Was Brutus Justified?

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One of the most controversial topics that relates to the famous William Shakespeare play, Julius Caesar, is whether or not Brutus was justified. Brutus, who considered Caesar a dear friend whom he loved very much, decided to join a conspiracy that planned to kill him. Harold Bloom, a very well known critic of the works of Shakespeare, states that “In his death speech, Brutus moves us when he rejoices that "in all my life / I found no man but he was true to me." But then we reflect that Brutus, of all the conspirators, was most untrue to Caesar…” (Bloom). However, despite being a conspirator against Caesar, Brutus has many reasons why he acted the way he did. Cassius, on the other hand, has a less justified reason. Both men, no matter how different their reasons may be, both acted out of fear; out of fear for Rome, or out of fear for themselves. …show more content…
Despite the shocking crime, Brutus did firmly believe that he was doing the right thing for the citizens of Rome. During the funeral of Caesar, before Antony speaks, Brutus explains his reasoning for killing Caesar, stating “...Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (3.2.21-22). Caesar trusted Brutus, and Brutus knew this well, but he recognized that Rome could very well fall because of Caesar’s wielding of absolute power. Even Antony, ever loyal to Caesar even after his death, acknowledges Brutus’ selfless reason for killing Caesar. He says to Brutus’ fallen body, “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators, save only he, did that they did in envy of great Caesar. He only, in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them” (5.5.68–72). According to Antony, Brutus was the only conspirator who did not act out of envy. The rest of the conspirators acted for their own

Was Brutus Justified In Killing Caesar Essay

that Brutus was not a patriot, but a betrayer. This thought comes from the fact that Brutus went behind the back of his friend, Julius Caesar. This action; however, had a good reason behind it. Brutus had thought that killing Caesar would be best for his country and with knowing this, he carried out the action in hopes that the people of Rome would think of him as an honorable and true patriot instead of a betrayer. He states this in the play by saying: “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose…

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In the play of Julius Caesar after Julius’s death Brutus gives a speech trying to give logical reason why he needed to kill Julius. Julius’s speech is successful at convincing the people of Rome that the murder of Julius was necessary, but is immediately following Brutus in speech was Mark Anthony. Mark Anthony’s speech was one of the biggest turning points in the entire story. It is because of this speech that Julius Caesar’s death is justified. If Mark Anthony hadn’t stood up and spoke the truth…

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Julius Caesar Villain Essay

Caesar by William Shakespeare there are many distinct characters. Individuals such as Brutus, Marc Antony, and Julius Caesar demonstrate similar attributes of heroes and villains. Deciphering whether they are one or the other can be controversial. These three men prove that no one thing makes a person a hero or a villain and how easy it is to abuse their power. Brutus' morals are disheveled and are not clear. Brutus is "the noblest Roman of them all" (5.5.68), so much so that he kills his “best lover…

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Analyzing Brutus's Speech

Brutus is still very flustered as he delivers his speech to the anxious crowd. Throughout his speech, Brutus uses "I" many times, while Antony uses it rarely. Brutus is fond of his own experience and opinion. Additionally, Brutus builds a strong wall of opposition as he says, "Who is here so vile that will not love his country?" He declares that anyone who opposes the assassination, opposes Rome itself. This statement is very strong and controversial. Brutus's goal was to persaude the crowd that…

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Julius Caesar And Brutus Speech Essay

Antony and Brutus take veiled shots at each other during their speeches at Caesar’s funeral. Shakespeare used quiet a bit of flowery and grandiose styles of speech for each of the men. Both men try to persuade the crowd that their point of view on the death of Caesar is the right one, even though theirs views are so drastically different. Brutus delivers his speech first. He is somewhat detached from the emotion of the funeral and works to appeal to the logic and the ethics of the crowd. Brutus' speech…

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Julius Caesar Draft Essay

shaped by both logic and emotion, symbolised by the two characters; Brutus and Antony. During the eulogy, after the death of Caesar, both Brutus and Antony address the crowd. Brutus addresses the crowd with a calculated speech, illustrating the facts that so justified the assassination of Caesar, persuading the audiences to side with him (Brutus) and to believe that the justification behind Caesar’s assassination for the Roman republic was valid. This validity is then juxtaposed when Antony offers his…

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Julius Caesar: Is Brutus A Hero Or Villain?

continuing debate revolving around the question of whether or not Brutus was a hero or a villain. This question has been asked of hundreds of students in hundreds of classrooms by hundreds of teachers all around the world. If asked to label him as one or the other most people would call Brutus a villain. After all, he did kill someone; his close friend. Though this question of good and evil is one that is important to ponder, ultimately Brutus is a human who struggles to do the right thing, makes a bad…

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How Do Brutus And Antony Use Rhetoric In Killing Caesar

One Caesar was murdered in the capital, Brutus and Marc Anthony each gave a speech to the Roman people. Each trying to persuade the crowd to join their two different opinions on why killing Caesar was righteous or not. With one speech using pathos, the appeal to emotion and the other using logos, appeal to logic. One of them appealed to the crowd more. Let's see where Brutus and Antony both helped and hurt their own speeches. First, in Brutus’s speech his biggest flaw was not reading his audience…

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The Ineffectiveness Of Brutus In Julius Caesar

mistrust, and misplaced loyalties can lead to devastating consequences. Doubt is a thing that demands motives, and Brutus is very unclear about expressing his. He does not elaborate upon Caesar’s crimes. He never reveals exactly how “he was ambitious” or why his ambition was deserving of death (III.ii.25). He gives vague evidence as to why he believes that Caesar’s death was justified. Rather than focusing on proving the morality of his actions to the Roman citizens, he instead attempts to evoke…

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Why Is Julius Caesar Unjust

Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar” the character, Brutus, is held highly in society and is respected. He is always in a high position of power. Before murdering Caesar, Brutus was still entrusted with a fairly large amount of power. it is seen throughout the play that Brutus speaks well, so one can assume that he was was well educated. Despite all of these traits that are shown, and despite him appearing as if he is doing the right thing, Brutus was mistaken. Brutus, and his fellow conspirators, were unjust…

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