Brutus Internal Conflict
Brutus, in Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar”, is a powerful public figure who is a true Roman with a sense of honor. Brutus is conflicted with his values. He sees Caesar as a friend and does not want to kill him, but he has been convinced that the assassination is for the good of the state. While the other conspirators plan to kill Caesar due to envy and rivalry, Brutus is the only one who truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome. ----. ----. Brutus’ inner conflict in the play is that he is torn between his loyalty for Caesar and his allegiance to Rome. This inner conflict makes Brutus a tragic hero and is the reason why “Julius Caesar” is a tragedy. From Brutus’ soliloquy, the audience finds that Brutus does not truly want to
kill Caesar. The line “It must be by his death, and, for my part,/I know no personal cause to spurn at him,/but for the general” (Soliloquy 1-3) shows that he does not have a personal reason to kill Brutus and neither does Cassius. Brutus only wants what is best for the people and the republic. The line “He would be crown’d:/How might that change his nature, there’s the questions” (Soliloquy 3-4) shows the audience that Brutus is mainly worried about how being crowned emperor will change Caesar. He fears that Caesar will become a tyrant and misuse his power. When Brutus says, “It is the bright day that brings forth the adder” (Soliloquy 5) he is comparing Caesar to a poisonous snake. Brutus’ metaphor tells the audience that Caesar is dangerous as himself and when he is given power he may sting. This “sting” is the power the republic gives him that Caesar may or may not abuse. Brutus himself says that he has not seen Caesar be swayed by his affections “I have not known his affections sway’d/More than his reason.” (Soliloquy 11-12). Brutus has always seen Caesar act on logic and reasoning. Another of Brutus’ worries is that Caesar will forget the people who gave him the power he will receive. “But when he once attains the upmost round,/He then unto the ladder turns his back,/Looks into the clouds, scorning the base degrees/by which he did ascend. So Caesar may:” (Soliloquy 15-18). Brutus is worried that once Caesar becomes Emperor he may forget the people who helped him “reach the top of the ladder” and look at those beneath him with scorn. Brutus decides to think of Caesar as a serpent in an egg and kill the serpent while it is still harmless before it can become dangerous. “And therefore think of him as a serpent’s egg/Where hatch’d would as his kind grow mischievous,/And kill him in the shell.” Brutus becomes a part of Caesar’s assassination because he fears of what Caesar will become when he receives power. Despite joining the conspiracy, Brutus is not proud of what he plans to do. He does not believe that what he will do is morally correct, however he commits himself to the plan because of his loyalty to Rome.
kill Caesar. The line “It must be by his death, and, for my part,/I know no personal cause to spurn at him,/but for the general” (Soliloquy 1-3) shows that he does not have a personal reason to kill Brutus and neither does Cassius. Brutus only wants what is best for the people and the republic. The line “He would be crown’d:/How might that change his nature, there’s the questions” (Soliloquy 3-4) shows the audience that Brutus is mainly worried about how being crowned emperor will change Caesar. He fears that Caesar will become a tyrant and misuse his power. When Brutus says, “It is the bright day that brings forth the adder” (Soliloquy 5) he is comparing Caesar to a poisonous snake. Brutus’ metaphor tells the audience that Caesar is dangerous as himself and when he is given power he may sting. This “sting” is the power the republic gives him that Caesar may or may not abuse. Brutus himself says that he has not seen Caesar be swayed by his affections “I have not known his affections sway’d/More than his reason.” (Soliloquy 11-12). Brutus has always seen Caesar act on logic and reasoning. Another of Brutus’ worries is that Caesar will forget the people who gave him the power he will receive. “But when he once attains the upmost round,/He then unto the ladder turns his back,/Looks into the clouds, scorning the base degrees/by which he did ascend. So Caesar may:” (Soliloquy 15-18). Brutus is worried that once Caesar becomes Emperor he may forget the people who helped him “reach the top of the ladder” and look at those beneath him with scorn. Brutus decides to think of Caesar as a serpent in an egg and kill the serpent while it is still harmless before it can become dangerous. “And therefore think of him as a serpent’s egg/Where hatch’d would as his kind grow mischievous,/And kill him in the shell.” Brutus becomes a part of Caesar’s assassination because he fears of what Caesar will become when he receives power. Despite joining the conspiracy, Brutus is not proud of what he plans to do. He does not believe that what he will do is morally correct, however he commits himself to the plan because of his loyalty to Rome.