Brutus’ Motivators
Brutus, Act 1 scene 2, Lines 35-38. “Cassius, do not be deciev’d; if I have veil’d my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance merely upon myself.” In this quote it shows the first sign of Brutus’ conflict with himself. He is afraid that Caesar is becoming to powerful and has won over Rome in his favor. He is worried that Caesar has become a tyrant and ruined the Roman Republic that his ancestors founded. This is what motivated Brutus to kill Caesar.
Brutus is a descendant of the people who first started the Roman Republic but now that Caesar has come into the picture he is disrupting ruining the government Brutus’ ancestors founded. Brutus love for patriotism is the first motivator that helped him decide that killing Caesar was the best thing to do for Rome. Caesar’s actions caused Brutus to act in ways that he hasn’t before. He isn’t the loving and caring husband to Portia that he once was. This makes Portia upset and putting more stress on Brutus to tell her. This quote shows that Brutus stilled loved Caesar but his love for the Roman Republic was greater. Brutus, Act 3 scenes 2, Lines 19-23. “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.” This quotation shows that Brutus did love Caesar but did not love him enough to spare his life. Brutus loved Caesar very much that is why he was so stressed about considering joining the conspirators. But eventually he convinced himself that, although Caesar loved him like a brother, he had to do what was better for Rome and its government. When Brutus joined the conspirators he was still very stressed but he took charge. When the other conspirators were suggesting who else should be killed Brutus denied all of them because he wanted to keep their mission noble and honorable. This next quote also shows Brutus’ love for the form of government. Brutus, Act 2 Scene 1, Lines 10-14. “It must be by his death; and for my part, 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.” This quote shows that Brutus had nothing against Caesar, but because of his ambition he must be killed to save Rome from becoming victim to a tyrant. Brutus thinks that if Caesar were crowned that he might change his nature and ruined what Brutus’ ancestors helped fight for. Brutus did love Caesar and Caesar loved him back, but because of the way Caesar acted, Brutus had to put his love for patriotism before his friend.
Brutus was respected by all of Rome, including Caesar because Brutus came from a family that once rid Italy of tyranny and the people of Rome looked up at him for that. But because Caesar was slowly becoming a tyrant he had to slay him to keep his honor. This made Brutus take control of the conspirators. But when they were offering who else should be killed along side Caesar he wouldn’t listen to anyone else’s opinions. During this time Brutus wasn’t open-minded and didn’t consider all the possibilities of what could happen when Rome discovered that they had killed Caesar, which would eventually lead to his downfall. This quote shows that Brutus was trying to keep their mission honorable and just. Brutus, Act 2 Scene 1, Line 162-164. “Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, to cut the head off and hack the limbs, like wraith in death and envy afterwards.” When Brutus said head he was referring to Caesar and by limbs he meant Antony. This simile shows that without Caesar, Antony can do no harm than a body with the head cut off. This quote shows how Brutus was trying to keep their quest honorable. If they had killed Antony then Rome would have thought that they were butchers and only wanted Caesar’s power. Which was not at all what they wanted. This quote shows that Brutus did not want to keep make their course seem to bloody otherwise the people of Rome may not listen to them. This quote also shows how Brutus was motivated by his honor. Brutus, Act 3 Scene 2, Lines 23-27. “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoiced at it; as he was valiant, I honored him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor, for his valor; and death for his ambition.” This quote shows that Brutus did not hate Caesar and rejoiced at what he accomplished. Brutus loved Caesar but because Caesar was ruining the way things used to be Brutus had to get rid of Caesar to keep Rome and himself honorable.
Brutus did love Caesar but Brutus thought Caesar was too ambitious and arrogant for his own good and for the good of Rome. This put him through a lot of stress. He had to choose between the Roman Republic and his close friend. But eventually his love for patriotism and his honor convinced him that Rome would be better off with Caesar dead. In a way I think Brutus did and didn’t achieve his goal. He did manage to kill Caesar but it didn’t really help Rome, it actually made it worse. I don’t think Brutus goal was worthy. Caesar may have done some bad things but he brought back great victories for Rome. Even if Caesar had become a tyrant I think he still would have listened to some other peoples opinions on what was the right choice or not. So in the end I think Brutus goal was not worthy and was not justified by killing Caesar.
