Julius Caesar Take Home Essay

 Although the title of the play is “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” it would be much more appropriate to name the play “The Tragedy of Brutus.” This title is much more accurate for many reasons. For example, although Caesar was the one killed in the play, Brutus was manipulated into destroying his reputation as a loyal servant to Caesar. 

 Throughout the play, one can observe many different stages of corruption in Brutus. At first, Brutus is very tentative and suspicious about what Cassius might be trying to make him do. Evidence of this suspicion can be found in act one scene two after Brutus is approached by Cassius. Cassius has begun talking to Brutus and reveals that he has noticed a difference in how Brutus is acting towards him. Brutus responding very tactfully and nullifies the concerns of Cassius. Later in the conversation Cassius hints that everyone besides Caesar thinks he should think better of himself to which Brutus responds, “Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, that you would have me seek into myself for that which is not in me?” The sense of apprehension shown here by Brutus is an indicator that he does not trust Cassius and that he knows Cassius can be manipulative. Therefore, Brutus has not been corrupted at this point and he is able to reason that betraying Caesar is not the right thing to do.

Later in the play, we see the seed of conspiracy grow in the mind of Brutus. Instead of displaying the healthy amount of apprehension toward Cassius as he did earlier in the play, he begins to trust Cassius and justify why he should kill Caesar. This point in the play is prefaced by a conversation between Cassius and Brutus where Cassius slowly unveils his plot to kill Caesar. Just before Brutus shows he is considering taking part in this plot Cassius points out how Caesar is no better than either of them. To this Brutus says, “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 present, I would not, so with love I might entreat you, be any further moved. What you have said I will consider, what you have to say

I will with patience hear, and find a time both meet to hear and answer such high things.

Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager than to repute himself a son of Rome under these hard conditions as this time is like to lay upon us.” By making this statement, Brutus reveals that he is considering taking part in the plot against Caesar and that he has been corrupted by Cassius.

Finally, the points where Brutus is completely corrupted is when he decides to kill Caesar and when he kills Caesar. Brutus decides to kill Caesar in the middle of the nights. From how the scene begins it is fair to assume he has lost sleep over the matter. The scene opens with Brutus walking into his servants quarters and asking him to light a candle. He then says, “It must be by his death, and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question.” This is and the killing of Caesar are the climax of Brutus’s corruption. At this point, Cassius has taken a respectable member of society and torn him down to the dirt of society.

Given the above evidence, Brutus suffers much more than Caesar. Caesar may have been stabbed many times which was no doubt painful, but Caesar died with dignity. Brutus was affected much more negatively because he used to be at the peak of society and Cassius was able to manipulate him to such a degree that when he died he was at the bottom of society.