Mr.Hanley
Academic English 10
December 5,2014
The Great City of Rome As Benjamin Disraeli said, “Power has only one dutyto secure the social welfare of the
People.” This quote is most cases is true, like in the play Julius Caesa
r. Power is shown “to secure the social welfare of the people” by Brutus’s Justification in killing Caesar, Caesar’s rule and the conspirators killing Caesar.
Brutus’s justification for killing Caesar shows that power had one duty in protecting and securing the social welfare of the People. He says “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.”
(III.ii.2022). Brutus here says that he did not kill Caesar because he did not like him, but he put
Rome before Caesar in importance and thus killed Caesar for the better of Rome. Another example is “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?”(III.ii.2324). Even though nobody was a slave when Caesar was alive, Brutus takes extra precaution because what he said could have happened so Brutus decided to kill
Caesar in order for the of Rome to remain free, which tells readers that Brutus did not kill out of jealousy or for power but to make Rome the best it can be. The last example that supports
Disraeli’s quote is “...as I slew my best lover for the good of rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.”(III.ii.4547). Based on the quote,
Brutus is saying that he will kill himself when he finds it necessary for Rome if he becomes the same as Caesar.
Caesar’s rule or power also supports Disraeli’s quote because whatever Caesar does, it is mostly for the good of the common people or the plebeians. Antony reads his will and says, “To every Roman Citizen he gives / To every several men, seventyfive drachmas.”(III.iii.243244).
Caesar would not have done