Essay Sample on Cassius vs. Brutus in Julius Caesar

Brutus an honorable man who wants what is best for his nation, on the other hand, there is Cassius, a villainous filled human being who seizes evil amongst every day. But who best fits the role to be deserving of going to hell… rotting for the decisions and actions they produced. Although it may easily be thought that Cassius is infamously the correct person who fulfills these requirements due to the antagonist role he plays in the play, it is not as lopsided as it first appears. As an honorable man, it is thought that Brutus could never do wrong as he always wants what benefits not just him but the people around him which would never lead someone to the depths of hell. But Brutus' resume is not to the highest standard as it would originally seem due to the pure fact that he was amongst the conspirators who stabbed Caesar to death, well actually he was the one who delivered the final blow. Nonetheless, Cassius is still the most deserving of going to hell in the afterlife because of how insignificant Brutus’ intentions were of murdering Julius Caesar, the act of Cassius essentially committing suicide, and the villainous tendencies he possesses for a majority of the play.

Brutus and Julius Caesar, pure best friends having each other backs when needed most but if this is true why was Brutus the one to murder Caesar. Simply answered in this statement by Brutus to the Roman public, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved / Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and / die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live / all free men?” (Act 3 Scene I) The basics of this message by Brutus are that he didn’t do it in hatred for Julius Caesar but do the pure fact that he desired the country of Rome more. He felt that if Caesar was living the land of Rome would be in Julius Caesar’s total control which would ultimately lessen the population of Rome due to Caesar's killing of the lower class. Proving how unharmful his intentions were for the murdering of Caesar when he just wanted more people to thrive rather than one. Later in the act when Brutus is speaking to Marc Antony about his speech he states, “You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, / But speak all good you can devise of Caesar”. (Act 3 Scene I)  This statement once again proves how insignificant Brutus’ intentions were when murdering Caesar as he always wanted what was best for Caesar. This is known through Brutus telling Antony to speak pleasantly about Caesar even after recently murdering him. Disproving the fact that Brutus deserves hell due to the lone factor that he murdered Julius Caesar.

The act of suicide, a sin in many words that should send a single being to hell. Well in fact this is exactly what Cassius does taking the easy way out. In some of Cassius’ final words to Pindarus of the whole play, he states, “Now be a freeman: an with this good sword, / That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom. / Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hits; / And, when my face is cover’d, as ‘tis now, / Guide though the sword.” (Act 5 Scene III) Through this statement, Cassius is telling Pindarus to kill him with the same sword that killed Julius Caesar, which is basically him committing suicide without possessing the ability to make this action. Earlier in the play, another statement about committing suicide by Cassius, “That part of tyranny that I do bear / I can shake off at pleasure.” (Act 1 Scene III) Once again although this statement doesn’t directly mean that Cassius is committing suicide it shows he has the temptation to do so at any given time. This in fact is in response to Julius Caesar’s leadership, with Cassius disliking the tyranny he is enduring. Shaking it off with pleasure in other words killing himself happily is what Cassius wants to do but this would automatically make him deemable for hell as the act of suicide is a sin.

When you think of villains you might not start with Cassius but he sure should be considered. Two things that go hand and hand, the act of being a villain and Cassius, due to the sheer evil intent Cassius possesses for a preponderance of the play. In a statement by Brutus to Cassius, this is visualized when stating, “Let me tell you, Cassius you yourself / Are much condemn’d to have an itching palm; / To sell and mart your offices for gold / To undeservers.” (Act 4 Scene III) In this gander that Brutus displays to Cassius, he is describing what Cassius is… an evil soul who will take advantage of anyone just to better himself. But not just through these lines is Cassius’ wicked intent to take advantage of anyone's insight displayed as it is also shown in many actions Cassius takes. Through the act of betraying Brutus by turning him against Caesar is one example of this. Earlier in the play, Julius Caesar speaks about Cassius’ evil objections when talking to Antony stating, “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; / He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.” (Act 1 Scene II) An overlook of Caesar’s opinion of Cassius is that he feels he is an overthinker. Through Caesar’s prior knowledge he knows that they are dangerous people which he is relating Cassius to. Justifying the point that Cassius’ pure evil intentions that make him villainous are also traits that make him amendable for hell.

Betraying a benefactor for Brutus it shall be Julius Caesar, while for Cassius it shall be Brutus. Although they both betrayed important figures in their lives, Cassius deceiving Brutus out ponders Brutus betraying Caesar as Cassius is what led to Brutus betraying Caesar. To betray a benefactor in other words letting someone down who has lifted you up when needed most. Killing Julius Caesar was Brutus’ course of action to betraying his benefactor. But he didn’t do it under his own will, it was the manipulation he received from Cassius to kill Brutus for the better of Rome that led him to this action. Which ultimately is Cassius betraying two benefactors in Brutus and Julius Caesar. Concluding why Cassius deserves hell rather than Brutus not just for betraying one benefactor but two.