Et tu Dakshina? Then fall, essay.

Claim To Fame: Rome’s Most Honorable Man

“As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him” (3.2, lines 23-25) Faced with the irate cluster of what were Caesar’s most loyal disciples, the common eyes of Rome, Brutus chooses to explain his murderous engagements with a speech, forthright with patriotism and dire reasoning. Brutus saw Caesar’s elimination as an essential for the welfare of Rome and was a fervent believer that faithful Romans would assuredly comprehend his decisions. Brutus was motivated by his passion for the future and well-being of Rome and his adamant position on the obstruction of tyranny, thus his decision to assassinate Caesar.

Agitatedly pacing in his orchard, with the burden of an empire on his shoulders; Brutus was  agonized by his array of possibilities and latest judgments. Bluntly turning his back on Rome’s hero and venturing in a quest that may cost his life was not an undemanding resolution. On the contrary, the decision to engage in an act of outright conspiracy rendered him perturbed and unsettled. Was it right to eradicate Rome’s most venerated individual to prevent potential perils, or would it be more judicious to let nature take its course? All night, marching, disconcerted by the extremity of his choices, Brutus knew that if he were to operate in the spirit of devotion and think of the best for Rome, only one thing could be done. “It must be by his death and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn him, but for the general. He would be crown’d: How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder (2.1. 10-14)” Brutus was always considered one of Caesar’s most esteemed and treasured acquaintances. Ruled by intellect and spirit alike, Brutus knew to differentiate between mind and heart and was resolute to act out of genuine concern. Caesar’s coronation persisted as something that Brutus feared in permanence; for it was an event that represented a portentous transformation to his beloved city. He suspected that Caesar’s attitude  and methods of governing Rome would be altered for the worse and that this would lead to the deterioration of the kingdom. Brutus saw Caesar as a future autocrat and was apprehensive when thinking of the pains that would  be inflicted upon the Roman population. The coronation would be a time for Caesar to ultimately give into the forbidden pleasures and dictate the nation  in whichever way he pleased. The likelihood of tyranny, fraud and the perversion of the rules his very ancestors worked to initiate, bedeviled Brutus and so, he could not stand to let an event as such ensue. Brutus, absorbed by validating his intentions, persuades himself of the necessity of his actions. He needs confirmation that he should proceed, reasons that will stand to doubt and prevail under moments of uncertainty. Here Brutus engages in deep thought  regarding the course of Caesar’s conduct and intentions. He strides around his orchard, tentatively bringing up all possibilities in order to assure himself that Caesar would be a definite negative for Rome. “But t’is a common proof, that lowliness is young ambition’s ladder... but when he once attains the up-most round, he then unto the ladder turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees by which he did ascend (2.1. 21-27)” If Caesar were to ascend to a position of supremacy, perhaps he would turn his back on the individuals who acted as stepping-stones to get him there. Brutus was distraught by the likelihood that Caesar’s magnanimous ways were only a facade of his passage to dominance. Perhaps he was just using the Roman public in a deceptive endeavor to acquire power, and later would just scorn them once his objective was accomplished: He was concerned by Caesar’s ambition. Brutus perceived the possibility of a conceited, unappreciative character transformation in Caesar and was vexed that once in a position to direct Rome, Caesar would disregard the commons as he would no longer require them to realize his aspirations. Therefore Caesar needed to be stopped, in order to obstruct the hazards he  would present as Rome’s newly elected leader.

Determined to go through with his scheme, Brutus wanted it to be implemented by his conditions: with blunt, respectable methods. Shortly after his soliloquy  the tranquility of his orchard, Brutus is greeted by the veiled members of the conspiracy, lead by Caius Cassius, intent on discussing the plan. Brutus, guided by morality and passion alike, feels it is his responsibility to take over, and so he launches himself into the position of premier. A minor dilemma presents itself to Brutus: this plot was meant to be praiseworthy, admirable and yet; it appears to be tainted with personal sentiments. Brutus, inspirited by his ardent patriotism and willpower to liberate Rome of oppression, was committed to making sure that it was common knowledge that their scheme was to be undertaken in a principled, respectable manner “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, and in the spirit of men there is no blood. O, that we then could come by Caesar’s spirit and not dismember Caesar! But alas, Caesar must bleed for it (2.1. 166-171)” Here, although persistent on the requirement of Caesar’s elimination, Brutus laments the obligation to assassinate him. Killing Caesar was an ultimate action that he saw as mandatory for the well-being of Rome.. His remorse for the necessity of Caesar’s death is evident, as it is the spirit or dictatorship and inequality that he seeks to eradicate. It is the ethics that Caesar represents that will bring down the Roman nation, and this is what Brutus endeavors to abolish. Standing tall against the forces of oppression and coercion, he knows no private cause to murder Caesar and wishes to slay him in a “courteous”, blunt manner. Brutus’s views and decisions are indeed motivated by the necessity to hinder the propagation of dictatorship  and the concern for the welfare of Rome.Aching at the notion of murdering one he esteemed, was intent on conveying to the other men, the significance of treating this procedure with reverence.He wanted to make sure that the manner in which great Caesar’s existence would be ‘concluded’ would be controlled and considerate, and that it be kept in mind that nationalism and concern for the future of the Roman Empire was the compelling factor and reasoning behind the happening of this scheme. “And, gentle friends, let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully...this shall make our purpose necessary and not envious; which so appearing to the common eyes, we shall be called purgers, not murderers (2.1. 173-180) Brutus was fretful that perhaps the conspirators would fluctuate between boundaries and use this occasion as an opportunity to settle scores or take out muted emotions. They would take his life with dignity: “carve him as a dish fit for the gods, and not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds”. It was imperative, for their sake that they slay valiantly, not mercilessly. The Roman public would then empathize with their rationale and be aware  that this act wasn’t spiteful, but a legitimate sacrifice to benefit the citizens of Rome. Should the conspirators give way to their emotions, the plan may come into sight as vengeful, and thus the public would view them as ruthless predators, and surely revolt. Apart from being representational of Brutus’s emotional intelligence,  it is also a symbol of his knowledge that if the plot is to be finished to realize an honorable cause, there is no choice but to carry it out in an honorable manner: in simplicity, staying true to the motherland, and sheltering it from the peril that is Caesar.    

Following the execution of the scheme, Brutus finds himself encircled by fuming Romans, demanding the truth behind Caesar’s assassination. Brutus readies himself to deliver the address to an entire nation. Questions come to play: will Romans understand the need to intervene for their benefit, or will they rebel, blind with fury at the passing of their leader? He takes the stage at the podium, delivering the first speech before Antony’s and decides to give the crowds what it will take: a discourse, irrefutable as patriotic, that will make the Romans empathize with the cause of the conspirators. “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. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, that that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? (3.2. 19-23)” Brutus held heartfelt emotions towards Caesar and was pained by the necessity to physically obliterate him. This was an essential message to convey to the audience, as it was honest flattery: Brutus was suggesting that he cared more about the future of the Romans than the existence of Caesar. Also, by using rhetoric as a method to convince the common eyes, he gave them arguments they were unable to refute, such as asking if they preferred to exist as slaves. Using various verbal techniques to educate the audience, it was another method to properly translate his motivations and prove them as respectable causes. Loyalty to Rome and saving it’s people from oppression was the focal point of his speech and thus people found themselves stirred, approving of Brutus’s grounds. The speech is concluded and the commoners of Rome are animated and raucous. The crowds push and shove to follow Brutus across the podium. Brutus is satisfied but shows that this discourse was nothing but reality, and in this way asserts himself as Rome’s new “leader.” Having the people’s support and acceptance, Brutus is about to depart in order to allow Antony to make his speech. Brutus chooses to make a concluding mark and exits with a short discourse affirming his position of new chief but also once more emphasizing his incentives. “With this I depart, that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.” (3.2. 41-43) Here Brutus emphasizes himself as a figure of influence, as he has already persuaded the Roman population that his actions were respectable. Now it is a matter of expounding his intentions for the future and reassuring them that his ethic would forever direct him. The focus of his speech is both his affection for of Caesar but also his “superior” devotion to his country.  Intent on proving himself, Brutus assures the Roman that when they see it fit, he too, will give himself the same destiny as Caesar. This quote is emblematic of Brutus’s temperament and motivation, it highlights his concern regarding the welfare of his homeland and his fidelity to the nation, as well as proving him to be an admirable man.


At heart, Brutus was truly an honorable man, but his imprudent judgments and naiveté caused him to devastate himself and the country he was fighting to protect. His motivations, although respectable, were entertained in a reckless manner, which ultimately resulted in consequences so colossal, his grounds, no matter how genuine, appeared deceitful. He partook in a conspiracy to murder Caesar but failed to anticipate later penalties, he did so because he sincerely believed in the factors that inspired him. Brutus was motivated by his spirit of nationalism and willpower to rid his motherland of tyranny, which made the scheme appear estimable to him. Brutus was intent on caring for Rome, and seeing the nation steered in the way it merited. This said, he couldn’t tolerate Caesar to be crowned and watch the empire he esteemed fall apart under the burden of oppression. His goal was a noble one, but his senses were anesthetized by his passion. By killing Caesar and being self-assured enough to allow Mark Antony to produce a discourse after his death, Brutus allowed the Roman public to swayed by another, thus causing civil strife and bringing down the nation. So concerned with stopping Caesar, Brutus was too sightless to comprehend that the plot was not the means to the end he sought and disastrously set himself and his nation up for a ghastly end. Had he been sager regarding his choices, and less extreme with his measures of action, Brutus could have counteracted the propagation of chaos: the coronation could have been halted in more passive way and his cause would be perceived as worthy by others as well. Unfortunately, mislead by his emotions, Brutus eventually succumbed to his decisions, a true tragedy, realizing that patriotism and moral resolve were not enough to carry out every endeavor.