He's humble about what he's done (both good and bad) and quietly accepting of his own fate.He was the founder of the Roman Republic and who led the revolt of the people and the Senate of Rome against the Tarquini and, after their expulsion, was the first one of two consuls of Rome. Brutus commits an act of self-sacrifice with no pride or self-pity. He's as committed to his own death now as he was to Caesar's then. It's not that Brutus didn't willingly kill Caesar. His final words are most telling – he doesn't die just to avenge Caesar, but instead leaves a complicated legacy: "Caesar, now be still: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will." This incantation acknowledges the debt Brutus owes to Caesar, and it admits that Brutus sees some of his own failings too – leading him to embrace his own death. Brutus' defining traits are still up for discussion: is he more naïve than noble, more callous than considerate? Brutus' honor convinces him that they shouldn't dispose of Antony when the other men want to, and his trust in Antony's honor leads him to believe Antony's funeral speech will not be an invitation to riot. Yet for all of Brutus' good qualities, his troubles stem from his decision to murder a man and his misjudgment about the consequences. There's a reason Antony calls Brutus the "noblest Roman" (meaning most honorable): he stands up for what he believes in, risks his life for Rome, and doesn't seem to be concerned with personal gain. Obviously friendship is very important to Brutus. When Cassius asks him why he's been so upset lately, Brutus' first priority is to apologize to his pal for being so moody and neglectful of their relationship. This speech also says a lot about Brutus' character. ![]() The rest of play traces Brutus' inner turmoil, which is why a lot of literary critics see Brutus as the great-grandfather of two of Shakespeare's later protagonists: Hamlet (the moodiest teenager in literature) and the introspective Macbeth. Is he worried about Caesar's growing power and what he'll probably have to do to stop him from becoming king? Probably. When Brutus says he's been at "war" with himself, we know he's pretty torn up about something. Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,įorgets the shows of love to other men. (Among which number, Cassius, be you one) Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors.īut let not therefore my good friends be grieved Of late with passions of some difference, Check out his response when Cassius asks him what's bothering him:īe not deceived. When we first meet Brutus, it becomes clear that he's the play's most psychologically complex character. But does his sense of patriotism really justify killing a friend and a major political leader? It turns out that this is one of the most important questions in the play, and there aren't any easy answers. OK, fine – we believe Brutus when he says it was hard for him to murder Caesar. If then that friendĭemand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is myĪnswer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved If there be any in this assembly, any dearįriend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love (1.2.75-89)Įven though Brutus "love" Caesar "well," he also fears that his friend will be crowned king, which goes against the ideals of the Roman Republic.Īfter killing his pal and washing his hands in his blood, Brutus defends his actions: ![]() I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well. Then must I think you would not have it so. What means this shouting? I do fear the people When Brutus hears how the commoners are treating Caesar like a rock star, he's worried for Rome: ![]() He has to choose between his loyalty to the Roman Republic and his loyalty to his friend, who seems like he could be heading toward tyrant status. Biggest Backstabber Ever or Roman Hero?īrutus' decision to stab Caesar in the back isn't an easy one. Does this make Brutus a villain worthy of a Lemony Snicket novel? Not necessarily, but we'll let you decide. One of the conspirators, Brutus is supposed to be Julius Caesar's BFF but he ends up stabbing his so-called pal in the back, literally and figuratively. ![]() (Click the character infographic to download.)
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