Justify the Means

Justify the means

“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.” (Julius Caesar, Act one Scene2). Brutus is great noble from Rome who always puts his country before him. Therefore, all his people respect him. He will do whatever he needs to do to prevent Rome from being destroyed. As Brutus knows Caesar very well, he becomes worried when he notices that Caesar becomes powerful. He knew that he have to do something in order to save Rome from Caesar’s dictatorship. Hence, he decided to stop Caesar from became a dictator. Patriotism and honour were the motivating factors for Brutus, as he be lieves Caesar’s death will save Rome from dictatorship and giving freedom to the people.

Patriotism was one of the biggest influence for Brutus to join in the conspiracy. He was worried that if Caesar becomes a king, he will misuse his power and rule over the Rome and destroy the freedom that Romans are enjoying now. Brutus is patriotic man, as he would rather die than to see the country being ravage by Caesar. Therefore, he decided to join with the conspirators to bring down Caesar. “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.” Brutus says that he would go down to the level of villager rather than endure the dictatorship of Caesar. This shows how much Brutus loves his county and the desire that he want to save Rome from the tyrant of Caesar. However, he was a good friend with Caesar therefore, he could not decided whether he want to get ride of Caesar or not. “I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” The quote shows that he doesn’t have any personal reason or emotion to kill Caesar however, for Roman’s good, in order to save Rome from tyranny, he determine to kill Caesar. Brutus describe Caesar as a ‘serpent’s egg’ as Brutus thinks Caesar is hungry for power. This thought make him decided to kill Caesar before he get too much power. He is a ‘noble’ man who caring for the peace of Rome and the citizens of Rome therefore, in order to keep honour of Rome, he make his mind to kill Caesar and save Rome from dictatorship.

Even though Brutus thinks Caesar was an ambitious man, he wants to make his death honorable. Since Caesar was a general of Rome and good friend of Brutus, he wants to make his death sublime. “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. … Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.” Brutus suggests killing Caesar as a sacrifice for god but not kill him too awful. Before Caesar was dictator, he was Brutus’s friend and respected by people of Rome. Even after Brutus killed Caesar, he still has a feeling that Caesar is his friend. Thus, Brutus wants to show respect to Caesar and make his death honourable. Beside that, Brutus also thinks this will help conspirators to control the citizens because it will reduce the chaos among the people. After Caesar’s death, conspirators are at the crisis and they run away from outrageous of people. While they are plan about their military operations, Cassius and Brutus had a quarrel. “Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake? What villain touch’s his body that did stab and not for justice?” Brutus remind Cassius again about the reason of Caesar’s death was for Roman’s good not for their own good. This shows the purpose of Brutus to kill Caesar was to fight in the cause of justice. Not like other conspirators, Brutus was not greedy to get the power or wants to get ride of Caesar to take off his position but for his country.

In order to stop Caesar from rule over the Rome, Brutus has to kill Caesar. Two motivating factors, patriotism and honour helped Brutus to make a decision to join in the conspiracy. His goal was to save Rome from the dictatorship of Caesar. However, his goal was senseless even though he success to assassinate Caesar. By misunderstanding of citizens’ thought, he brings chaos and destruction to Rome. Brutus was very patriotic and honourable man who always cares about his county and loves it so much. However, his goal was not worthy because it brings more disaster to Rome and torn it apart.