What Does It Mean To Be A Patriot? (Essay Sample)

📌Category: History, Roman Empire, William Shakespeare, Writers
📌Words: 1102
📌Pages: 5
📌Published: 19 June 2021

According to Theodore Roosevelt, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.” In the play, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus, a Roman Senator, kills Julius Caesar, leaving readers to wonder if Brutus killed him in an act of patriotism or betrayal. By killing Caesar, Brutus killed his own friend and threw the country into a devastating civil war. Yet, the death of Caesar was necessary to save Rome’s people from lives of servitude and was carried out for the greater good and wellbeing of the country. Brutus’ actions made him a patriot because he saved Rome from the rule of an ambitious dictator and his analysis of his political ideas and leaders led him to see beyond his personal feelings and act in a way that was best for the entire country.

When Brutus killed Caesar, his actions resulted in a civil war, leading to the deaths of his friends and thousands of Roman soldiers. However, their deaths were a necessary sacrifice to save millions of Romans from living as slaves under the rule of a tyrannical dictator. During his speech to the people, Brutus asks them, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” Additionally, Brutus explains to the people that the lives of a few should and must be sacrificed to save or better the lives of many. Although the lives of Brutus, his friends, and thousands of soldiers were lost, their sacrifice made it possible for the people of Rome to be free from an oppressive government and leader.

Most political actions are motivated by greed or personal gain of wealth and power. However, Brutus did not kill Caesar out of spite or for personal gain like the other conspirators. He killed him only because he knew it would be best for Rome. Brutus cared about the people of Rome and only wanted what was best for them. After Brutus’ death, Mark Antony declared to Octavian that Brutus was a loyal and honest man: “All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar. He only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them.” Since Brutus’ actions were prompted only by the desire to preserve the rights of Roman citizens, they were not motivated by the desire to acquire political power. By caring solely for the country and people, Brutus proves his patriotism, putting his country above opportunities for power and wealth.

Caesar, like many politicians today, was ambitious and wanted to climb to the top of the political ladder. According to Brutus, “But ’tis a common proof that lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, whereto the climber upward turns his face. But when he once attains the upmost round, he then unto the ladder turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees by which he did ascend.” Certainly, Caesar was willing to do anything to gain the public’s approval because once he became ruler, he would turn his back on the people and not care for them. To Caesar, the public was only the stepping stone to be used to reach the other bank, or in this case, the crown. Once he finished using them, they would become unimportant and forgettable to him. Furthermore, Brutus explains to the people that he loved Caesar as a friend, but could not love him as a ruler: “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” Since Caesar was overly ambitious and self-interested, Brutus knew that killing Caesar was the only way to keep him from gaining endless and indefinite power and using it for inappropriate or wrong reasons. By preventing Caesar from being crowned, Brutus prevented the rise of a ruler that would have neglected the needs of the people and only cared about his acquisition of power and material gain.

Some believe that by killing Caesar, Brutus betrayed not only Rome but also his friend. Caesar trusted and loved Brutus, but Brutus decided to kill him anyway. Notwithstanding, he killed Caesar because he knew Caesar’s death would benefit the empire and the people, even though it may not have been best for his friend. Brutus cared about the welfare of his country and was willing to place his loyalty to Rome above all else. By making such a sacrifice and placing his country’s good above Caesar, he did not prove his betrayal, but his patriotism. He told the people that while he loved Caesar, he killed him because, “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Similar to what Theodore Roosevelt said, Brutus killed Caesar to save the freedom of the people and Rome. Brutus displayed his patriotism because he only did what would benefit Rome - the death of Caesar. Killing Caesar was not an act of betrayal because patriotism is shown for one’s country, not one’s leader. 

Before killing Caesar, Brutus wondered if killing Caesar was necessary to stop a tyrannical reign. He did not want to kill Caesar, as he was his friend, but understood its necessity. He analyzed his situation and thought logically about his choice. Killing Caesar was a choice with serious consequences, but Brutus knew that only through Caesar’s death could he prevent Caesar from harming the country. Prior to meeting with Cassius in his garden, he thought about what would happen if Caesar became emperor: “He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder and that craves wary walking. Crown him that, and then I grant we put a sting in him that at his will he may do danger with.” Moreover, Brutus understood that if Caesar was crowned, he could cause damage and problems for Rome. By killing Caesar, he stopped a leader from ruling Rome that would have done more harm than good. 

Brutus was both a patriot and selfless. He saved Rome from the rule of a tyrant without being affected by any thoughts for personal gain. By killing Caesar, he placed the welfare of his country above all else, even his life and the lives of his friends. He prevented the reign of an ambitious dictator by killing Caesar and ensured the long-lasting prosperity of Rome when Octavian assumed the throne. Thousands of Romans died for his cause, but it was a sacrifice that was necessary to ensure the freedom of thousands more. Brutus proved his patriotism by acting in the best interests of Rome and its citizens, an example that we would do well to follow today. Like Brutus, we must be willing to defend and stand up for the ideals of our country. Ultimately, Brutus’ actions led to his own death, but his sacrifice preserved him in our minds as a patriot forever.

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