Brutus
Brutus is presented to readers as intelligent and philosophical,
and an idealist with great self control, however; his tragic flaw is his perfect
principles.
Shakespeare portrays Brutus as a leader who is intelligent and
philosophical. All through his life, he truly tried to live for the good of Rome
in line with his principles. Every time that he contemplates an action, he
always has the desire to do the right thing. Unfortunately, he suffers an agony
when he realizes that his decision to kill his friend, Caesar is a mistake.
During the quarrel with Cassius, he tell him “ for I am armed so strongly in
honesty… for I can raise no money by vile means-“ (4.3.67-71) Also, just before
he dies, he declares, “Caesar now be still. I killed not thee with half so good
a will.” (5.1.50-51) Brutus’ honesty throughout the story is unquestionable. At
the end of the play, he undergoes a change; he understands his
mistakes.
Brutus is an idealist who spends time to contemplate every
aspect of the decisions that he makes.
However; he makes several miscalculations that cause him to fail as a
politician. First, he spares Antony’s life during Caesar’s assassination because
as a good man, he does not see the need for the unnecessary, extra bloodshed which
he terms “bloody” unlike Cassius who would prefer that Antony is killed with
Caesar. To this, Brutus responds “Our course will seem too bloody, Caius
Cassius” (2.1.162). Another mistake he makes is allowing Antony to speak at
Caesar’s funeral, causing Antony to destroy him at the end. He disagrees with
the manipulative Cassius when he tells Antony’s servant, “Tell him so please him
come unto this place. He shall be satisfied and, by my honor, he shall depart
untouched” (3.1.140) Yet another mistake he makes is disagreeing with Cassius,
and moving his army to meet the enemy at Philippi- a battle that he lost. These
decisions cause an intelligent man with good intentions to seem like an armature
soldier.
Shakespeare presents a Brutus who possesses a great deal of self
control which allows him to be calm and rational. For example, when he finds out
that Portia, his wife has committed suicide; he exercise great self control when
he tells Cassius to “Speak no more of her,” (4.3.160) and then he proceeds to
continuing the conversation on forgiving Cassius who accepts bribes.
Additionally, toward the end of the play, when he finds out that Cassius commits
suicide, he exercises great self control in order not to demoralize his army and
states “Let it not discomfort us. Lucilius, come;
And come young Cato. Let us take the field.”
(5.3.107-108)
Although, intelligent and philosophical; an idealist who makes
mistakes Shakespeare tells the tale of a good man – Brutus who truly loves and
dies for his country. By the end of the play, he changes from being self
confident and rational to being afraid after seeing Caesar‘s ghost twice. He
chooses to kill himself instead of, facing the shame of living under the
triumvirates’ rule. He will always be known as an honest, loyal man whose love
for his country causes him to try to purge a supposed evil by killing his
beloved friend, Caesar.
Brutus is presented to readers as intelligent and philosophical,
and an idealist with great self control, however; his tragic flaw is his perfect
principles.
Shakespeare portrays Brutus as a leader who is intelligent and
philosophical. All through his life, he truly tried to live for the good of Rome
in line with his principles. Every time that he contemplates an action, he
always has the desire to do the right thing. Unfortunately, he suffers an agony
when he realizes that his decision to kill his friend, Caesar is a mistake.
During the quarrel with Cassius, he tell him “ for I am armed so strongly in
honesty… for I can raise no money by vile means-“ (4.3.67-71) Also, just before
he dies, he declares, “Caesar now be still. I killed not thee with half so good
a will.” (5.1.50-51) Brutus’ honesty throughout the story is unquestionable. At
the end of the play, he undergoes a change; he understands his
mistakes.
Brutus is an idealist who spends time to contemplate every
aspect of the decisions that he makes.
However; he makes several miscalculations that cause him to fail as a
politician. First, he spares Antony’s life during Caesar’s assassination because
as a good man, he does not see the need for the unnecessary, extra bloodshed which
he terms “bloody” unlike Cassius who would prefer that Antony is killed with
Caesar. To this, Brutus responds “Our course will seem too bloody, Caius
Cassius” (2.1.162). Another mistake he makes is allowing Antony to speak at
Caesar’s funeral, causing Antony to destroy him at the end. He disagrees with
the manipulative Cassius when he tells Antony’s servant, “Tell him so please him
come unto this place. He shall be satisfied and, by my honor, he shall depart
untouched” (3.1.140) Yet another mistake he makes is disagreeing with Cassius,
and moving his army to meet the enemy at Philippi- a battle that he lost. These
decisions cause an intelligent man with good intentions to seem like an armature
soldier.
Shakespeare presents a Brutus who possesses a great deal of self
control which allows him to be calm and rational. For example, when he finds out
that Portia, his wife has committed suicide; he exercise great self control when
he tells Cassius to “Speak no more of her,” (4.3.160) and then he proceeds to
continuing the conversation on forgiving Cassius who accepts bribes.
Additionally, toward the end of the play, when he finds out that Cassius commits
suicide, he exercises great self control in order not to demoralize his army and
states “Let it not discomfort us. Lucilius, come;
And come young Cato. Let us take the field.”
(5.3.107-108)
Although, intelligent and philosophical; an idealist who makes
mistakes Shakespeare tells the tale of a good man – Brutus who truly loves and
dies for his country. By the end of the play, he changes from being self
confident and rational to being afraid after seeing Caesar‘s ghost twice. He
chooses to kill himself instead of, facing the shame of living under the
triumvirates’ rule. He will always be known as an honest, loyal man whose love
for his country causes him to try to purge a supposed evil by killing his
beloved friend, Caesar.