Preview

Was Brutus the Noblest Roman of Them All?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
734 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Was Brutus the Noblest Roman of Them All?
Was Brutus the noblest roman of all?

“This was the noblest roman of them all” Mark Anthony said about Brutus in the play Julius Caesar, after Brutus had killed himself at the battle of Philippi. Although Brutus had participated in the assassination of Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Julius’s nephew, was praising Brutus as a noble person. But how was he noble?
In the beginning of the play, we meet Brutus, a highly respected, much loved, senator of Rome. He loved Rome as a republic and he has a good life until he is led astray by Cassius. When he becomes embroiled in the assassination of Caesar, he is very reluctant to do so. In the way he acted, you could tell he has sleepless nights over what he should do. He decided to kill Caesar for the good of Rome. This is an important point. One of the reasons why Brutus was noble is that he did not assassinate him for personal gain, but for the greater good, the good of Rome. Unlike the other conspirators, he was not envious, and acted in his best intentions. He had no bad motives. He thought he was right, so he went with his decision instead of being indecisive and cowardly. These reasons show that he was an honourable and noble man. He was popular which shows he was a good man as large numbers of ordinary citizens would not side with a bad man. In the scene when the conspirators plotted the assassination, Brutus said that they should not disrespect Caesar’s body by chopping limbs off but to give him a funeral and to make sure his body was like “a dish fit for the gods.” He also said not to kill Mark Anthony as he was not dangerous and that he wanted Caesars death to be a sacrifice, not a bloodbath. This shows he was a caring person and didn’t fit the persona of “murderer” unlike the other conspirators, who were all keen on killing Mark Anthony and who couldn’t care less about Caesar’s body. Brutus is trusted with Cassius’s secrets about the weaknesses of Caesar in an effort to turn Brutus against Caesar in a pang of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Brutus was a man of honor. His nobility shaped every decision he made. Renown for his nobility, Antony labeled him as “the noblest Roman of them all.” Out of all the conspirators, Brutus was the only Roman conspirator to die in honor for Rome. Meanwhile, the others did it for power and complacency, Brutus knew that Caesar was a big threat to Rome and was scared that once Caesar was crowned, Rome would fall.…

    • 273 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Brutus believes he must kill Caesar to avoid a one- man rule and for the good of the country. His tragic flaw allows him to be fooled into this by the other conspirators. Brutus believes his motives are honorable. If Caesar was really being killed for the good of Rome and not because the other conspirators were jealous of his power, Brutus motives would be…

    • 792 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Is Julius Caesar Bad

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Julius Caesar in the play "The tragedy of Julius Caesar" was a in line to be the next ruler of Ancient Rome. Caesar becomes drunk in power as most people would when there are roughly a million people adoring you. The people of Ancient Rome truly liked Caesar, in fact in Act 1 Scene 1, a commoner says "..we are taking holiday for Caesar's arrival.." In this act the reader gets a sense on how much the people like Caesar. However it is also shown to the reader how much noblemen do not like or trust Caesar to be a good leader. Throughout Act 1 and 2 Cassius is trying to convince Brutus, one of Caesar's good friends, to help them murder Caesar so he could take the crown. Brutus and his followers believe they are doing a service to the people. That in some way sacrificing Caesar is for the better good. However this being said Caesar's death was not a sacrifice it was a butchery, there is no need to go out and kill someone.…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Brutus really “the noblest Roman of them all?” Whatever Brutus does he wholeheartedly believes is best. He is willing to suffer for the good of Rome, and he was not looking for personal gain by killing Caesar as the other conspirators were. Yet Brutus is undone by his willingness to be persuaded by the people around him, his “tragic flaw.”…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Julius Caesar Flaws

    • 766 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Killing Caesar was not a thoughtful decision, however it shows Brutus embodied the tragic flaw of pride. The flaw of pride originated when Brutus got too caught up in the conspiracy. When Cassius dropped off the letters forged by the Roman people to Brutus, the letters were planted to give pride and honor to Brutus. Cassius’s tactic flattered Brutus, as his pride was unstoppable. Brutus joined the conspiracy not because he “loved Caesar less, but loved Rome more” ( Shakespeare 151). He joins under the impression to prevent Caesar’s tyranny, to save the people Rome. Once allied into the conspiracy, his trust is gained towards the motive of the…

    • 766 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Brutus’ goal was to be an honorable man for the good people of Rome, but the Roman people did not see him as honorable once he killed Caesar alongside the conspirators. Cassius had a big influence on Brutus’ death, in both good ways and bad ways. If Brutus had been able to trust the other conspirators his fate could have ended differently. The basis of his suicide was a major effect of his irrational choices. Brutus was impractical at times and honorable at others, but his decisions led to a tragic death for him. Brutus’ demise could have had a better outcome, but choosing to trust at the wrong times and not to trust at the right times didn’t work out favorably for him. Consequently, it was his own decisions and inability to judge and trust people that led to his…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Different things motivate Brutus throughout the play, he thinks he is motivated by honor but in reality he is also motivated by much more; his inability to separate himself from the republic, and his ego also factor into the equation. Brutus has an intense love of honor, as shown when he states: "Set honor in one eye and death i' th' other, and I will look on both indifferently; for let the gods so speed me, as I love the name of honor more than I fear death" (I.2.86-89). Brutus' love of honor could be seen as both good and bad; his honor is what makes him so easily manipulated and blind to reality; but then again, at least he is motivated by the right reasons, instead of his own ambitions. Marcus Brutus never does know the difference between what he wants and what the whole of Rome wants; he thinks he knows best; "Am I entreated to speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, if the redress will follow, thou receivest thy full petition at the hand of Brutus" (II 1.55-58). Brutus never could really see the big picture, because he thinks he knows what is right. Brutus has intelligent people like Cassius offering advice, but he simply does not listen. His ego gets in the way. He gets mad at Cassius for taking bribes, a dishonorable act, and because Cassius is associated with Brutus, he makes Brutus look…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tragic Hero Archetype

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Brutus was a nobleman, in both senses of the phrase. He was a senator close to Caesar and had a well-known reputation for being honorable. His integrity is due in part to his ancestors who drove out the tyrant Tarquin to keep the democracy safe and his belief that all should act this way. Brutus was willing to make…

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    the mamba

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Brutus is an honorable man in this play but when Cassius, one of the main characters, and villain from the play, points out to Brutus why he doesn’t like Caesar, Brutus starts analyzing it. Then his first internal argument in the play starts to form. "Men at some times are masters of their fates. / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlying. / Brutus and Caesar- what should be in that "Caesar"? / Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” Brutus starts to over think things and complicates himself even more than it already was.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Roman Empire and Brutus

    • 380 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Brutus is a patriotic middle aged man, who truly cares about the well being of his fellow people. “I do fear, the people, Choose Caesar for their king,” says Brutus. (Act 1 scene 2, 80) Despite Brutus’ friendship with Caesar, he much rather prefers Rome to remain a republic. He puts the masses before his own friendship. Brutus in return, is seen as trustworthy and reliable by the people. Indeed, Brutus is a noble man. Brutus says, “For let the gods so speed me as I love, the name of honor more than I fear death.” (act 1 scene 2, 90) He values honesty, fairness and balance. He is willing to lay his own life for what he believes. He is passionate and will do as much as what is needed so that what he believes is right will shine through. Brutus is easily swayed by Cassius in Act 1 scene 2. “Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?” says the sly Cassius. (Act 2 scene 2, 140) After Cassius’ speech, Brutus considers the proposition of plotting against Caesar and does not shun the idea at all. Brutus is so willing to believe in his worthiness and Cassius’ call for action. He fails to truly listen to the Romans because he is too engrossed in doing what he believes is best for them.…

    • 380 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Brutus the Tragic Hero

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The first major quality of a tragic hero is a rapid ascent to power or glory. This is done by Brutus as he joins the conspiracy and murders Julius Caesar. One powerful quote that describes how Brutus felt towards Caesar whilst he took power of Rome is as follows “As Caesar lov'd 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, ii, 26-29). This tells the story of how Brutus needed to kill his best friend, Caesar, in order to better Rome. Through this act, he gained power of the government and people, and was thought of as a very noble man.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Julius Caesar

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Brutus is a very cautious man. "Into what dangers are you leading me, Cassius, that you would have me lookinto myself for things that are not there?"(1.2.68-70) This quote is referring to act 1 where Cassius brings Brutus into the room and starts to talk about Caesar. When Cassius suggests to kill Mark Antony alone with Caesar, Brutus says, "Our plan will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius. We cut off the head and then hack the limbs, seem to kill Caesar in anger and then vent malice on his friends, for Antony is only a branch of Caesar."(2.1.169-172) Brutus doesn't want to just kill everyone, and be know as a killer, he just wants to do what he thinks is right for the people of Rome. Brutus was cautious, even near the end of the play when he was in his tent talking to Cassius,he told Lucilius and Titinius to go guard the door, until he had finished he conference.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Brutus Honorable

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Is Brutus an honorable man? If someone were to define honorable, they would perfectly describe Marcus Brutus. Honor is described as having integrity, decency, and morality. Brutus seemed to have all of these characteristics. Although he made many poor decisions, all of Brutus’ intentions were for the sake of Rome and its’ citizens.…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Brutus: A Tragic Hero By Chad Gingery In the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, Brutus is a tragic hero for he was easily manipulated, naive and patriotic. Brutus believed that the Romans wanted him as the leader to assassinate Caesar, because of the forged notes that were sent to him by Cassius. The note explained how to assassinate Caesar by Speaking, Striking and Redressing. This note by Cassius caused Brutus to be manipulated into joining the conspirators, one of many flaws that leads to the downfall of Brutus and the assassination of Caesar. Brutus' trusting attitude toward Antony is an example of one of his flaws. Brutus allowed Antony to give a funeral speech for Julius Caesar and to be sure not to speak negatively about the conspiracy. This resulted in Antony leading a mob against the conspirators, Revenge!, About!, Seek!, Burn!, Fire!, Kill!, Slay!, Let not a traitor live.!(3.2.216). From this powerful speech and Brutus' naïveté, Antony became his nemesis, an event that would ultimately lead to Brutus' downfall. Brutus had an overabundance of love for his country which blinded him to the truth. Brutus had said in one of his soliloquies, If then that a friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Brutus had honored Caesar but Brutus felt that Caesar was too ambitious. Brutus also felt that Caesar made the Romans as slaves. Brutus was a patriotic man who did not see past his patriotism, to see the exploitation of his comrades. Brutus was noble in how he was benevolent towards his fellow man, but this nobility was a negative component that led to his inevitable loss of nobility. Brutus had many errors in his plans in Julius Caesar; one of those errors was an exorbitant amount of love for Rome. Tragedy is when a person is deprived of something loved. Brutus had been deprived of his nobility. Brutus was a tragic hero because of his trusting, obedient personality and his…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    However, Brutus remains noble and refuses to take more lives than necessary, stating, “Let’s be sacrificers, not butchers, Caius… we shall be called purgers, and not murderers” (page 51). While others join the conspiracy for their own personal ambitions, much like how Cassius has monetary gains at the sole forefront of his mind when he commits the murder, Brutus is concerned only for his country and kills Caesar for that reason: so that the republic will last longer without a dictatorial threat looming in the distance. When Brutus commits suicide, his final words are: “Caesar, now be still, I killed not thee with half so good a will,” meaning that the would-be dictator’s death is nobler than his and that Caesar’s death is now avenged. At the end of the play, Antony praises Brutus and calls him “the noblest Roman of them all” (page 163); when one is praised by their enemy, it shows that they are well-respected, even by their foes.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays