The Death of Julius Caesar in Shakespeare's Play

Betrayal...the closest thing to the worst thing people can do to each other, besides murder. In the play Julius Caesar, Brutus is to blame for Caesar's death. He betrayed Caesar, his best friend because he was convinced that Caesar was going to establish a monarchy. Julius Caesar is a play about jealous conspirators convincing Julius’s friend Brutus, to join their assassination plot against Julius. They did this to stop Julius from gaining too much power, Brutus and the conspirators killed him on the Ides of March. Julius is dead because Brutus was convinced he was too ambitious, bad for Rome, and power-hungry. He also gave the killing stab.

Cassius managed to Convince Brutus that Julius was too ambitious. Julius won many battles and has shown many acts of heroism, that every other Roman soldier tries and wants to be as ambitious as him. He's an idol to them, which made winning more battles important, so he could win more honor. Due to that, conspirators wanted him dead because they thought he was too ambitious and over-reached his authority. Cassius used that to his advantage to persuade Brutus that this much ambition would make him have so much power, that he would be unstoppable. “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness.” (Shakespeare 1.1.73-76). Julius is so powerful, bold, and arrogant, that the senators begin to fear that he wants to rule Rome. The fear is confirmed when Anthony presented Julius with the small crown during the Feast of Lupercal. With all this going on, Cassius managed to convince Brutus that this is how far the ambition has taken Julius, that people were starting to fear, praise, and admire him.

Brutus believed Julius was going to be too power-hungry. He and other Conspirators feared that Julius planned to claim the title of King, overthrow the Senate and Rule as a tyrant. This reminded Brutus of his noble ancestry and of the expectations of his fellow Romans that he will serve his country as his ancestors did. This realization moved Brutus and opened up his eyes. “Had you rather Caesar were living and dieing all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoiced at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition” (Shakespeare 3.2.35-45). At this moment, Brutus is convinced that Julius was just becoming too power-hungry, and that threatened Rome. Brutus joined the conspiracy, because though he loved Julius, he loved Rome more, which he thought Julius would jeopardize.

Not only did Brutus give in and joined the conspiracy, but he also gave the killing stab. He did what any loyal countryman would do, and he decided to kill Julius for the benefit of Rome and Remained faithful to his country. After Julius got stabbed by all the conspirators, Brutus stabbed him last, and he died right after. He killed his best friend in order to keep Rome a democracy. Julius was shocked knowing Brutus was his best friend. “E Tu, Brute?” (Shakespeare 3.1.77). Julius muttered these words on his dying breath, right after being stabbed and betrayed by his best friend. Brutus did this, because in his head if Julius lived any longer, he would abuse his power as king. Brutus is a patriot, because everything he did and sacrificed, was for the people of Rome.

Brutus is at fault for Julius’s death. If it wasn’t for him, the conspirators would not have been able to go along with the plan of assassinating Julius, to begin with. His decision to kill his best friend was influenced by his involvement in the conspiracy and his love for Rome. He had a strong relationship with Julius, but a stronger relationship with Rome and its people. The killing of Julius was caused by Brutus whose convictions were that Julius was too ambitious, bad for Rome, and power-hungry. And For that, Brutus is an example of one who will go against friends not out of hate, but out of a greater love for his country.