Sidney Woodard McGlaughlin Honors English 2 Period 3 27 January 2023 TITLE In William Shakespeare’s play, The tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus’ soliloquy in Act 2 Scene One examines the contemplation and difficult decision that he must make in order to protect Rome from Julius Caesar. Brutus, alongside Cassius, formed to join the conspirators, a group of senators who are working together to assassinate Caesar, a Roman general who ruled himself as dictator over Rome. Therefore, Brutus and the conspirators believe that they must kill Julius Caesar because of his ambition to be crowned, which would lead to mass destruction and ruin Rome. Through Brutus’ soliloquy, Shakespeare uses imagery, tone, and figurative language to demonstrate the relationship …show more content…
It is just a few hours before dawn on March 15th, also known as the Ides of March, and as Brutus lay wide awake gathering his running thoughts he expresses, “It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking. Crown him that…” (Shakespeare 2.1.14-15). These lines show that even on a bright sunny day, evil will shine through. Additionally, the imagery creates suspension because Brutus clearly states that Caesar will use his power for his own evil intentions, despite the friendship they once shared. Brutus compares Caesar to a dangerous and evil animal, specifically, he claims to, “...think [of] him as a serpent’s egg. Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous” (Shakespeare 2.1.32-33) These lines are stating that if Julius Caesar continues to gain more power and control over Rome, his actions will become too powerful and evil for his own good. This use of imagery also allows the audience to better understand the way that Brutus feels about Caesar, and try to validate why he must kill him, before the destruction of Rome …show more content…
Brutus starts his soliloquy as he contemplates whether or not to kill Caesar stating, “It must be by his death; and for my part” (Shakespeare 2.1.10). As this is the start of his words, it sets and highlights the ultimate tone where Brutus feels confused and tries to justify all of the things he is saying. Furthermore, Brutus speaks out loud that ultimate destruction will erupt if Caesar gets crowned and that he must stop him. Brutus concludes his soliloquy by stating the fact that conspirators must make larger claims in order to go forth with assassinating Caesar, despite this, he closes his words with that they must, “...kill him in the shell” (Shakespeare 2.1.34). These are the closing lines to his soliloquy, as he explains that Brutus, and the conspirators must kill Caesar before he becomes ruler over Rome. Additionally, by bluntly stating that they must kill him, represents the exact tone and message of what they will do, rather than just leading on the idea of Caesar’s
Shakespeare compromises the use of rhetorical questions into Cassius’ words to further sway his audience. “Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he is grown so great?”(I.ii.58-59). Cassius signals that Caesar and Brutus have grown up to be valuable and honorable men, equally gifted to rule a republic. Shakespeare incorporated the use of a rhetorical question, as it empowered the belief of equality between Brutus and Caesar. Both sharing the same knowledge and capability but obtaining different
“And therefore think of him as a serpent’s egg— Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— and kill him in the shell (II, i, 32-34).” Brutus compares Caesar utilizing a simile to back his reasoning to kill Caesar now while he’s “in the shell” rather than to kill him when he’s hatched and dangerous. And he also uses an either/or fallacy to justify his decision saying that either Caesar will destroy
The ides of March in 44B.C. will forever be a notable day for the Roman Empire, their great leader the honorable Julius Caesar was assassinated. The Roman Empire didn’t have a permanent powerful leader in charge, therefore, it was always a competition to who would one day become the great leader and people feared that. The people of Rome feared a man full of power, Brutus being one of them. Brutus was a senator and also a relative to Caesar, he was the lead conspirator head to plan and assassinate due to his increasingly rapid upraise which began to occur after Caesar’s appointment to dictator Perpetuo. People always viewed Brutus as such a high and honorable man even after the assignation, until Mark Antony’s gave his eulogy at Julius Caesar’s
Brutus’s words emphasize his desperation for help in his death, “thou knowst that we two went to school together; Even for that our love of old, I prithee, Hold thou my sword whilst I run on it” further emphasizes that though they have been long friends who love each other Brutus’s need of not facing bondage leads him to his
"The ides of March are come/ Ay, Caesar, but not [yet] gone." (III.i.12) Sure enough, the Soothsayer was unmistaken, and on that very day (March 15), Julius Caesar would take his last breath. At this marking, the movement of the conspirators began in "liberating" Rome.
Near the beginning of act II, Brutus has a soliloquy in which he is trying to decide whether joining the conspiracy is the right thing to do. He discusses reasons for why killing Caesar may be appropriate for the current situation of him being crowned king. Brutus also reveals his thoughts about some of Caesar’s behavior and what could happen (based on human nature) if he is given power. In the end, he decides to join with the conspiracy and kill Caesar.
Although Brutus believed he was better fit for Rome than Caesar, he was not fully convinced as you can tell before he stabs Caesar. Brutus was hesitant to kill Caesar, Brutus must’ve became overwhelmed by the whole senate glaring at him and couldn’t think what to do for a while. This is relevant today in the world; kids all around the world try to stay away from drugs, negative, and etc. Their peers are the ones are who manipulate them by using peer pressuring them, just as Brutus was peer pressured by the majority of the Rome senate. Julius Caesar was astonished that Brutus was also involved in his assassination, as he said “Et tu Brutus?”
Then he starts talking about how caesar was against the world “ But yesterday the word of Caesar might Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,And none so poor to do him reverence”.(3.2.117)Anthony
He explains that has Caesar had to die for his ambition and since he loved Rome more than he loved Caesar it was his duty to kill him. He also states that he is sad that Caesar had to die but that he would prefer him dead rather than have the people of Rome as slaves. He finally says that he will kill himself when his country is in need of his death. In the end of the story he does kill himself therefore he was true to his
(Act 3, Scene 1). This quote showcases Caesar’s shock and betrayal upon realizing that even someone he considers a close confidant has joined the conspiracy against him. Caesar’s appeal to the ethos of their friendship emphasizes the depth of his trust in Brutus, highlighting how his flawed judgment in trusting the wrong person plays a significant role in his tragic
When Brutus was talking to the conspirators Brutus was going back and forth think if he should help the conspirators kill Julius Caesar. He was going back and forth because he was thinking of the power he could have and could rule Rome. The reason behind Brutus killing Caesar was for the better of Rome. If Brutus would not have killed Caesar, Rome would have turned into a dictatorship, and in turn it would have ruined Rome and all of its people. Brutus did not kill Julius just for the power to rule Rome, he killed Julius to save Rome from Caesar’s dictatorship.
Brutus tries to impress the crowd by saying that Caesar was going to become a dictator. “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (ii. III.L 22-24). Brutus gives this reason to make the people think this murderous act was honorable.
Brutus loves Caesar but knows he has to kill him for the good of rome. He says, “I know
The final sentence in the part of the speech tie sit together, he says that if he had not done what he had, then the audience would still be slaves, so they are now finally convinced that killing caesar was a good
Brutus 's speech: Brutus speaks to the people of rome why he killed caesar so they will not turn on him. He talked about how he didnt kill him because he didn 't love him but because it was for the better of rome. He also tells the people of rome that letting caesar become king would mean the government type would change and all the wars and hard work his family had put into the government would go away. He also states, for the welfare of rome that he would die for rome if rome demands his death Rhetorical devices: Brutus used questions, logos, parallelism, and pathos to stir the people of rhome. Question-