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. 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 city of Rome and its people. Brutus
was always beside Caesar in many points of the play, Brutus was talking and next
to Caesar. Brutus also loves Caesar but fears his power. Brutus would not allow
Caesar to rise to power and then turn his back onto the people of Rome. This is
the only reason Brutus would conspire against Caesar. Caesar feels that Brutus
is noble to him and does the right thing regardless of personal danger. On the
Ides of March, as Caesar was assassinated, Caesar's last line is: "Et tu,
Brute? Then fall, Caesar". This shows that Caesar would not die without
Brutus' stab. Caesar realizes that there must be a good reason for this
assassination if Brutus was involved. After the assassination of Julius Caesar,
Brutus talks to Antony about Caesar's death. Brutus says that Antony cannot see
their members of the conspiracy hearts', that are full of pity. Again, this
shows how Brutus loved Caesar but cared for the life of Rome and its people
more. Marcus Brutus had a very important role in the conspiracy against Caesar.
He was the "back-bone" of the plan. According to Cassius, Brutus' main
purpose in the conspiracy is for an insurance policy. The people will think,
since Brutus is loyal to Caesar, that there is a good reason for Caesar's
assassination. Brutus will also be the leader of the conspiracy for another
"insurance policy" for the assassination. Cassius is the one who
declares this, "Brutus shall lead the way, and we will grace his heels with
the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. " Again, if Brutus leads the way,
the people will think that the death of Julius Caesar wasn't such a bad thing.
Brutus also declares to himself that his role in the conspiracy is to save Rome.
He says to the people that, "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" If Brutus were not in the plot of The Tragedy of Julius
Caesar, the conspiracy would probably not have worked. Since Brutus
"...loved Rome more." he decided to be a part of the conspiracy. If he
hadn't loved Rome more than Caesar, he would not have joined in the
assassination of Julius Caesar. Cassius and the rest of the conspirators would
probably not have continued on without Brutus because they would have no
"insurance" afterwards. The people would think that there was no
reason for Caesar's death and most likely beheaded all the conspirators. Also,
if Brutus were not in the play, the whole end of the play would not ever occur.
Brutus would not be there to have an army or kill himself, and Cassius will
already be beheaded. If Brutus were not in the play, the title would have
absolutely no meaning. Marcus Brutus was a good friend to Julius Caesar, but not
good enough. He had moral values dealing with Rome and its people. Brutus'
values then made him join a conspiracy against Caesar put together by Cassius.
Brutus joined this mainly because he didn't want Caesar to turn his back on Rome
so there would be a reasonable reason for killing Caesar. If Brutus weren't in
the play, there would be no "Tragedy" in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.