ipl-logo

How Is Julius Caesar Honorable

650 Words3 Pages

A Descent Into Ignobility Does a noble man slaughter his superior? Does he give in to the blatant manipulation of his peers, and lie to those closest to him? Brutus does all of this, and yet Brutus is revered as a noble and honorable man. A noble man is steadfast in his relationships and to himself, yet throughout Julius Caesar one can see Brutus’s decline from nobility through his association with the conspirators. In his first interaction with a conspirator Brutus tells Cassius, in reference to Caesar, “Cassius, yet I love him well” (1.2.89). If Brutus is openly professing his love for Caesar, and yet can strike Caesar down, he is either lying or so easily persuaded that he can’t be trusted to be in a position of power. His loyalties …show more content…

In act one, Cassius asks Brutus why “I have not from your eyes that gentleness and show of love that I was wont to have” (1.2.38-39). Instead of replying truthfully and answering Cassius as to why he looks so melancholy, he persists that everything is alright. He does the same to his wife Portia, after he has joined the conspirators. Portia approaches Brutus and inquires of him what “will not let you eat nor talk nor sleep, and could it work so much upon your shape. As it hath much prevailed on your condition, I should not know you Brutus” (2.1.272-275). Instead of answering his wife honestly, as a noble man should, he brushes her concern aside. He replies with the simple lie of “I am not well in health, and that is all” (2.1.278). When he gives his funeral oration, Brutus remains faint and unclear in his defense of the conspirators Caesar’s garish murder. In the speech, Brutus alludes to a terrible future under Caesar saying “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen” (3.2.24-26). With this ungrounded accusation, Brutus leads the people astray in order to save the conspirators. Had he been a noble leader, he would have spoken honestly and unbiased to the people about the reasons for slaying

Show More
Related

Examples Of Hubris In Julius Caesar

284 Words | 2 Pages

In Julius Caesar, both Brutus, and Caesar die because they suffer from a critical main character disease named ‘hubris’. Brutus thinks of himself as a savior of Rome because he killed Caesar. When the conspirators knock of his door, Brutus acknowledges his visitors and he asks them to consider how loyal they are, “Sham’st thou to show thy dangerous brow” (Shakespeare, 2.1.78). His placement in this scene shows his way to seem in a higher standing than others.

Read More

How Does Antony Use Ethos In Julius Caesar

709 Words | 3 Pages

Brutus’ speech consists of only logos and ethos. He says, “--Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (III.ii.21-22) In this, Brutus is trying to persuade the crowd that he made the right decision and that he is the best fit for the new leader. The reason used in his speech is expressed when he says, “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (III.ii.23-24) He uses his expertise and intelligence by scaring the audience into believing that what he did is allowed.

Read More

Brutus Caesar Research Paper

176 Words | 1 Pages

Brutus has very strong feelings towards Caesar and him becoming the king of Rome. He believes that if Caesar becomes king he will be kind at first but then will abuse his powers and make bad choices for Rome. While planning Caesar’s murder Brutus is having a hard time pretending to smile and act as if he was not going to murder anyone. His wife Portia, knows that something is bothering him and begs him to tell her but he will not say a thing. Caesar is not listening to his sign from the soothsayer to beware and is still deciding to go.

Read More

Brutus Compliments In Julius Caesar

866 Words | 4 Pages

In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Cassius wishes to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar, because he and his co-conspirators believe Caesar is unfit for ruling Rome, and that Caesar would bring about the fall of their great city. In this passage, Cassius persuades Brutus through his self-image and emotional connection to Rome, his trust in Cassius’s nature and judgements, and his reasoning as to why Caesar becoming ruler is dangerous for Rome. Cassius capitalizes on Brutus’s emotions in that he gives compliments for the purpose of inflating Brutus’s ego. This is shown when Cassius says Brutus has “hidden worthiness”, (1,2,57) and his worthiness earns him “many of the best respect in Rome” (1,2,59). Cassius utilizes these compliments

Read More

Suicide In Julius Caesar Research Paper

852 Words | 4 Pages

Despite their motives and grand aspirations, both Brutus and Cassius ultimately fall victim to their ambitions and hunger for political control. Their acts of self destruction can be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the fruitlessness of their pursuits and a renunciation of the corrupting effects of authority. Cassius’s corruption is clearly stated after the death of Caesar by Brutus, while both working together on building their ideal Rome. Brutus states “For I can raise no money by vile means./ By heaven, I had rather coin my heart/

Read More

Was Brutus A Patriot Essay

491 Words | 2 Pages

But let not therefore, my good friends, be grieved Among which number, Cassius, be you one Nor construe any further my neglect Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men.” (Act I, Scene II, 39-49) From some of the first words from Brutus he describes his internal conflict regarding his love for Caesar and the stability of Rome. He tells Cassius how he believes that Caesar's ambitions may lead to Rome’s demise. “And it is very much lamented, Brutus, that you have no such mirrors as will turn your hidden worthiness into your eye That you might see your shadow.

Read More

Julius Caesar Loyalty Essay

1139 Words | 5 Pages

Stating, “I rather tell thee what is to be feared than what I fear for always I am Caesar." However, despite this friendship, Brutus is still torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his concerns about the power of the dictator. In Act 2 scene 1, Brutus explains his inner conflict in his soliloquy. Stating, "It must be by his death, and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him. "

Read More

Julius Caesar And Brutus Similarities

547 Words | 3 Pages

“Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, that you would have me seek into myself for that which is not me?” (I.II.68-69). In the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare there are many characters that can be compared and contrasted; two of those characters are Brutus and Cassius. Brutus and Cassius both have quite a few similarities as well as their differences. One of the few similarities that both these characters share is that both were involved in the assassination of Caesar; the difference between these two is their personalities.

Read More

Examples Of Antony's Speech In Julius Caesar

680 Words | 3 Pages

In his speech he appeals to the crowd's sense of duty to their country asking “Is anyone here so vile that they will not love his country?” (III,ii,34) In saying this Brutus fills the audience with a nationalistic pride. In addition to appealing to the patriotism of the people he also appeals to their sense of honor. Brutus describes how Caesar's ambition led to his death, saying “I honor him but as he was ambitious, I slew him” (III,ii,27-28)

Read More

The Loyalty Of Brutus In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

278 Words | 2 Pages

Having to choose between his loyalty to Rome and his loyalty to his close friend, Brutus shows what is more important to him by finally killing Caesar. In Act I, Brutus tells Cassius, “What means this shouting? I do fear the people/Choose Caesar for their king” (Shakespeare I.ii.85-86). Brutus fears that Caesar will be crowned king, which contradicts the values of the Roman Republic. And after some persuading from the conspirators and Cassius, Brutus finally joins in on the act to kill Caesar before he can do any damage to Rome.

Read More

Examples Of Appeals In Julius Caesar

753 Words | 4 Pages

The reader can perceive that Cassius provides examples that allude to this, in which he mentions that he had to save Caesar when he was drowning, and the time in which he was sick in Spain. He characterizes Caesar as a weak and unfit man for the position as a ruler that holds all the power in Rome. As Act 1 Scene 2 comes to an end, Cassius delivers one of the most significant points in the final part of his speech, as he brings about the notion that Brutus stands for honor and embarking on any action for the good of Rome. Cassius delivers an emotional appeal, of pathos, in tracing back to Brutus’s ancestors that helped establish the structure of the Roman Republic. As he mentions the roots of Rome, he proclaims “Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say.

Read More

Cassius As The Co-Hero In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

1249 Words | 5 Pages

As an initial step, Cassius unflinchingly determinates to convince Brutus of his criminal conspiracy against Caesar, because Brutus's character ensures the success of the scheme. Through his wide knowledge of the psychology of man, Cassius is made capable of winning Brutus over to his side. Before the appearance of Cassius to work on Brutus, Brutus never shows any symptoms of criminal trends. On the contrary, is a man universally recognized to be of good nature. Machiavelli has raised his criminal tendency.

Read More

The Ethical Character Of Brutus In Julius Caesar

570 Words | 3 Pages

The characterization of Brutus proves that he rather make decisions for what is right and not for power which influences the fall of Caesar, the conspirators following him, and the outcome of his own life. Brutus in many ways can be seen as morally right and doing the best that he can, but he can be seen as swayed. In the beginning of the poem Brutus says about Caesar that he does “love him well” but then to say that he fears “the people Choose Caesar for their king” (Shakespeare 6).

Read More

Examples Of Duality In Julius Caesar

1197 Words | 5 Pages

While the other conspirators the audience has been presented (most notably, Cassius and Casca) have been worried about personal matters, their own power, or money, Brutus convinces us that this is for the better good, even if it means the active killing of another person (II: i: 33-36). The fact that he can continue to be level-headed in a matter such as this is incredibly telling to his character. In direct contrast, the audience witnesses a huge change when Act IV Scene III occurs. For multiple pages of dialogue, Brutus is insulting Cassius in a fit of what seems to be pure rage (e.g. IV: iii: 21-29). It even gets to a point in which Cassius admits that he is nearly angry enough to kill Brutus, and yet this man who we’ve only seen to be sensible and level-headed for the entire play, continues to taunt Cassius.

Read More

Julius Caesar Death Analysis

1456 Words | 6 Pages

Similar to Cassius, Brutus’s final words praise Caesar and ask for his forgiveness, and mentions the supernatural element to Caesar’s death, telling Caesar “‘now be still’” because his death has been avenged and since his ghost can now rest easy after regaining honor by killing the conspirators and showing Caesar’s importance(5.5.56). By saying he killed the dictator “‘with half so good a will’” (5.5.57), he is regretting his decision to attempt the regicide and claiming is was impulsive and not well thought out, an uncharacteristic trait for a supposed stoic. Although Augustus believes Brutus’s suicide was heroic, it was completely unnecessary if only Brutus listened to the ghost. He was warned that they “‘shall meet at Philippi’”(4.3.327) , but Brutus

Read More

More about How Is Julius Caesar Honorable

Open Document