Throughout the entire play, Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare repeatedly shows a theme of friendship. Living in Rome during 44 B.C., Brutus, an honorable man who starts out friends with both Cassius and Caesar, ends up joining along with Cassius to betray Caesar with assassination. After the assassination, a civil war develops between the traitors and the triumvirate of Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius. Because of some confusion, Cassius ends up committing suicide and again Brutus follows his lead. In the end, the conspirators lose the war. The friendships of Brutus with Caesar and Cassius contrast sharply in that Caesar loves with truth while Cassius betrays with lies.
             In the beginning, Brutus and Caesar have a good friendship full of trust and deep respect for one another. On more than one occasion, Caesar openly shows his love for Brutus. As they are celebrating in the streets, a soothsayer shouts a warning to Caesar, but he is ignored with Caesar's comment "He is a dreamer. Let us leave him-pass" (Act 1 Sc 2 L 24). In this Caesar displays his trust for those he loves; those who in turn betray him. Cassius states that "Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus" (Act 1 Sc 2 L 293), but Brutus' stoic beliefs overtake his love for Caesar and cause him to murder his friend for the benefit of Rome. As a result of Brutus' betrayal to Caesar, Brutus proves to be loyal to Rome even at the cost of his friend's death.
             The friendship between Brutus and Cassius appears to be a true friendship outwardly while in reality, Cassius uses his manipulation powers to persuade Brutus to kill Caesar. Their personalities differ greatly and each makes up for what the other lacks. Cassius uses faulty persuasive techniques such as pointing out Caesar's physical ailments. "He fell down in the market place and foamed at mouth and was speechless" ( Act 1 Sc 2 L 243). By showing these physical ailments, Cassius convinces Brutus to join h
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