Marcus Brutus: Hero Or Villain

Marcus Brutus is a character in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar which is based on the true story of events in Rome more than 2,000 years ago. Caesar’s loyal friend, Portia's loving husband, and a noble Roman. However, he leads other conspirators and murders Caesar. People often question, is Brutus a hero or a villain? Brutus is not a hero nor a villain because he is not totally bad or good. Brutus doesn’t kill Caesar for power, but the good of Rome. Brutus is not a villain because he trusts Antony and refuses to murder him. Brutus is a villain because he is overconfident and therefore their actions fail. There is no human that is totally bad or good in story nor real life.
Brutus loves Caesar but kills him because he believes that Caesar
The decision to kill Caesar is not easy for Brutus and his wife sees that. Portia tells Brutus she believes he has “some sick offence within your mind” (II.i.267-270) and that is why he can not sleep. The fact that he can not sleep shows that he is thinking about the murder and not comfortable with it. Also, he will not share his thoughts with his wife, even though she believes that “which by the right and virtue of my place/ I ought to know of”(II.i.267-270). When Brutus says “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (III.ii.26) he means that he believes his actions are for the benefit of the Republic not to improve his position. During Brutus’s speech at Caesar’s funeral, he reveals his motive “I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (III.ii.26) He tells the Romans they are better with Ceasar dead since if they would “rather Caesar
His overconfidence is shown many times. Brutus shows his over confidence when talks about Cicero. On the day Ides of March, Brutus was discussing with other conspirator about if Cicero should go with them. Although other conspirator want Cicero to join them, Brutus don’t agree with that, he said, “O, name him not. Let us not break with him,/For he will never follow anything”(II.i.156-157). Later, when Cassius is talking about how he fears Antony, Brutus says “And for Mark Antony, think not of him,/For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm/When Caesar’s head is off.”(II.i.188-190). Also he believes that Anthony can speak at the funeral since whatever Antony speaks “I will myself into the pulpit first/ And and show the reason of our Caesar’s death./ What Antony shall speak, I will protest.” (III.i.237-239) and the people will believe