“Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe? What, Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome the Tarquin drive, when he was call’d a king…Am I entreated to speak and strike?”(Act 2 Scene 1, 52-56) Brutus was battling inside about what he should do. He loved Caesar yet he believed he would become a tyrant. Brutus believed Caesar was ambitious and was leading Rome in the wrong direction, so because of his honor and his love for the Roman people, Brutus became a conspirator, which led to the death of Caesar.
Honor is what Brutus loves and he would do anything to keep it. Because Brutus’s ancestors fought for the Roman republic, Brutus believed it was his duty to keep it that way and to keep his family’s honor. Cassius is able to manipulate Brutus so that he would join the conspiracy because he knew how much Brutus loved his honor. “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe.”(Act 3 Scene 2, 14-15) Brutus believed that he was a very honorable man, and he thought that killing Caesar would make him more honorable, for Caesar was becoming ambitious. After the conspirators kill Caesar Brutus tells the people that he did it for them and he says that he should listen to him because he is honorable. Throughout the play Brutus talks about his honor, and it is usually his excuse for doing some things. “For let the gods so speed me as I love the name honor more than I fear death.”(Act 1 Scene 2, 87-88) This took place when Brutus was speaking to Cassius after Caesar’s return to Rome. Brutus would rather die with honor than live without it. Because of this Brutus was willing to kill Caesar in order to keep his honor. Because Brutus loved his honor so much, he thought killing Caesar was the best way to keep it and keep the Roman people safe.
Caesar was becoming a Tyrant, that is what Brutus believed, and he believed that the people would loose all rights under Caesar’s hand. Brutus’s ancestors fought for the people’s freedom and rights, they fought for the republic so he wanted to make sure that these rights were not taken away from them. In the speech Brutus gave at Caesar’s funeral, he wanted the people to know what he thought would have happened. “ Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?”(Act 3 Scene 2, 20-23) Brutus told the people that he killed Caesar for them, and if he had not, Caesar would have taken away their freedom. Brutus wanted the people to be free and thought Caesar did not so he knew killing Caesar was the only way to help the people. When Brutus was talking to Cassius at the beginning of the play he said, “What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good…” (Act 1 Scene 2, 83-84) Brutus listened to what Cassius had to say because he wanted to help the people, make sure the people had rights. Brutus loved the people of Rome and wanted them to have their freedom but he believed Caesar would not let it be so.
Brutus could not decide whether or not killing Caesar was the best idea but he soon decided that it was best for him and his honor, and for the people of Rome and their freedom. Brutus wanted to keep Rome a republic because that meant he would not become just another slave under the rule of Caesar, which meant he could still have honor. The Roman people believe in Brutus as well as Caesar, but because he believed Caesar was becoming ambitious, Brutus knew he needed to help the Roman people. Brutus somewhat succeeded because he killed Caesar, the only problem was that he could not convince the people that he did the right thing. Brutus’s goal was noble because he was only trying to help, the one thing he should have thought of was a different way he could have helped, that did not result in death.
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