The noblest Roman of them all - eNotes Shakespeare Quotes The noblest Roman of them all Marcus Antonius: This was the noblest Roman of them all: All the conspirators, save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Caesar; He, only in a general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. Read on Owl Eyes This eText is now on Owl Eyes. Clicking this link will open a new window. The noblest Roman of them all, according to Marc Antony, was Brutus—one of Caesar's assassins, and now a corpse at Antony's feet. The note of regret here is ironic, to say the least, because Antony raised the army which has destroyed Brutus. Yet Antony now comes to praise Brutus, not to bury him. Of all the conspirators, only Brutus thought of the "common good," and had honest intentions toward the general populace [see THE SERPENT'S EGG ]. The rest merely envied Caesar's greatness; Brutus thought it a real threat to the Republic. Antony's words once again reveal his penchant for superlatives. "The noblest Roman of them all" directly echoes "The most unkindest cut of all" [see p.

173]. In effect, he paints Brutus, at different times, both as a superlative villain and as a superlative Roman. In both cases, Antony is supremely aware of the rhetorical necessities of the situation. Adjectives to Describe the Characters in Julius Caesar Adjectives to Describe the Characters in Julius Caesar In spite of Shakespeare's close adherence to Plutarch for his material, his genius is seen in the character portrayal. Human nature was paramount with Shakespeare, and the facts of history have been subordinated in his plays wherever they interfered with his conception of character. Julius Caesar This tendency to place character conception before historic truth is best illustrated in Julius Caesar by the portrayal of Caesar himself. Shakespeare insists, despite history, that he is a tyrant, weak in body and mind, easily flattered, vain, superstitious. 1. Physically weak. a. Subject to epileptic fits. Act I, sc. 2, 1. 256. "He hath the falling sickness." b. Deaf. I, 2, 1. 213. "Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf." 2. Susceptible to flattery. II, 2, 1.

91. "And this way have you well expounded it." 3. Superstitious. a. "Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calpurnia." I, 2, 1. 6. b. Influenced by Calpurnia's dream and augurers' warnings. II, 2. c. "He is superstitious grown of late," II, i, 1. 195. 4. Vain. a. "Danger knows full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he." II, 2, 1. 44. b. "These crouchings and these lowly curtesies Might fire the blood of ordinary men." III, 1, 1. 36. c. "I am constant as the northern star ..." III, I, 1. 60-73. 5. Arrogant. "If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him I spurn thee like a cur out of my way." III, i, 1.45. Yet, although Caesar's weakness is thus emphasized, he rules throughout the play, especially after his death. The chief conspirators must at length fall before Caesar's spirit.

Cassius's last words are "Caesar, thou art revenged," and Brutus ends his life with . . . "Caesar, now be still; I killed not thee with half so good a will." Brutus The second half of the play, roughly speaking, is the tragedy of Brutus. He is the idealist, the dreamer, so universally respected that the conspirators seek him to give prestige to their cause. Love of country, of liberty, of honor, are his guiding principles. 1. Patriotic and liberty loving. a. "If it be aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye and death i' the other And I will look on both indifferently." I. 2, I. 85-89. b. "Oh, Rome, I make thee promise If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hands of Brutus." II, I, 1. 56-58. c. Not that I love Caesar less but that I loved Rome more." III, 2, 1. 23. 2. Honorable. The name of honor more than I fear death." I, 2, 1. 88.

b. "Oh he sits high in all the people's hearts." (to end of speech). I, 3, 1. 157-160. 3. Idealistic. "No, not an oath!" (to end of speech. 1. 1 14-140). Romans need no other bond than their pledged word. 4. Self controlled and stoical. "Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala ..." IV, 3, 1. 190-192. As the play progresses, we retain all our respect for Brutus's high moral character and disinterestedness, but cannot fail to see that, though forced to act, he is not qualified for action. His public life is only a series of mistakes. 5. Unpractical. a. Refuses to have Antony killed. II, i, 1. 162-183. b. Gives Antony permission to speak at Caesar's funeral. Ill, i, 1. 231 ; 235-242. c. Insists on marching to Philippi. IV, 3, 1. 203- 212.

Himself the soul of honor, scorning to do anything unworthy of a Roman, acting only for his country's welfare, he is incapable of imputing less honorable motives to those with whom he is associated. Mark Antony, his political enemy, fitly pronounces him "the noblest Roman of them all." Portia Portia, Brutus's wife, is also his counterpart. As he, actuated by the principles of honor and love of country, forces himself to perform deeds against his nature, so Portia, exercising the self-restraint and noble dignity suited to a woman "so fathered and so husbanded," holds rigidly in check all the deep feeling, tenderness, and anxiety that are aroused in her by her husband's and her country's plight. (Act II, Sc. i, and II, 4.) When finally her suppressed grief and suspense can no longer be endured, her mind gives way and in a fit of madness she takes her own life. Cassius Cassius is the foil to Brutus. He has all the practical gifts, the insight into character, the tact in dealing with men which Brutus lacks, but he has not Brutus's disinterested love of country and high ideals.

1. Tactful. a. "I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus ..." I, 2, 1. 90-99; 140- 161. b. Casca drawn into the conspiracy. I, 3, 1. iii-130. 2. Scheming and unscrupulous. a. Throws letters into Brutus's window. I, 3, l. 144; II, I, 1.46-58. b. "Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see Thy honorable metal may be wrought From that it is disposed." I, 2, 1. 312-326. 3. Practical and shrewd. a. "I think it is not meet Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, Should outlive Caesar." II, i, 1. 155-161. b. "Do not consent That Antony speak in his funeral." III, i, 1. 232-235. c. "'Tis better that the enemy seek us." IV, 3, 1. 198-202.

But Brutus's moral power is so great that it overpowers Cassius's practical judgment, to the failure of their cause. At the outset, Shakespeare accents Cassius's unlovely traits, his ambition opposing itself to Caesar's, his unscrupulous methods of drawing Brutus into the conspiracy. As the action progresses, however, we gain insight into Cassius's nobler side: his generosity in the reconciliation; (Act IV, Sc. 3) his sincere sympathy for his friend's grief; (Act IV, Sc. 3) his deep affection for Brutus, "I cannot drink too much of Brutus's love"; and finally, his fortitude in meeting a self-inflicted death. Antony Antony, like Cassius, is a foil to Brutus. Like Cassius, he is an astute, practical man of the world, but unlike Cassius, he is fond of pleasure and adventure. Like Cassius again, he is bound by ties of affection and admiration to a finer nature. His love for Caesar is sincere, but he is shrewd and selfish enough to use it for his own ends. 1. Pleasure-loving. a.

"He loves no plays as thou dost, Antony." (Caesar.) I, 2, 1. 203. b. "he is given To sports, to wildness, and much company." (Brutus.) II, I, 1. 187. c. "A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor. Joined to a masker and a reveller!" (Cassius.) V, I, 1. 61-2. 2. Devoted to Caesar. a. "Yet I fear him, For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar - (Cassius.) II, I, 1. 183. b. "That I did love thee, Caesar, oh 't is true!" III, I, 1., 194-210. a. Speech of conciliation to Brutus. "Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest." III, I, 1. 123-137. b. Gains permission to speak at funeral. III, i, 1. 227-230. c. Plays on mob's curiosity and greed in his speech.

"Let but the commons hear this testiment." III, 2, 1. 135; and "It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you." 1. 146. Presented first merely as the gaiety-loving adventurer, Antony reveals after Caesar's death an extraordinary insight into character, from Brutus' noble, unsuspicious nature to the easily-swayed emotions of the mob. In the opening scene of Act IV, more than nineteen months after Caesar's assassination, we see Antony in session with the other two triumvirs, and there is shown still another phase of his character: cold-hearted cruelty and selfish double-dealing. Lepidus, the third triumvir, is "a slight, unmeritable man, meet to be sent on errands," but having done his part in easing Antony "of divers slanderous loads," he is to be sent off "like to the empty ass, to shake his ears." In making out the proscriptions, he does not hesitate to add the names of any he suspects may work him some injury, though his sister's son is among them.

But however practical and unscrupulous his own nature, he was able to recognize and admire nobility of character in another, as is shown in his frank appreciation of Brutus: "This was the noblest Roman of them all." How to cite this article: Roth, Helen M. Julius Caesar (Shakespeare). Shakespeare Online. 20 Nov. 2010. (date when you accessed the information) < >. _______________ BBC - Drama - 60 Second Shakespeare - Shakespeare's plays, themes and characters - Julius Caesar 60 Second Shakespeare Julius Caesar's body lies in the Senate. These included a soothsayer who warned him to "beware the Ides of March", and portents such as the dead rising, blood falling from the sky and lions giving birth in the streets. Brutus, the honourable but misguided assassin of Julius Caesar has committed suicide after being beaten in battle by Mark Antony, who has today taken control of the Empire. With Rome still reeling from the horrific assassination of people's favourite Julius Caesar, this victory has brought a much needed peace to the city at last. A rising star of the Empire, Mark Antony won over Rome's citizens after giving an emotional speech after Julius Caesar's murder.

He spoke just after Brutus had tried to defend his actions in helping kill Caesar. It was his love for Rome, Brutus claimed, that had led him to strike the fatal blow on one of his oldest friends. He went on to explain that his fears that power would go to Caesar's head and turn him into a tyrant had led him to join with Senator Cassius and Metellus Cimber in a plot to assassinate the emperor. At first, the fickle crowd supported Brutus, but a rousing speech from Mark Antony, in which he revealed how generous Caesar's will was to the public, swiftly turned them against the conspirators. Whipped into a frenzy, crowds bayed for their blood and threatened to burn down Brutus's home, and riots erupted across the capital. With Romans split into two camps, the vicious civil war that has just ended was inevitable. The biggest tragedy is that this could all have been avoided if Julius Caesar had only heeded some of the many dire omens and warnings he had received in the days leading up to the assassination.

Calpurnia Julius Caesar's sensible and loving wife, Calpurnia warned her husband not to leave the house during the Ides of March after having a prophetic dream. But sadly, he wouldn't heed her. Julius Caesar An ambitious and ruthless politician, and a skilled general. His ambition led to his downfall, when long-time friend Brutus betrayed and stabbed him to stop him becoming a tyrant. Marcus Brutus Friend of Caesar,this honourable man was also a patriot, convinced that Caesar must die rather than become a tyrant. His strong principles led him to allow rival Antony speak at Caesar's funeral. Mark Antony A soldier and Caesar's right-hand man, this calculating chap used his silver tongue to turn the people of Rome against Brutus. With Caesar slain, he grabbed the chance to take control of Rome. "Beware the ides of March." Soothsayer, Act I, Scene II "Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once." Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene II "Et tu, Brute!

Then fall, Caesar." Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene I "Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the dogs of war" Mark Anthony, Act III, Scene I "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." Mark Anthony, Act III, Scene II "This was the noblest Roman of them all" Mark Anthony, Act V, Scene V Brutus’ Role in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar | Self-Publishing at GRIN Brutus’ Role in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar "The Noblest Roman of Them All?" Term Paper (Advanced seminar), 2012, 13 Pages eBook (PDF) for only US$ 12.99 Download immediately without shipping costs. Readable on tablets and phones. Book for only US$ 15.90 Shipping worldwide 2. “Good Brutus, Can You See Your Face?” – Brutus’ Role Within the Conspiracy 2.1. The Question of Honour 2.2. From Being Pulled to Pulling the Strings 3. “Fashion it Thus” – Brutus’ Reasoning and Justification 3.1. Constructing a Moral Purpose 3.2.

Intention vs. Consequences 5. Works Cited 1. Introduction Upon reading Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” one would agree that Marcus Brutus is the character which, at first glance, appears to be most likeable. Honour as value is something that turns up frequently throughout the play, especially with regard to Brutus. Being the one that murders a friend in order to free the people from tyranny, he acts according to his personal conception of honour. It is not without facing an inner conflict that he decides to put aside his personal feelings of friendship in order to serve the common good. This is what one could say about Brutus if matters were as clear as that. On closer inspection, however, one quickly takes notice of discrepancies as to Brutus’ character and actions. Carrie Pestritto states that “Brutus’s honour […] gives him an almost Christ-like aura“[1] whereas others see him as ambiguous and his character as not to be defined unequivocally.[2] The idea of honour can be interpreted in many different ways and the characters’ understanding of honour differ immensely.

“’Caesar was ambitious […] and Brutus is an honourable man’ (3.2.79-88). Are things really as simple as that?”[3] Kullmann, referring to Pestritto here, poses a question that will be discussed in this paper. The focus is to be on Brutus and his view of the events, evaluating his actions and the reasoning they are based on. It will be possible to see that his only way of coming to a decision and carrying out the assassination is by means of self-delusion. To open himself up to and reconcile with the idea of committing a murder, he has to construct his own fiction, ending up living in a fool’s paradise. For him the way things appear to be weighs down what they are in reality. Important in the above mentioned context is Brutus’ part in the conspiracy, which is going to be worked out in detail. Since the question of honour is such an essential factor, it is necessary to clarify the fact that there are various ways of defining honour and accordingly each character has their own sense of honour.

Gradually, Brutus is dragged into the conspiracy, a process on the basis of which we are able to learn a lot about his character and his moral concepts. 2. “Good Brutus, Can You See Your Face?” – Brutus’ Role Within the Conspiracy This chapter deals with the conspiracy’s members and the contrast between them and Brutus. What are the conspirators’ reasons for recruiting him? What is his part in the plot and how does he get from being involved in the tyrannicide to taking over control? The focus is put on the discrepancy between the characters of Cassius and Brutus and their reasons for starting and joining the conspiracy respectively. A certain importance is to be attached to their differing conceptions of honour and the question of honour as presented in the play. Cassius’ manipulation of Brutus will be analysed and emphasis will be put on the strategies he uses in order to persuade Brutus. 2.1. The Question of Honour As presented in the play, a certain introspection is characteristic of the Romans; they rely on how others see them. A person’s honour for example cannot be measured by oneself, but other people only.

This fact can be found in 2.1, the moment Cassius starts flattering Brutus in order to win him over for his plan: “Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?” (JC 1.2.51) Brutus’ answer clearly shows that he is not able to judge himself, whereas others can do so: “No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself / But by reflection, by some other things” (JC 1.2.52f, my italics). Confirmation can be found with Sharon O’Dair: “A person learns to judge herself by virtue of the judgements others make of her and by virtue of the standards others use to judge her.”[4] As can be seen, great importance is attached to a person’s role as viewed by and therefore also shaped by others. Regarding the play itself, different conceptions of honour, supported by different characters, can be found. In order to point them out, it is crucial to define honour first and then examine which depiction each of the different characters holds. The Oxford English Dictionary offers various definitions and it is noticeable in an instant that they differ vastly.

“Personal title to high respect or esteem; honourableness; elevation of character; ‘nobleness of mind, scorn of meanness, magnanimity’ (Johnson); a fine sense of and strict allegiance to what is due or right”[5] is one definition in the OED. This one corresponds to Brutus’ conception of honour, as far as he himself is concerned, for instance.[6] However, he is aware of the fact that honour can have a different meaning[7], one that is described in the OED as well: “Something conferred or done as a token of respect or distinction; a mark or manifestation of high regard; esp. a position or title of rank, a degree of nobility, a dignity.”[8] This definition is one that Cassius, as can be seen in the play, would support. As will be shown later, Brutus’ and Cassius’ definitions of honour are the most contrasting ones.

The conspirators need Brutus to add moral value to their venture[9], because “In playing […] social roles, in performing the duties and in exercising the rights associated with them, Brutus has achieved the ‘name’ of honor.”[10] Definition 1.c., “As received, gained, held or enjoyed: Glory, renown, fame; credit, reputation, good name. The opposite of dishonour, disgrace”[11], corresponds to the sense of honour they associate with Brutus. In short: the concepts of honour are divers and so are the qualities related to them. As mentioned above we can see a clear gap between Cassius’- and Brutus’ view of honour. “’Honour’ is part of Brutus’s conception of himself”[12] and probably the one quality that has most significance to him. For him, honour means moral integrity and an inner sense of what is right or wrong, an honourableness of mind. Unlike Brutus, Cassius defines honour according to a person’s rank and their reputation. Taking a look at their dialogue in 1.2 it becomes obvious that he despises Caesar for his physical weaknesses and in addition ignores his achievements.

In his eyes a man can’t be one of honour if he depends on help by others and behaves weakly like “a sick girl” (JC 1.2.128). Evidently, for Brutus honour has to do with a person’s inner qualities and is what one’s actions should be based on. In contrast, Cassius has no real feelings of honour himself, which is accompanied by his opinion of others and their respective concept of honour. He doesn’t base his behaviour on honour since for him honour is of no value if not non-existent.[13] Corresponding to Brutus and Cassius’ sense of honour is their striving for it. In Brutus we discover a strong “desire for honor”[14] resulting in the ambition to act honourable and be seen by others as such (JC 1.2.86-89). Nothing seems more important to him than what the people might think about his deed and him personally. Proof for that assumption can be drawn from the situation in which he receives and reads the forged letters arranged by Cassius (JC 2.1.39-58).

Although he has already made his decision of joining the conspiracy it seems that after having read the letters his “mind becomes firm” (JC p.200, footnote) just as if the letters were the last bit he needed to accept the thought of committing a murder. Cassius, on the other hand, appears to be without any real values, which becomes apparent in his soliloquy reflecting on his manipulation of Brutus (JC 1.2.306-321). In conclusion one could say that Brutus clearly shows the greatest striving for and belief in honour standing out against the other characters. [...] [1] Carrie Pestritto, “Outlooks on Honor in Henry V and Julius Caesar,” Connotations 17.1 (2007/2008): 64. [2] Cp. David Lucking, “Brutus’s Reasons: Julius Caesar and the Mystery of Motive.” English Studies 91.2 (2010): 119-132.

[3] Thomas Kullmann, “Ambiguities of Honour: A Response to Carrie Pestritto's ‘Outlooks on Honor in Henry V and Julius Caesar,’” Connotations 17.2-3 (2007): 1. [4] Sharon O’Dair, “Social Role and the Making of Identity in Julius Caesar,” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 33.2 (1993): 292. [5] OED “honour“ 2.a. [7] “’New honours’ are being ‘heaped on Caesar’ [JC 1.2.133]” Kullmann p.4 [8] OED “honour” 5.a. [9] “O he sits high in all the people’s hearts: / And that which would appear offence in us / His countenance, like richest alchemy, / Will change to virtue and to worthiness.

/ Him, and his worth, and our great need of him / You have right well conceited.” (JC 1.3.157-162) [10] O’Dair 294. William Shakespeare: Cassius vs Brutus Julius Caesar Shakespeare - Cassius vs Brutus Julius Caesar In William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", honor is displayed as a prominent theme throughout the play. Honor is having great respect for others, regardless of their status in society; and performing great deeds not for personal gain but for the good of others. Marcus Brutus is an example of an honorable man; Caius Cassius, however, is not. 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: Brutus feared that Caesar would alter his attitude when he was crowned emperor: "He would be crown'd/ How that might change his nature..." (II,i,12-13). Brutus was afraid of the possibility of a negative change in Caesar that could doom Rome.

Cassius formed the conspiracy with motives based solely on envy, and he believed that Caesar was not going to be a good enough ruler. He says: "...it doth amaze me A man of such feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm alone." (I,ii,128-31) Cassius also thought that he was also much stronger than Caesar. Cassius says: "...Caesar said to me, `Dearest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word Accoutred as I was, I plunged in and bade him follow; so indeed he did. The torrent roared...but ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried, `Help me Cassius, or I sink.'...So from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar: and this man Is now become a god and Cassius is A wretched creature...". (I,ii,102-117) Cassius had to save Caesar from the river, which draws him to the conclusion that he deserves recognition for his strength over Caesar.

One of Brutus' flaws is that he is not very bright. He is an idealist; he doesn't think about the consequences of Caesar's murder. For example, when Cassius presented the idea of swearing an oath of secrecy within the conspiracy, Brutus assumes that all of the other men were as noble as he and would not tell anyone of their plans. However, one man betrayed the conspiracy and Caesar was warned. Cassius' forethought is one thing he holds over Brutus, as he thinks about the possible outcomes in Caesar's murder. He suggested killing Marc Anthony along with Caesar, however, Brutus said: "Our course will seem too bloody.../Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers..." (II,i,162/166). Brutus didn't want to kill Antony and Cassius backed down immediately. Cassius is also weak minded and changes how he feels when someone disagrees with him. He suggested that Cicero join the conspiracy by saying, "What of Cicero? Shall we sound him?/I think he will stand very strong with us." (II,i,141-2).

Brutus responds in protest by saying, "O name him not: Let us not break with him: For he will never follow anything That other men begin." (II,i,150-3). Cassius vetoed his idea without arguement. For one to be honorable, they must argue their opinions and stand up for their thoughts and beliefs. Brutus not only treats all men with respect, but he also treats his wife Portia with respect. This is found to be a remarkable trait as women were looked down upon in that day. He said to her: "You are my true and honorable wife, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart." (II,i,287-90) When he said this to her the reader notices that even though he is planning to kill one of his friends, he really does have a kind heart. Cassius, however, is very sarcastic towards others, such as Caesar, and has little respect for him.

He said: "Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about..." (II,i,136-8) Although, both men die with their honor, Brutus is the one who lived his life with integrity, Cassius did not. Brutus is "the noblest Roman of them all" (V,v,68) and died with honor by his side. Honor is an important characteristic and must be used delicately, but Brutus defines honor. Cassius is a man of little power and is envious of those who have what he wants. NOTA IMPORTANTA: ARTICOLELE PUBLICATE IN PAGINA DE REFERATE AU SCOP DIDACTIC SI SUNT ELABORATE IN URMA UNEI DOCUMENTARI SUSTINUTE. ESTE STRICT INTERZISA PRELUAREA ARTICOLELOR DE PE SITE SI PREZENTAREA LOR LA ORELE DE CURS. Referatele din aceasta sectiune sunt trimise de diferiti colaboratori ai proiectului nostru.

Referatele va sunt prezentate pentru COMPLETAREA STUDIULUI INDIVIDUAL, si va incurajam si sustinem sa faceti si voi altele noi bazate pe cercetari proprii. In Julius Caesar, is Brutus a truly honorable character? | eNotes In Julius Caesar, is Brutus a truly honorable character? robertwilliam | College Teacher | (Level 2) Senior Educator Posted on January 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM Great question - and there isn't a right answer. Antony clearly doesn't think so when he juxtaposes Brutus' actions with his ideals in the funeral speech in which he - with increasing levels of irony - describes Brutus and the conspirators as an honorable man. Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through; See what a rent the envious Casca made; Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away, Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it... The huge gulf between Brutus' ideals and his actions is where the problem lies.

In his soliloquy he outlines that he has no "personal cause" to attack Caesar, but only the "general: he would be crowned". Yet we've seen Brutus be persuaded by Cassius, who plays absolutely on Brutus' own self-important sense of honour, and even compares Brutus with Caesar, asking "why should that name be sounded more than yours?". Is Brutus only drawn into the conspiracy ("general cause") out of self-regard and arrogance - "a personal cause"? Perhaps. And, when you compare Brutus' imperative that the conspiracy rises against Caesar's spirit, in which there "is no blood", with the blood that pours out after the assassination itself, you have to conclude that Brutus is somewhat painfully idealistic. Personally, I don't think he's honorable, but a cynical portrayal of how a self-regarding liberal can bring about absolute disaster. But whichever way you go, he's a political disaster. like 3 dislike 0 January 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM Yes, absolutely, Brutus was most definitely an honorable man. Think about his initial resistance to Cassius' advances: he asks what sort of dangerous path he is being led down.

Brutus has no personal grudge against Caesar; in fact, he is the last to stab him because he has the least amount of personal hatred toward him. While Cassius, Trebonius, Casca ("speak, hands for me!") and others fly into him with rage, Brutus simply waits until the end, and without emotion, does what he feels is necessary to protect the Roman state. Also, one thing that I think truly separates Brutus from the other conspirators is his sense of conscience and justice. While Brutus has the least amount of blame for the murder (having done it for the good of his country, rather than out of personal jealousy as did Cassius), he sees Caesar's ghost several times, which is a sure sign of his sense of guilt. This also points to Brutus' sense of personal responsibility. He never felt right about his decision to kill Caesar afterwards; and when he realized that he had indeed acted inappropriately, he used the knife that he plunged into Caesar to take his own life, out of a sense of obligation.

He did what others were unwilling to do: when he realized he could do no better than his predecessor, and that he was actually harming his countrymen through his rule, he removed himself from power. like 3 dislike 0 January 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM @afi80fl Brutus has no personal grudge against Caesar; in fact, he is the last to stab him because he has the least amount of personal hatred toward him. I know that what you're arguing is the traditional interpretation of this play, but I don't think it's justified in the text. Please provide some textual justification (i.e. quotes from Shakespeare's play) for the above quote. I can't find anything that tells us why Brutus is the last to stab Caesar, or indeed, how most of the conspirators feel about Caesar (and no mention at all of "personal hatred"). like 1 dislike 1 May 1, 2013 at 6:41 AM At the beginning of the play, I believe that Brutus was a much different man than he turned out to be.

He did not want to take part in the conspiracy, but Cassius was very persuasive and convinced him that it was what needed to be done. After Brutus had decided to go along with the idea I think that he expected it all to happen too easily. He was too confident that their plan would work exactly like they had planned and that nothing could go wrong. Along with being overconfident, he was also a very impatient man. They had only generated their plan a couple days before and did take not enough time to realize the consequences of their actions. If they had taken more time to think things through and had planned for the worst to happen, I believe they would have been ready for what would happen next. After the killing of Caesar and rioting of the plebeians after the funeral the two armies were ready to fight, which again showed signs of impatience. When going into the battle Brutus advanced too quickly which led to the killing of many of his men and his own suicidal efforts. Many references were made as to why Brutus was an honorable man. He was very noble and everyone around him saw that. However, I believe they saw it as a good quality when in turn it led to his death.

In trying to do the right thing for the good of Rome he was making bad decisions. His only reason for killing Caesar was for the good of Rome and he truly believed that it was the best thing for his city. He also shows his nobility when he speaks at Caesar's funeral in saying that "As Caesar loved me, I weep for him...." He shows signs of compassion and sorrow, but at the same time he convinces the plebeians that it was the right thing to do and gives them just cause. Another way that he shows signs of nobility is that he does not betray anybody at any point in the play. Although he did murder Caesar, it was to better Rome, not to mislead him. Everything that he did was for the advantage of someone else. Even though he killed Antony's best friend, Antony still recognized Brutus as "the noblest Roman of them all." He cared more about others than he did himself. For example, in the course of killing Caesar, he could have without difficulty changed his mind and not killed him because he knew he might have been reprimanded, but he knew in the long run that it would help the plebeians most.

At the conclusion when he grasps hold of what he did and how he was fooled, he kills himself with the knife that killed Caesar. This shows how righteous he is because he is man enough to realize what happened and he took accountability. I also do not believe he could have lived with that guilt of failing and killing one of his best friends. I think Antony sums it up the best when he says, "This was the noblest Roman of them all. / All the conspirators save only he/ Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;/ He, only in general honest thought/ And common good to all, made one of them./ His life was gentle, and the elements/So mixed in him that Nature might stand up/And say to all the world, `This was a man!'" May 11, 2009 at 5:26 AM Brutus is definitely honourable, even though his morality may be flawed. Recall in (Act 2, Scene 1) Brutus perceives Antony as “gamesome” and harmless without Caesar and so dismisses him as a threat to the conspirators.

When the other conspirators want to kill Antony along with Caesar, Brutus declares, “For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers.” By sparing the life of Antony, Brutus feels he will look good and honorable to the people, rather than butchers. He further says Antony is worthless without Caesar. “And for Mark Antony, think not of him; /For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm/When Caesar’s head is off” This is pure evidence why Brutus is an honourable, even though it may lead to disaster...but in the context of this play, Shakespeare had dared not write that someone that murdered the king had survived (a bit of history would help understand why Brutus is honourable in every way...the only person to kill Caesar without personal thoughts "I know no personal cause to spurn at him/But for the general" like 1 dislike 0 February 18, 2009 at 6:31 AM No, atleast not entirely. Think of Rome's history and all the monarchs it has had. Consider Caesar, the most famous leader of Rome. What makes him different from the countless other emperors preceeding him?

Was he truly THAT much more powerful than figures like Sulla and Crassus. Rome had always given supreme authority to its military leaders who established a strong, unified military. The Fall of Rome ultimately occured when into a Western and Eastern empire with different emperors. There had to be some underlying jelousy between Brutus and Caesar, which puts him on the same level as the other conspirators. like 1 dislike 0 SparkNotes: Julius Caesar: Analysis of Major Characters Analysis of Major Characters Themes, Motifs & Symbols Brutus Brutus emerges as the most complex character in Julius Caesar and is also the play’s tragic hero. In his soliloquies, the audience gains insight into the complexities of his motives. He is a powerful public figure, but he appears also as a husband, a master to his servants, a dignified military leader, and a loving friend. The conflicting value systems that battle with each other in the play as a whole are enacted on a microcosmic level in Brutus’s mind.

Even after Brutus has committed the assassination with the other members of the conspiracy, questions remain as to whether, in light of his friendship with Caesar, the murder was a noble, decidedly selfless act or proof of a truly evil callousness, a gross indifference to the ties of friendship and a failure to be moved by the power of a truly great man. Brutus’s rigid idealism is both his greatest virtue and his most deadly flaw. In the world of the play, where self-serving ambition seems to dominate all other motivations, Brutus lives up to Antony’s elegiac description of him as “the noblest of Romans.” However, his commitment to principle repeatedly leads him to make miscalculations: wanting to curtail violence, he ignores Cassius’s suggestion that the conspirators kill Antony as well as Caesar. In another moment of naïve idealism, he again ignores Cassius’s advice and allows Antony to speak a funeral oration over Caesar’s body. As a result, Brutus forfeits the authority of having the last word on the murder and thus allows Antony to incite the plebeians to riot against him and the other conspirators.

Brutus later endangers his good relationship with Cassius by self-righteously condemning what he sees as dishonorable fund-raising tactics on Cassius’s part. In all of these episodes, Brutus acts out of a desire to limit the self-serving aspects of his actions; ironically, however, in each incident he dooms the very cause that he seeks to promote, thus serving no one at all. Julius Caesar The conspirators charge Caesar with ambition, and his behavior substantiates this judgment: he does vie for absolute power over Rome, reveling in the homage he receives from others and in his conception of himself as a figure who will live on forever in men’s minds. However, his faith in his own permanence—in the sense of both his loyalty to principles and his fixture as a public institution—eventually proves his undoing. At first, he stubbornly refuses to heed the nightmares of his wife, Calpurnia, and the supernatural omens pervading the atmosphere. Though he is eventually persuaded not to go to the Senate, Caesar ultimately lets his ambition get the better of him, as the prospect of being crowned king proves too glorious to resist.

Caesar’s conflation of his public image with his private self helps bring about his death, since he mistakenly believes that the immortal status granted to his public self somehow protects his mortal body. Still, in many ways, Caesar’s faith that he is eternal proves valid by the end of the play: by Act V, scene iii, Brutus is attributing his and Cassius’s misfortunes to Caesar’s power reaching from beyond the grave. Caesar’s aura seems to affect the general outcome of events in a mystic manner, while also inspiring Octavius and Antony and strengthening their determination. As Octavius ultimately assumes the title Caesar, Caesar’s permanence is indeed established in some respect. Antony Antony proves strong in all of the ways that Brutus proves weak. His impulsive, improvisatory nature serves him perfectly, first to persuade the conspirators that he is on their side, thus gaining their leniency, and then to persuade the plebeians of the conspirators’ injustice, thus gaining the masses’ political support. Not too scrupulous to stoop to deceit and duplicity, as Brutus claims to be, Antony proves himself a consummate politician, using gestures and skilled rhetoric to his advantage.

He responds to subtle cues among both his nemeses and his allies to know exactly how he must conduct himself at each particular moment in order to gain the most advantage. In both his eulogy for Caesar and the play as a whole, Antony is adept at tailoring his words and actions to his audiences’ desires. Unlike Brutus, who prides himself on acting solely with respect to virtue and blinding himself to his personal concerns, Antony never separates his private affairs from his public actions. More Help Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: Character Introductions Julius Caesar: Character Introduction Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus, Roman senator and mastermind of the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar, is the central character of the play. Brutus is first seen in 1.2., discussing with Cassius why the republic would be best served with Caesar's removal. After the conspirators carry out the crime, Brutus gives a moving speech to convince the Plebeians that it was necessary to kill Caesar, but Antony arrives and turns the crowd against him. Brutus flees Rome and tries to regain the capitol by forming an army, but Antony's forces are too skilled and strong to combat.

When he realizes the cause is lost, Brutus convinces his servant, Strato, to hold his sword while he falls upon it, and he dies. Antony and Octavius find his body and Antony, knowing Brutus was pure in his motive to help the republic, declares Brutus "was the noblest Roman of them all." Shakespeare's Brutus is very similar to the historical Brutus, as described in Plutarch's Lives . His qualities in both are best summarized by Victorian critic M. Guizot: That dreamy spirit ever busied in self-examination, that disturbance of a stern conscience at the first indications of a duty that is still doubtful, that calm and resolute firmness as soon as the duty becomes certain, that profound and almost painful sensibility, ever restrained by the rigor of the most austere principles, that gentleness of soul which never disappears for a single moment amid the most cruel offices of virtue  in fine, the character of Brutus, as its idea is present to us all, proceeds animate and in changing through the different scenes of life in which we meet it and in which we can not doubt that it appeared under the very aspect with which the poet has clothed it.

(Shakespeare and his Times, p. 211) For a more detailed analysis of Shakespeare's Brutus, please click here . For a list of adjectives to describe Brutus with textual support, please click here . Cassius Cassius is the practical and rash brother-in-law of Brutus. He relishes the removal of Caesar, whom he believes is incompetent and weak to the point of embarrassment. The character of Cassius is contrasted dramatically with Brutus: Brutus acts wholly upon principle; Cassius partly upon impulse. Brutus acts only when he has reconciled the contemplation of action with his speculative opinions; Cassius allows the necessity of some action to run before and govern his opinions. Brutus is a philosopher; Cassius is a partisan. Brutus, therefore, deliberates and spares; Cassius participates and denounces. Brutus is the nobler instructor; Cassius the better politician. Shakespeare, in the first great scene between them, brings out these distinctions of character upon which future events so mainly depend. (Charles Symmons, The Poetical Works of William Shakespeare, p. 413) For a list of adjectives to describe Cassius with textual support, please click here .

Mark Antony Antony, the heroic leader of the forces that defeat Brutus and the other conspirators, is also the title character in another Shakespearean tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra. In Julius Caesar, Antony is introduced in 1.2 and his importance is indicated by Cassius's proposal that he be assassinated along with Caesar (2.1). Antony delivers his most significant speech (in either tragedy) in 3.2: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears " (79). After Brutus commits suicide, Antony eulogizes Brutus in a speech that begins with one of Shakespeare's best known lines: "This was the noblest Roman of them all"(5.5.68). For a complete analysis of Shakespeare's Antony, please click here . For a list of adjectives to describe Antony with textual support, please click here . Julius Caesar Shakespeare's Caesar is not an attractive ruler. He is self-aggrandizing and has a feeble constitution, which Cassius points out with several examples in 1.2.

He makes those around him wonder how such a buffoon could "bestride the narrow world like a Colossus" (1.2.135) while they are left to "walk under his huge legs" (136). Yet Caesar's assassination is so great a crime, and the words of Antony so moving in his favor, that he becomes more commanding in death than in life; his mighty spirit fighting along side Antony and Octavius, forcing Brutus to exclaim: O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet! Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords In our own proper entrails. (5.3.95) For a list of adjectives to describe Caesar with textual support, please click here . Octavius Stony hearted and cautious Octavius Augustus Caesar joins with Antony to defeat Brutus on the Plains of Philippi. Octavius is but a minor character in Julius Caesar, but he plays a central role in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, where we see his character developed and contrasted with that of Antony. Please click here for a full analysis of Octavius. Portia Portia is the strong and devoted wife of Brutus.

Her most notable moment in the play is when she reveals to her husband that she has wounded herself to demonstrate her strength and courage (2.1.300). Her act proves to Brutus that she is worthy to hear his troubles, and he is about to tell her his plan when they are interrupted by Ligarius. Knowing Brutus's cause is lost to Antony and Octavius, Portia commits suicide in 4.3. Brutus describes her strange death to Cassius, telling him she "swallowd fire" (155). According to the author of Shakespeare's source, Plutarch, Portia held hot coals in her mouth until she choked. Calpurnia Calpurnia, like Portia, is a noble Roman woman who has an affectionate relationship with her husband and a deep concern for his safety. There is little doubt that the devotion is mutual: Calpurnia cannot give Caesar children, and although he is troubled by the thought of having no heir (1.2.6-9), he bears her no hostility; she has an ominous dream, and Caesar agrees to stay home to ease her mind (2.2.59).

Although Decius ultimately convinces Caesar to go to the Capitol, Caesar and Calpurnia have discussed her concerns as equals. ______ Top 5 Quotes Explained Top 5 Quotes Explained Bookmark this page Manage My Reading List "Beware the ides of March." (Act I, Scene II, line 23) What does it mean? A soothsayer warns Julius Caesar about his impending assassination in this pivotal scene. What makes it especially important is Caesar's reaction. Caesar brushes off the soothsayer's words and doesn't give them a second thought. With his ego so inflated, Caesar is unable to recognize a warning when it is blatantly given to him. Such carelessness helps foreshadow Caesar's death in an ironic way. The warning of his assassination also foreshadows it. "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me." (Act I, Scene II, line 285-286) What does it mean? Casca is literally saying, "I don't know what he said, it was in Greek and I don't speak Greek." But on another level, his inability to understand the language develops Casca character further.

Casca is unrefined and crude, sometimes brutish. Although not an original conspirator, Casca joins the night before Caesar's assassination and even stabs Caesar first. "Et tu, Brute?" (Act III, Scene I) What does it mean? After being stabbed by his comrades, Caesar addresses Brutus. Translated, the line reads, "and you too, Brutus?" Caesar cannot believe his friend participated in his assassination. Brutus is known as an honorable man, but also a tad naive. As one of the play's most complex characters, Brutus grapples with the murder of Caesar, even after the fact. "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." (Act III, Scene II, line 77-78) What does it mean? Antony opens his funeral speech with this famous line. He's acknowledging the crowd as his peers and says he has no motives besides burying Caesar. In this pivotal scene, Antony performs a masterful feat; he manages to turn the crowd against the conspirators.

Antony's words about Caesar and Rome move the crowd to such an emotional frenzy the downfall of the conspirators is clearly on the horizon. "This was the noblest Roman of them all." (Act V, Scene V, line 68) What does it mean? In the final scene of the play, and in the wake of Brutus's suicide, Antony gives Brutus's eulogy. Antony cites Brutus's naive nature as to the reason for his nobleness. Of all the conspirators, Brutus was the only one to believe Caesar's death was for the good of all; everyone else acted out of jealousy. According to Antony, even in death Brutus was noble. He ran himself through with a sword rather than surrender. Julius Caesar: Entire Play ACT III SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above. A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish.

Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others

Question: In which of Shakespeare's plays is Brutus described as "the noblest Roman of them all"?
Answer: Julius Caesar