Essay Database

Marcus Brutus was a supposed good friend of Caesar. He was an idealistic man who was motived more by honor and nobility than his own personal relationships. His inflexible honor made it easy for the conspirators in the play to take advantage of him. He was a gullible, naive man, who let the wrong people persuade him that the only way to preserve the republic, which he strongly supported, was to eliminate Caesar. Cassius, and …

…without him, especially as a ruler; he tells the people, "People and Senators, be not affrighted. Fly not; stand still; ambition's debt is paid." (3.1.82) Brutus' misguided sense of nobility and poor judgement eventually lead to his downfall. Towards the end of the play, Brutus and the conspirators argue and they aren't sure what to do anymore. Almost all of the conspirators die in the Battle of Philippi, including Brutus, who dies by his own sword.