EDGEFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERATURE DEPARTMENT Julius Caesar Act 5: Marcus Brutus Character Name: ( ) Date: Class: Marcus Brutus Significance to the plot of Julius Caesar: Which line of the entire play do you think is the climax? Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!........ Analysing Brutus Importance to the PLOT The play reaches its climax when the conspirators murder Caesar. However, of all the conspirators, Caesar singles out Brutus as the one whose betrayal shocks him the most. Key Question: Why is Brutus choice the most significant out of all the conspirators? Caesar thought that he was immortal. It is thus ironic that the wound which killed him was inflicted by his most trusted friend Brutus. Brutus betrayal of Caesar symbolises the breakdown of human relationships that bond society and unify a nation. True enough, Brutus decision to overthrow Caesar results in civil war and gives Antony s Triumvirate the chance to take over control. Analysing Brutus CHARACTER Now look at Antony s eulogy of Brutus in Act 5 Scene 5 (68-75). In spite of Brutus decisions which led to disaster for Rome, Antony nonetheless claims that Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all (5.5.68). List all the traits which made Brutus noble according to Antony: - He was honest and did what he did for the common good (71-72) - His qualities were well-balanced (73-74) Food for Thought: How would you judge Brutus character based on these two key episodes in the play? Key Question: Based on his personal qualities, do you think Brutus was noble or naive? Write down your topic statement for both arguments: Brutus was noble because Brutus was naive because....
Brutus was NOBLE Brutus was NAÏVE 1a. Brutus was HONOURABLE If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye and death i th other, And I will look on both indifferently; For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death. (1.2.86-90) Brutus fears Caesar s power not out of envy, but out of a genuine concern that Caesar may be overly ambitious. His innate sense of honour required that he remove Caesar before his ambition corrupted him (or so he thought!) 1b. But he was too EASILY MANIPULATED. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see Thy honourable mettle may be wrought From that it is disposed. (1.2.309-311) Cassius knew that he could easily manipulate Brutus into joining his plot by presenting the murder as an act of justice done for the Romans. Unsurprisingly, Brutus fell for the bait completely as a result of his obsession with doing honourable deeds, which Cassius recognised and used to his advantage. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am armed so strong in honesty That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not. (4.3.66-69) Brutus always does what is honourable, even if he could have benefited more otherwise. This aspect of his character has remained constant from Act 1 to Act 4. 2a. Brutus made RATIONAL decisions It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. (2.1. 10-12) Act 2 Scene 1 begins by showing Brutus providing rational reasons for killing Caesar. He clearly states that he has no personal vendetta against Caesar. Then he uses logical language to demonstrate his line of thought: But tis a common proof (2.1.21); So Caesar may; Then lest he may, prevent (2.1.27-28), etc. His murder of Caesar was not a crime of passion. 2b. But he OVERTHOUGHT the danger posed by Caesar to Rome. Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream. The genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council; and the state of man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection. (2.1.63-69) Here, Brutus describes the inner turmoil going on in his mind as he struggles to decide whether to kill Caesar or not. He uses the metaphor of a civil war to describe his
mental state, which is ironic as it foreshadows the actual civil war that will be caused by his assassination of Caesar. All this is ultimately the result of his flawed judgement and over-thinking of Caesar s ambition. 3. Brutus was STOIC. Cassius. Of your philosophy you make no use, If you give place to accidental evils. Brutus. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. (4.3.145-147) Stoicism was an ancient Greek philosophy which stated that a virtuous person must bear suffering without complaining or becoming emotional. Brutus stoic response to the news of his wife s death (and also the death of his close friend Cassius later in Act 5) 3. Brutus was UNWISE. On letting Mark Antony address the crowd: Brutus. It shall advantage us more than do us wrong. Cassius. I know not what may fall; I like it not. (3.1.242-243) Brutus was overconfident of his abilities to assess situations and respond accordingly. As a result, he let Antony turn the tables against him just after he d won the crowd s support. demonstrates his virtue through his immense selfcontrol. 4. Brutus was CARING. Portia what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. (2.1.234-236) Gentle knave, good night; I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. If thou dost nod, thou break st thy instrument; I ll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night (4.3.269-272) Even though Brutus possessed power as the praetor (a magistrate), he treated others around him with kindness. In Act 2, he shows his concern for his wife s health. In 4. Brutus was MYOPIC. On Brutus decision to go out to meet Antony s army: Cassius. Flatterers? Now Brutus thank yourself; This tongue had not offended so today, If Cassius might have ruled. (5.1.45-47) Brutus decided to do things his way instead of listening to the tactical advice given by Cassius, who was the better strategist. He was unable to foresee the long-term consequences of his decisions, which ultimately led to his defeat. Act 4, he cares for Lucius by letting him sleep even though he is merely a servant boy (who has fallen asleep halfway through performing his duty!) These two incidents present Brutus caring and gentle nature.
Act 5 in Review: Brutus the Tragic Hero By the start of Act 5, we know that two armies are prepared for battle, one led by Brutus and Cassius, the other led by the Triumvirate. However, we know from Act 5 Scene 1 that the Triumvirate s army stands a better chance of winning due to their superior forces and advantageous battleground. Imagine if you were Brutus at this point. How would you react, knowing that you were highly likely to lose the war? Would you throw down your weapons and give up, or continue fighting? As expected from Brutus commitment to honour, he scorns the thought of committing suicide before the battle as an act of cowardice: But I do find it cowardly and vile, For fear of what might fall, so to prevent The time of life. (5.1.103-105) However, he also hints that he would take his life if he lost the war: Think not, thou noble Roman, / That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome (5.1.111-112) i.e. he refuses to be taken captive by the Triumvirate. But hang on, didn t he just say that committing suicide was a cowardly act? He seems to have valued his honour to the extent of contradicting himself! Here, we see how his honour, supposedly his greatest strength, was also his flaw. Brutus as a Tragic Hero: The Unbearable Weight of Grief Brutus is a character who has had to deal with the loss of multiple loved ones throughout the play: - He had to kill his close friend Caesar for what he thought was the nation s interests - His wife Portia committed suicide by swallowing burning coals - His close friend Cassius committed suicide in battle Yet he suffered all these heavy blows without so much as shedding a single tear! Why do you think this was the case? It is in line with his stoic nature that he refuses to let his emotions get the better of him... Now look at what happens in Act 5 Scene 5, at the end of the play: Clitus. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes. What is Brutus doing? Why do you think Shakespeare made Clitus the one who said these lines? He is weeping uncontrollably for all the losses he has suffered. By having Clitus make this observation, Shakespeare reminds us that even when weeping out of grief, Brutus manages to maintain some self-control instead of bursting in a fit of passion. This elicits our sympathy for him, an effect which is immediately reinforced by his suicide and by Antony s eulogy of him which ends the play.
Essay Practice: Do you agree that Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all? Instructions: Jot in additional notes in each empty box to further elaborate on the answers Brutus was the noblest Roman Paragraph 1: Initial Introduction (main argument) Brutus was the noblest Roman as he always acted with honour for the good of his countrymen. His actions and attitude demonstrate his positive qualities which deserve admiration. Brutus was naïve and flawed Paragraph 1: Initial Introduction (main argument) Brutus was not noble as his personal weaknesses led him to commit an error of judgement in killing Caesar. This resulted in the destruction of civil society and the reign of chaos. Paragraph 2: develop main argument 1 - Can cite Brutus the Honorable/Rational Thinker (act 1/2) Paragraph 2: develop main argument 1 - Can cite Brutus the Over-thinker (act 2) Paragraph 3: elaborate main argument 2 - Can cite Brutus the Stoic/Caring person (act 4) Paragraph 3: elaborate main argument 2 - Can cite Brutus the Unwise/Myopic (act 3/5) Paragraph 4: counter-argument (against main argument) - Can cite evidence that shows Brutus being easily manipulated (against Honorable argument); OR Brutus over-thinking the situation (against the Rational Thinker argument) Paragraph 4: counter-argument (against main argument) - Can cite Brutus the Stoic/Caring person (act 4) Paragraph 5: further elaboration on main argument - However, Brutus ultimately had good intentions in spite of his flaws, and pursued what he thought were his noble ideals. Paragraph 5: further elaboration on main argument - However, Brutus actions led to nationwide disaster, and replaced the honest rule of Caesar with the selfserving Triumvirate government. The results prove that his actions cannot be seen in a noble light, regardless of his intentions.
Conclusion Thus Brutus is truly a noble Roman who put country before self in all that he did. Conclusion Thus Brutus, despite his good intentions, was a very naive and ignoble character whose failures had a negative impact on his country s future. Additional Notes and ideas: