedly that Antony does.
All of the Roman people respect him and trust that he will make decisions to improve Rome. One of the reasons that he joined the conspiracy was simply for the Roman people. During the first act, it says that Brutus sits high in the hearts of the Roman people (I, iii, 157). If Brutus does not do this for his people, he will feel as though he is responsible for the events that will happen in the future. Consequently, he decides to choose what is best for his people and decides to join the group that is planning to kill his best
Brutus believes he must put his own personal self and relationships behind for the betterment of Rome, leading to the people turning against him. One of the first examples is when he was brought the concept of killing Caesar, after much thought and deliberation he decides he must put away his own relationships for the betterment of his country. “O conspiracy, Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. Hide it in smiles and affability; For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.” (2.1.84-93) He knows that by doing this act he will inflict consequences of a great degree upon himself, but he knows he must do it for the betterment of Rome. He then
Should Brutus Join the Conspiracy Against Caesar? William Shakespeare once wrote, “to be, or not to be: that is the question, whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles.” This quote is relevant because Brutus must decide whether it is more noble to stand by his friend even though he may abuse his power or to betray his friend for the greater good of the roman people. I believe that Brutus sacrificing his friend for Rome is a noble act and it had to be done.
Antony and Cassius, unlike Brutus, never separate their private affairs from their public actions while Brutus tries to prove himself by acting only with respect to honor and virtue, completely ignoring his personal concerns. For example, Cassius disliked the fact that Caesar became “godlike” in the eyes of the Romans, so he leads Brutus to believe that Caesar had become too powerful and must die by sending him forged letters claiming that the Roman people support the death of Caesar, ultimately converting Brutus to his cause. At last Brutus ends up murdering his good friend in an act he truly believed was honorable. Marc Antony, who also shares in Cassius’ selfish trait, persuaded the conspirators that he is on their side, therefore gaining their leniency. He proceeds to persuade the plebeians of the conspirators’ injustice and gains support of the masses.
He states that Brutus is just as noble and worthy as Caesar. (Act 1, scene ii). He says that Brutus cannot see what everyone else does and recognize his worthiness. Cassius and the other senators do not want Caesar to be king because they would lose all their power. Cassius is slowly luring Brutus in to do his dirty work. He builds Brutus’s confidence up to make him thing that killing Caesar is the right thing to do. Cassius is basically playing with Brutus’s head because he knows Brutus will listen. So, Brutus joins the conspirators in killing Caesar. Cassius tells Brutus that it is for the good of Rome, and that he is saving them from a dictatorship. Cassius is going for Brutus’s weakest point, his care and concern for Rome. He knows that if Brutus believes the people distrust Caesar, then he will be convinced that Caesar must be thwarted. Brutus knew that if Caesar was crowned, he would never have a chance, and he was power hungry. This is what ultimately leads to the tragedy of Julius Caesar. After Brutus kills Caesar off, he starts to feel guilty for killing his friend, thus creating an internal conflict. Brutus was so confident that the plan would go exactly as planned that he fell apart when they encountered problems. If Brutus and the other conspirators had taken more time to think things through, they probably would have been more prepared for the situation that was handed to them.
In Brutus’s speech he talked about how he loved Rome more than Caesar. Brutus was very gullible, stoic, and also easily persuaded. Throughout his speech he uses fallacies. One example of a fallacy he uses is the either/or. “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men“ (III, i, 22-24). This makes the Roman people believe that either they going to be slaves or free men. One other thing Brutus uses are logos and ethos. He says, “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him” (III, i, 24-27). In that quote he tries to
These two examples prove that Caesar only cared for glory and not others. He also did not care for others, Caesar treated
Cassius, Brutus, and Antony use rhetoric successfully in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, albeit each differently and for different causes. Each of these men uses his skills in rhetoric to convince each other and at some points the entire population of Rome to follow his beliefs. However, each of these men has different motivations to do so, as well as different characteristics and general worldviews.
Some people believe that Brutus joining the conspiracy was the right thing for him to do. They agree with the killing of Caesar because they believe if he became a ruler he would be a tyrant. They would rather have the Caesar be murdered than risk the slightest possibility that he would become a dictator. What the conspiracy doesn’t realize is that life is precious. They didn't even make an attempt to talk to Caesar, or even verify that if he did become ruler, he would cause chaos. The conspiracy just lashed out and didn't care who got hurt in the
In act 2, scene 1, Brutus is finally introduced to the group of conspirators; in this act we notice the first mistake Brutus makes. "Alas good Cassius do not think of him. If he loves Caesar, all that he can is to himself, take thought, and die for Caesar. And that were much he should, for he is given to sports, to wilderness, and much company." Brutus believes he has only to explain his reasons for killing Caesar and everyone will accept them.
Brutus made an overwhelming amount of decisions based on the good of Rome, not contemplating how it could affect or hurt himself or those around him. One example of this is after Brutus and the conspirators killed Brutus he gave a speech. In this speech he said, “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.” (3.2.20-22). This quote is saying that the reason Brutus killed Caesar was not because he disliked him, but because he thought it was for the good of Rome. Brutus made this decision solely based on patriotism. He never thought about the effects or consequences it
Many people wonder whether Brutus should or should not join the conspiracy. In William Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar” play, Brutus is conflicted by joining the conspiracy, which helps Rome, but hurts his best friend Caesar in the process. Brutus did the right thing by joining the conspiracy for the better of Rome. He is able to use Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to justify the reasons for his actions against Caesar. Brutus’s main reason for killing Caesar is to stop him before he gets too powerful. As Brutus says in the story, “And therefore we think of him as a serpent’s egg which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, and kill him in the shell.” (II, i, 32-34). Not only does Brutus want to stop him before he gets to powerful, but he also
Shakespeare shows how power and the prospect of power changes people through the character of Brutus. Brutus’ attitude changes as he acquires power and detects the possibility of being powerful. Originally, everything Brutus does is for the good of the people and Rome itself. He recognizes that he has “no personal cause to spurn at [Caesar]” (I.I.11); however, he considers doing it “for the general” (I.I.12). Power has not yet changed Brutus’ attitude; he still focuses on the good of Rome as a whole and not just gaining power for himself. As the play continues, Brutus’ ongoing internal struggle of whether or not he should kill Caesar ends when he decides to kill him. He wants to kill him in a very specific way so that the people hate Caesar rather