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.