Brutus from Julius Caesar's Leadership Qualities
In the play Julius Caesar, several people compete to be the leader of Rome. Cassius and other conspirators are jealous of Caesar, and they want to kill him for revenge. Brutus doesn’t want to be part of the conspiracy, but is tricked into becoming a head member, due to his strong leadership qualities of honor, trustworthiness, and patriotism. Brutus loves the republic, but is tricked into believing Caesar would hurt the republic. Brutus would be an effective leader because he exhibits honor, trustworthiness, and patriotism.
Brutus believes nothing should be done without honor, which he illustrates by killing Caesar publicly. Some would say killing for political reasons, is more honorable than killing someone for pure revenge. He even believes an oath is dishonorable: “No! Not an oath if not the face of men!” (Shakespeare 2.1.125). He believes an oath would undermine the purpose of his honorable assassination. He believes that if the conspirators have to go so low as to take an oath, one of them might want to quit or have second-thoughts. After the killing, he makes sure that the conspirators will proclaim they killed Caesar by telling them, “Let no man abide this deed but [us], the doers.” (3.1.103-104). Brutus is so sure that killing Caesar is right, that he believes the conspirators won’t be arrested by running down the streets yelling that they killed Caesar and “tyranny is dead!” (3.1.87-88). Also, when he is running away from Antony’s victorious army, he feels it is more honorable to, “leap in ourselves than tarry ‘till they push us.” (5.5.28-29). He is so dedicated to honor that he would rather kill himself than be taken by Antony.
Brutus can sway the judgment of the conspirators because they know that he can see through the assassination plan, and any faults in it, so they trust him. A good leader is trusted by his subjects and considered very wise. When Brutus says to “think not of him,” and “Let’s not break with him,” the fellow conspirators
Brutus believes nothing should be done without honor, which he illustrates by killing Caesar publicly. Some would say killing for political reasons, is more honorable than killing someone for pure revenge. He even believes an oath is dishonorable: “No! Not an oath if not the face of men!” (Shakespeare 2.1.125). He believes an oath would undermine the purpose of his honorable assassination. He believes that if the conspirators have to go so low as to take an oath, one of them might want to quit or have second-thoughts. After the killing, he makes sure that the conspirators will proclaim they killed Caesar by telling them, “Let no man abide this deed but [us], the doers.” (3.1.103-104). Brutus is so sure that killing Caesar is right, that he believes the conspirators won’t be arrested by running down the streets yelling that they killed Caesar and “tyranny is dead!” (3.1.87-88). Also, when he is running away from Antony’s victorious army, he feels it is more honorable to, “leap in ourselves than tarry ‘till they push us.” (5.5.28-29). He is so dedicated to honor that he would rather kill himself than be taken by Antony.
Brutus can sway the judgment of the conspirators because they know that he can see through the assassination plan, and any faults in it, so they trust him. A good leader is trusted by his subjects and considered very wise. When Brutus says to “think not of him,” and “Let’s not break with him,” the fellow conspirators