Heather Butler 5 Paragraph Essay March 13, 2001
             Being ambitious is usually a good trait to have. But some people pursue malicious ambitions. In fact, in some cases it can have a person killed. That deception is demonstrated in the play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare. In Caesar's case, being the ambitious ruler of Rome was a dangerous situation which proved fatal. His ambition had him murdered by the people under his very rule. Marcus Brutus saw through his best friend and saw how his ambition could tear Rome to shreds. Brutus needed to participate in the execution of Caesar for the freedom of Rome.
             Even though it is argued that Brutus did this for his own selfish reasons, he did anything but that. None the less, Brutus was a bad judge of character. He allowed Cassius to manipulate him into joining the conspiracy. Cassius clearly stated that he has tricked Brutus. "Well Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, Thy honorable mettle may be wrought From that it is dispos'd: therefore 'tis meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm cannot be seduc'd?" ( I, ii) Brutus judges Cassius and the rest of the conspirators wrong. He believed everyone was noble and honorable as he was thought to be. Brutus' honor and popularity were also needed in helping form the conspiracy.
             Furthermore, Brutus knew Caesar well. He knew Caesar would never let his emotions rule his reason. Caesar was "... constant as the northern star..." and Brutus knew just how true that was. He had never known Caesar to come to conflict with himself over any situation when balancing his personal feelings and thoughts versus his reason and what was real. However Caesar had made a huge mistake when doing that. The Soothsayer warned Caesar that there was danger to come for him on the Ides of March, but he didn't listen. He had a responsibility, so he thought, to his p...