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Who Is Responsible For Julius Caesar's Downfall

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As said by Nicholas Sparks, “The greater the love the greater the tragedy when it is over.” When there is a strong love it can become overpowering and will lead to just as strong a tragedy that can wreak havoc as a consequence of that attachment. The famous play, Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare about the crucial decision between friendship and patriotism when Marcus Brutus must decide between his city of Rome and his closest friend Julius Caesar. Brutus is compelled by friends, also known as conspirators, to join them and assassinate their new expected king of Rome, Julius Caesar, who they believe will become too powerful and undoubtedly lead Rome to its downfall. Although Caesar's loyal ally and friend, Marcus Antony, has full …show more content…

Brutus loves Rome so much that he would go to great lengths to protect what he believes is in danger, and throughout the play, it is seen how this love has impacted not only his choices when it comes to making decisions but as well when it comes to justifying his actions. Furthermore, this is recognized during the tug-of-war between his two powerful loves, his friend, Caesar, and his city, Rome. This game eventually ended with his choice of Rome and joining the conspiracy to end Caesar's reign. This alludes to how deeply Brutus loves Rome and what tremendous lengths he would go to to protect his city. Brutus believed, as well as the other conspirators, that under Caesar's reign that Rome would soon come to an end once he became power-hungry and they feared that Caesar's unprecedented concentration of power would become a dictatorship. They did not want a tyrant as a leader and were nervous Caesar would gain too much power and overrule everyone in his way. Brutus' great love for Rome results in the great tragedy of the assassination of their leader, Julius Caesar. Brutus did not choose his love for Rome over Ceasar once, but twice. Once Caesar had fallen Brutus began his funeral speech at the pulpit speaking on why he had slain their leader for “not that I loved Caesar …show more content…

On the night of the Lupercal, Caesar asks Antony while running his race to make sure and touch his wife, Calpurnia, to satisfy his superstition of her fertility. Without hesitation, Antony answered that if Caesar asks him anything he will gladly do so. This demonstrates how inclined Antony is to help Caesar at any cost and in any circumstances. When Caesar later asks Antony what he thinks of Cassius, the main conspirator, Antony replies that there is nothing to worry about. This dismissal of Caesar’s idea that Cassius could be dangerous eventually leads to the death of Caesar. Antony's love for Caesar is also shown throughout Antony’s funeral speech for Caesar, it was not only beautiful but perfectly planned to play on the citizens' pliable emotions after Caesar's death. Anthony's extreme love towards Caesar was expressed in words and threw the city of Rome into chaos and misfortune. Antony’s use of rhetoric throughout his speech plays an immense role in his persuasion of the plebians of Rome to mourn Caesar and loathe the conspirators for what they had done to their faithful leader. Antony's vast love for Caesar had been conveyed and his “heart is in the coffin there with

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Brutus tells the people of Rome, “...had you rather Caesar were living and die slaves,” (Shakespeare 45) and “not that i loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more,” (Shakespeare 45). He said this to let the people know that he loves Rome and he was following what he thought was right. He chose his duty over his friendship with Julius Caesar. Caesar was a true friend to Brutus because he says that he cried when he killed him saying, “Caesar loved me, I weep for him,” (Shakespeare 45). Brutus was also known as an honorable man.

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691 Words | 3 Pages

At his funeral, Antony gives a speech in which addresses the mob siding with Brutus that is celebrating his death. In his speech, Antony uses a variety of appeals in order to convince the mob that Brutus should be held accountable for the death of Caesar. Antony’s

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833 Words | 4 Pages

By refusing to read the will several times and admitting that what it contains will cause the people to have such a great love for Caesar that knowing he is now dead will be unbearable, Antony ignites curiosity in the people and furthermore, a subconscious feeling of respect and graciousness toward Caesar. Basically, Antony uses Caesar’s will to convince the people that Caesar was a selfless, kind-hearted man and those who killed him should be ashamed and punished for killing an innocent man. Through Antony’s use of paralipsis, he is able to plant a seed of admiration for Caesar and one of hate for the conspirators in the hearts of the plebeians. In his speech to the citizens, Antony also asks many rhetorical questions to cause his audience to pause and reflect on how they really feel, or how Antony wants them to feel, about certain people and events that have recently become important. In one instance.

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Brutus says many times during his speech that he loves Rome and he would even kill himself if Rome would be better off without him. He said “not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.

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460 Words | 2 Pages

In Antony's speech, Antony says “Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me; But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man.” Antony uses logos to start convincing the audience why Brutus is wrong. Next Antony uses pathos when he says “ You all did love him once, not without cause; What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?” , the he continues to say “ My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it comes back to me.”

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By doing this Brutus is able to state some reasons why he loved Caesar but how he loves Rome more. Finally, he supports this claim asserting that Caesar’s ambition was dangerous, therefore, he killed Caesar for the good of

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Brutus says to his audience, “Had you rather Caesar [live] and die all slaves, [than he] were dead, to live all free men?” (III.II.22-23), following with “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him” (III.II.24), “As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it” (III.II.24), and “As he was valiant, I honor him” (III.II.25), to show the audience that he is deeply troubled by his actions, and does not feel good about murdering his friend. Antony stirs the audience’s hearts to feel sorrow for him and anger at Brutus. One of the most emotionally charged phrases in his speech, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar / And I must pause till it come back to me”, is a very critical point because it sways the audience in Antony’s favor more than most of his previous statements (III.II.104-105).

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Brutus amittied Caesar was good to people, so why not to Rome? Also in the play, he took full responsibility for the stabbing, showing he was not

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569 Words | 3 Pages

As well as a great friend of Caesars, which meant he could also trust him. Moreover, Brutus felt like the only way to make sure Rome was safe was to kill Caesar. He felt that for the freedom and wealth of the people, it was the most logical and ethical thing to do. In addition, which led to him being the leader of the conspirators and taking over. Brutus had known the people of Rome admired him, they also loved him.

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553 Words | 3 Pages

You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? ” (3.2 98-100) Antony says this to make the crowd feel sad. By highlighting the love they had for Caesar and asking why they are not mourning him, Antony stirs the crowd's emotions, making them easier to

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550 Words | 3 Pages

In Brutus’s speech he used ethos and logos to try and control the people of Rome. He was stoic and blinded of what Antony was capable of. He wanted to change their minds about the conspiracy and the murder of Caesar. Brutus says “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men” (III, i, 23-24).

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504 Words | 3 Pages

When Brutus was talking to the conspirators Brutus was going back and forth think if he should help the conspirators kill Julius Caesar. He was going back and forth because he was thinking of the power he could have and could rule Rome. The reason behind Brutus killing Caesar was for the better of Rome. If Brutus would not have killed Caesar, Rome would have turned into a dictatorship, and in turn it would have ruined Rome and all of its people. Brutus did not kill Julius just for the power to rule Rome, he killed Julius to save Rome from Caesar’s dictatorship.

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2409 Words | 10 Pages

This matters because it showed how much trust Caesar had in his and Brutus's friendship, but Brutus was manipulated into throwing that all away. Caesar ended up being hurt before he died physically and mentally. Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. (Shakespeare Act 3, Scene 2 21-22) This quote shows that Brutus claims he loved Brutus but loved Rome and the people more.

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763 Words | 4 Pages

In Act 3 Scene 2 Brutus said during his speech, “If that friend then demands to know why Brutus turned against Caesar, this is my answer: Not because I cared for Caesar less, but because I cared for Rome more”. Brutus had courage to kill Caesar, not because he wanted to, but for the good of Rome and its people. During the entirety of the story, Brutus

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802 Words | 4 Pages

When Brutus was speaking to the people of Rome about how he helped assassinate him, he justified it by saying, “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved / Rome more” (3.2.23-24). Even though Brutus is close to Caesar, he has to think about the city he serves first. Brutus wants to do what is best for Rome so if that means he has to harm a friend, he will do so for the greater good of the city he knows and loves. All it took was the conspirator to talk to Brutus a little bit to make him realize Caesar’s potential danger and say “That at his will he may do danger with” (2.1.18).

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