Michael Cross Mrs. Korey Advanced Honors English 1 March 2023 Some heroes, in their valiant efforts, can make decisions that may seem rash. In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus makes many choices that only lead to downfall and chaos. While some may see him as a villain, much evidence suggests that he was an honorable hero, only doing what he believed best. There is also evidence that Shakespeare himself saw Brutus as a hero in the ways that he writes about him. In the play, there are countless lines from multiple characters in which Brutus is described as honorable and heroic. In Act 3, Scene 2, Brutus states, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Brutus loved his friend Caesar, but his honor forbade him from placing his relationship above his country, which is a heroic standard to uphold. Were he a villain, he would have no care for the state of Rome. In Act 5, Scene 5, Brutus says, “Caesar, now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will.” Brutus here is about to slay himself honorably. Before he does though, he proclaims that his killing of Caesar was made not in …show more content…
Throughout the play, Brutus is never described as dishonorable, always portrayed as a prestigious, yet tragic hero. In Act 5, Scene 5, Mark Antony says, “This was the noblest Roman of them all.” This in itself holds a deep respect for Brutus. Shakespeare had Antony say this because he knew Brutus was a good, but misguided hero. In the same act and scene, Octavius builds off of what Antony says, stating, “According to his virtue let us use him, With all respect and rites of burial. Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie, Most like a soldier, ordered honorably.” Shakespeare would not have had this type of gracious and honorable end for Brutus if he thought him to be a villain. Shakespeare knew that Brutus deserved the best, even if his foolishness led to his
As stated in the text, “Yet, I see thy honorable mettle may be wrought from that it is disposed”, as was said by Cassius towards Brutus. He feared that Caesar’s ambition would hinder the countries fate. If Brutus admits that Caesar was good for the people then wouldn’t that mean he was good for Rome too? He had admitted to the stabbing of Julius Caesar so that means he has no shame, correct? Yes, Antony claims Brutus to be an “honorable man” but in reality he believes no such thing.
There are many reasons why brutus has the most honor. When Brutus held a meeting at his own house to discuss how they would kill Caesar some of them considered killing Antony as well. Brutus tells them there is no need for this and that if they killed him it would become an act of slaughter instead of justice. Brutus never wavers his side and when he is confronted by Portia on everything he
Due to his prominence in society, and his naivety, he gets defeated by the Romans, which leads to his downfall. Marcus Brutus is a noble citizen of Rome and a prominent leader who leads the conspirators in the assassination of Julius Caesar. He is naive because he thought everything in the world was good. Brutus thought no one would ever deceive him, which led to his downfall and later his defeat. Marcus Brutus exemplifies a tragic hero because he was killed because due to his tragic flaw.
Brutus in julius caesar was truly an honorable man in my opinion because, all he really wanted was the best for Rome;in other words Brutus is willing to do whatever it takes even if it means sacrificing others close to him to strengthen Rome. Also Brutus has the least amount of blame for the murder; he felt the most guilt about caesar 's death because he is visited by his ghost. Most characters in the play don 't act honorable and they only want Caesars death to benefit themselves. Like Brutus, my Grandfather is honorable;he was an army
Brutus was a traitor to his country because of his display of treason. However, Brutus may have done what was best for Rome, to improve and reestablish his beloved country. Similarly, people may claim that Brutus was, in fact doing what was best for his country, and that murdering Caesar was not a betrayal. He seems to feel that Caesar would not be an asset to Rome and Brutus wants to really improve the country.
And the gentle friends, Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully.” (2. 1. 171-172.) He may call out for the murder of Caesar but he asks them to not kill him with anger or resentment. He claims his reasoning behind this is so that the plebeians will not see their actions as evil or misconstrue their intentions. The real reason, however, is that Brutus does not believe killing his friend is the right thing to do, but if it benefits the country and saves them from an evil tyrant then it is the correct course of action no matter his feelings.
Brutus is introduced to the play as a well intentioned and respected politician in Rome, with many supporters within the senate, as well as a close friend of Julius Caesar. As he learns of the plot to kill Caesar, he is convinced by the conspirators that Caesar is a tyrant in disguise, and that it is in the best interest of Rome that he should not lead. Brutus’ innocently patriotic love of Rome led him believe that killing Caesar was necessary, a sentiment shared and bolstered by the other conspirators. An excellent example of the conspirators betraying
In Act Two: Scene One, Brutus states, “And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg, Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.” Before letting Caesar and his ambition take over, Brutus had to take action. Killing Caesar was like killing
“Caesar, now be still: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.” (5.5.50-51). In the entire play Brutus always loved one thing the most;
Brutus exemplifies heroic behavior as he tried to do what he thought was best for his country. Brutus truly loved Caesar, but he began to be worried that Caesar would grow to be a tyrant. In Act two, Brutus states “Think him as a serpent’s egg, /which, hatched, would as his kind
Villains are depicted with the words malicious and vile but never misconceived. In Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Julius Caesar, it is apparent that Shakespeare intended to display Brutus as a fallen hero. His integrity and will to slaughter the man whom he loved for his country verifies that Brutus was more than a heartless traitor. Brutus was just a hero who succumbed to the wrong perspective although his honor was something worth praising.
(Shakespeare 205) V.v. 20-24. By bringing up Caesar even now, in the death of Brutus, Shakespeare diverts attention from the dying character to the already assassinated one. It is not Brutus who is celebrated in his death, but Caesar. Even Brutus’ last words reflect how central Caesar is to the tragedy: “‘Caesar, now be still. / I killed not thee with half so good a will’”
In Shakespeare 's “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”, Brutus is presented as the tragic hero. He fits all of the criteria and requirements of a tragic hero. He is presented as the protagonist who has a tragic flaw that causes him to make decisions that lead to his death. Brutus is given several opportunities to turn back from mistakes but he never does. Brutus understands his inevitable fate of death when it is brought upon him.
Throughout the play Brutus has showed that he did what he thought was right and would be for the benefit of others. Out of all the wonderful acts Brutus did, when Brutus had killed Caesar was maybe one of the greatest. For Brutus had not stabbed Caesar out of anger or revenge, but so the people of Rome wouldn’t be put into harm's way. As he says in (II, i, 24-26), Brutus would not allow
Shortly after realizing defeat, Brutus falls on a sword before Antony and Octavius reach him so as to die an “honorable” death. Antony names Brutus the noblest Roman of them all because he did not envy Caesar like other conspirators, but he killed Caesar to protect Rome (V.v.68-70). This shows that Brutus was an honorable all the way through until after his death. His commitment to Rome and to his morals is an admirable trait, that becomes even more admirable in defeat. Naturally, Octavius says that Brutus deserves a proper funeral and burial to honor him and his life (V.v.76-77).