A Better Rome – By Killing Caesar?
“What means this shouting? I do fear that the people choose Caesar for their king,” … “I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well…” Page 32, lines 78-81. Brutus and Cassius are talking about the roaring crowd. This tells us that Brutus already thinks that Caesar will become a tyrant. Brutus is afraid of what Caesar might do to the people, even though he loves Caesar. Cassius figures out that Brutus is gullible enough to join the conspiracy. The conspiracy needs Brutus because the general people listen to him due to his honor and popularity among them.
Brutus is a gullible person; he believes that killing Caesar will be the only way to peace in Rome. Cassius, a very sly manipulator, takes the chance with Brutus and slowly makes him join the conspiracy by giving him letters all written by him, and also by telling him about what might happen if Caesar was to be king. “That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; what you would work me to, I have some aim: how I have thought of this, and of these times, I shall recount hereafter. For this is present, I would not, so with love I might entreat you, be any further mov’d. What you have said I will consider; what you have to say I will with patience hear, and find a time both to meet to hear and answer such high things.” Brutus, page 36 and 37, lines 160 – 168. Cassius had just told Brutus about how evil Caesar will be and how his nature will change once he is king. Brutus believes him fully, and considers joining the conspiracy. “Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see thy honorable mettle may be wrought from that it is dispos’d: therefore ‘tis meet that noble minds keep ever with their likes; for who so firm that cannot be seduc’d?” Cassius, page 46, lines 298 – 302. Cassius believes that even the most stubborn person can be seduced into doing what he wants. He is talking about Brutus behind his back and saying that Brutus’ honor is getting in the way of his thinking; that he thinks about honor too much.
The people look up to Brutus because of his honor. Brutus wanted the better for Rome and for the general to be free people. He believed that Caesar would have become a tyrant and made everyone slaves. “If it be aught toward the general good, set honor in one eye, and death in the other, and I will look on both indifferently; for let the Gods so speed me as I love the name of honor more than I fear death,” Brutus, Page 32, lines 84 – 89. This quote is saying that Brutus would rather die than to be considered dishonorable; he wants the greater good for all the people, which is to get rid of Caesar so he won’t become a tyrant. Cassius sees this in Brutus and uses it against him in such a way that Brutus goes down the path with the conspiracy. Another quote that shows Brutus being very honorable is the following; “… Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and wake your senses, that you may the better judge. … If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer; not that I loved Caesar less, that I loved Rome more.” This quote is when Brutus is at Caesar’s funeral; right after him and the conspirators had killed him. He is trying to make the people believe that Brutus still is an honorable man, and that what he has done was right.
Did the end justify the means? Brutus wanted a free and peaceful Rome. By killing Caesar, Antony, one of Caesar’s followers, became ranged and started a civil war in all of Rome and in Italy. If Brutus had not been driven completely by honor, he might have gotten the Rome he wanted. He also shouldn’t have gone with Cassius. All Cassius wanted was to have Brutus on his side to make the plot of killing Caesar look like it was for the greater good and so that people would believe him more easily.