William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is mainly
based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character who was in
charge of the assassination was, ironically, Marcus Brutus, a servant
and close friend to Julius Caesar. But what would cause a person to kill
a close friend? After examining Brutus' relationship to Caesar, his
involvement in the conspiracy, and his importance to the plot, the truth
can be revealed.
Marcus Brutus, a servant and close friend to Caesar, has a strong
relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and its
people. Brutus is very close to Caesar. In Roman times, the only way for
someone to get close to a person of high rank is if he/she is close to
him/her. In many points of the play, Brutus was talking and next to
Caesar. Brutus also loves Caesar but fears his power. In the early acts
of the play, Brutus says to Cassius, 'What means this shouting? I do
fear the people do choose Caesar for their king...yet I love him
well.'(act 1, scene 2, ll.85-89), as he is speaking to Cassius. Brutus
loves Caesar, but would not allow him to 'climber-upward...He then unto
the ladder turns his back...'(act 2, scene 1, ll.24,26). As the quote
says, Brutus would not allow Caesar to rise to power and then turn his
back onto the people of Rome. After the assassination of Julius Caesar,
Brutus talks to Antony about Caesar's death. 'Our hearts you see not;
they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong of Rome...'(act 3, scene
1, ll.185-186). Brutus says that Antony cannot see their(members of the
conspiracy) hearts, which are full of pity. Again, this shows how Brutus
loved Caesar but cared for the life of Rome and its people more. This is
the only reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. For Brutus says to
himself, 'I know no personal cause to spurn at him...How that might change
his nature...'(act 2, scene1, ll. 1,13) Caesar's