Brutus

Power is a thing that is easily abused. Often, even good rulers can be corrupted by their power. They start out as good people, but too much power turns them bad. Brutus fears that his friend Caesar will abuse his power if he becomes emperor of Rome. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus starts out wanting what is best for Rome, but in the end, he starts a civil war that tears Rome apart.

In the beginning of the play, Brutus is a very honorable Roman. For example, Brutus himself says, “Let the gods speed me, as I love/The name of honor more than I fear death” (I, ii, 88-89). Brutus would

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It has become a Roman civil war instead of just killing the leader.

Brutus starts out as doing the right thing for Rome. Brutus has summoned an entire army to fight on the side of the conspirators. Brutus believes doing the right thing is the only thing that really matters. Cassius knows Brutus well and he knows exactly what Brutus stands for. Thus, Brutus’s actions with the conspiracy prove detrimental to Rome. Yet, once he is pulled into the conspiracy, his actions are destructive instead of helpful. Even so, Brutus still believes he is doing the right thing. Antony points this out when he says, “You all did see that on the feast of Lupercal/I thrice presented him with a kingly crown/which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?/Yet Brutus says he was ambitious/And Brutus is an honorable man. Also, a messenger warns that, “The enemy comes on in gallant show/Their bloody sign of battle is hung out” (V,i, 13-14). Even Cassius knows Brutus to be honorable, for he says, “I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus/As well as I do know your outward favor” (I, ii, 90-91). Thus Brutus is known in Rome for being honorable.

Approximate Word count = 422
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

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