Brutus: The Man of Internal War

‘I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general. He would be crown’d: how that might change his nature, there’s the question.’

In the play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, Brutus, a member of the Roman Republic is attempting to justify his actions for killing Caesar. Julius Caesar was an ambitious, powerful character that had been offered the crown and with what Brutus knows, he finds the situation could prove dangerous. He knows that he has no personal reasons for murdering Caesar but he contemplates on what Caesar may become if he is to take the crown. Brutus’ decision has his actions driven by what he finds is beneficial to the people. Brutus joins the conspiracy and murders Julius Caesar, but he does so with honorable intentions and love for Rome and it’s people.

Brutus does many of the things he does for the good of Rome and the murder of Caesar was no exception. Since Brutus has no individual explanation to strike Caesar, he will do it out of patriotism towards his people and country. ‘It may be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general.’ At this point in time, Brutus knows that if he kills Caesar, it will not be for his own benefit but for Rome. Brutus describes Caesar as a serpent, still in it’s egg, and harmless. If the people were to give a crown to Caesar, he sees as if they would be giving him a deadly weapon to cause grief and destruction. Brutus killed Caesar to protect the people from what Caesar could become. His intentions are not for revenge or envy but for the better of others. Brutus also finds that the killing of Caesar would be like the washing away of filth of Rome, to purify the city of the ambition of Caesar and he tells that to the other conspirators. ‘We shall be called purgers, not murderers.’ Brutus’ reasoning for killing Caesar shows he has true patriotism and his patriotism is where he finds his honor.

Honor is one of, if not the most valuable thing to Brutus. Brutus’ forefathers had taken down tyrannical rulers before him for the better of Rome and he knows that his reasoning should be the same. ‘Well honor is the subject of my story.’ Brutus is a highly respected figure of Rome and he takes his honor in all seriousness. Brutus’ love for the people drove him to do what is best for them and what will allow him to build if not, keep in his honor. Appearance is not the only thing Brutus attaches honor to but also his actions. While meeting with the other conspirators the night before the kill, Brutus lets the other conspirators know that killing Caesar should not be done out of wrath. They should sacrifice him not butcher him. ‘Let’s be sacrificers but not butchers… Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends, let’s kill him boldly but not wrathfully.’ Brutus’ honorable intentions lead him to kill Caesar with high respects, as Brutus does respect Caesar as well as love him. He must also let the other conspirators know that in their act, they must do it out of confidence and courage to stand up for the people not with envy for themselves. Brutus’ intentions were indeed honorable and he was not the only one to see so.

Brutus’ reasoning for his actions allowed him to conclude that what he was doing was the right thing. Through his patriotism Brutus would protect the people of Rome and he would maintain his honor. These motivators made Brutus act for the people, leaving the benefits to them. Unfortunately, Brutus’ goal was not met, as a matter of fact; he met the polar opposite of what he wanted to happen. Antony, an extremely loyal follower of Caesar turned the clean sacrifice into a dirty, bloody murder enraging the people and riling up those who supported Caesar. But after all had been settled, even Antony admitted the Brutus was an honorable man. Even though it was not met, Brutus’ goal was a noble one. His actions were driven out of selflessness and high respect, not envy and anger. His mind was set on what was best for Rome and not himself proving it worthy.