Brutus' Decision in Julius Caesar Essay

Brutus Decision

Brutus love for Rome was so strong that it made him turn on one of his best friends, Caesar, and stab him in the back, literally. Before making his decision to join the conspiracy Brutus said, I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their king [] yet I love him well"(act 1, scene 2, lines 85-89). Brutus clearly loved Caesar, but would not allow him to "climber-upward [] He then unto the ladder turns his back []"(act 2, scene 1, lines 24, 26). In other words, Brutus would not allow Caesar to take power and then turn his back on Rome. Brutus was not only a servant and advisor to Caesar, but he was also a close friend. Caesar truly respected and trusted Brutus and Brutus felt the same towards Caesar. The love they had towards each other made Brutus betrayal not only shocking, but it also showed how much Brutus was willing to risk to protect Rome.

Brutus stated, If there is [] any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more (Act 3 Scene 2, line 18). This fact that Brutus loved Rome is really the main reason he had to join the conspiracy. He thought if Caesar became King he would not be good to Rome and this worried Brutus. Although Brutus did not want to murder Caesar, he knew that the plan would not work as well without him in it. The people of Rome respected Brutus and knew he was close to Caesar. Therefore, Brutus thought if he was part of the plan the Romans may think that assassinating Caesar was necessary, and would not be as angry and upset by the death of their beloved king-to-

be. As noble a man Brutus was, he still craved power. He realized that with this many people plotting against Caesar, the assassination of Caesar was inevitable. If they finished the job they planned without being caught, then the power may have very likely been shifted to the conspirators. Brutus did not want to betray them, and later become an outcast of Rome.

On the other hand, if the conspirators did get caught, Brutus would have to fall with them, and become disrespected by Romans. The fact that Brutus was an honorable man is also a main reason that he should not have joined the conspiracy. Caesar was his close friend and killing him would be on Brutus conscience for the rest of his life. Brutus really had no reason to distrust Caesar, but Cassius was very untrustworthy. Brutus bought into the stories and information that Cassius told him, but in reality Cassius told Brutus anything he could make up to persuade him to side with the conspirators. Brutus, being a wise man, should have not been so trusting of Cassius.

Brutus was a noble man, and this made him always want to do the right thing. In this case Brutus thought that murdering one of his best friends was the right thing to do. If Brutus truly believed that Caesar would have neglected Rome, and would have been a bad ruler, then his choice to join the conspiracy was the right one. He felt Rome was in danger, and his strong patriotism toward Rome influenced him to take action. Being a virtuous man, he would not have killed anyone, especially a close friend, unless he felt it was absolutely necessary.