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Brutus

Brutus
If a person were to look up the word betrayal in the dictionary the definition would read to deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar there is controversy of whether Brutus's betrayal to Caesar was because of his love of Rome or hatred of Julius Caesar. Alarmed by Caesars rapid rise to power, yet also jealous, Shakespeare's Cassius urges his "friend" Brutus before Caesar can overthrow the Roman Republic by accepting the crown (Quennel 54). Brutus, who loves and admires Caesar, is even more devoted to the thought of the Republic (Quennel 54). Brutus's motive was that he did not want Caesar to become a tyrant. While Brutus thought about Caesar becoming a tyrant Cassius and his group of conspirators convince Brutus to join them in their plot against Caesar (Scott 165). When Brutus joined the conspiracy against Caesar, he did it solely for the good of Rome. Unlike all the other men, Brutus justified his motive for murder (Bubbles 1). Brutus feared that Caesar would alter his attitude when he was crowned emperor (Bubbles 1). Brutus was afraid of the possibility of a negative change in Caesar that could doom Rome (Bubbles 1).

Brutus was a man of great probity and integrity, and of sound judgment backed by philosophical training, and he was loved and esteemed by his compatriots (Dorsch 172). Brutus not only treats all men with respect, but he also treats his wife Portia with respect (Bubbles 1). This is found to be a remarkable trait as women were looked down upon in that day (Bubbles 1). Judging by the way he treats his wife the reader notices that even though he is planning to kill one of his friends, he really does have a kind heart (Bubbles 1). It was Brutus's hatred of tyranny that made him more eager to hear Cassius's promptings (Dorsch 172). Brutus thinks that he is acting from the purest patriotic motives it does not occur to him that he is doing the state no service...

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