How Did Brutus Betray Caesar

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The claim that is most often evoked when portraying Brutus as a betrayer is that he murdered Caesar, his so-called beloved friend, by literally stabbing him in the back. However, this claim misinterprets Brutus’s character entirely and paints him to be a cold-blooded killer who murdered anyone who opposed him. Contrary to what this claim implies, Brutus was loyal, loving and noble to a fault. Brutus killed Caesar not because he wanted to, but because he felt he had to for the betterment of Rome and to protect its citizens. He believed in that truth so much that he expressed it to Caius Cassius and the conspirators, “Let us be sacrificers but not butchers…We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, And in the spirit of men there is no blood. …show more content…

This would imply that Brutus must have had the same ulterior motives as the other conspirators, meaning that he was also jealous and simply seeking power or political position. If this was so, why didn’t Brutus take Caesar’s place and seize control of Rome immediately? Instead, Brutus stepped down from his position as a leader and was forced to flee, eventually giving his life for Rome and avenging Caesar’s death. It should also be noted that Brutus was lied to and manipulated by Caius Cassius, which seriously affected his knowledge and perception of the situation. Cassius did this by planting false ideas in Brutus’s head that the citizens wanted him to lead Rome instead. This was accomplished by forging notes from “citizens” that showed a sense of fear and animosity towards …show more content…

While some may still disagree, viewing his actions as immoral or dishonorable, I believe that Brutus’s intentions truly were noble and that his righteousness is indisputable. Brutus loved Caesar greatly, but his love for Rome simply exceeded that love and inevitably led to his afflictive decision. He acted purely out of his devotion to Rome and eventually even sacrificed his own life for the country he loved and valued so greatly. Brutus’s sacrifices should not be disregarded, and instead the courage and morality he displayed should be honored and