“It’s not that I love Caesar less, but that I love Rome more.” -Brutus, 3:2 ,pg 128
The quotation shows that although Brutus loved Caesar, his love his country was stronger. This is the main conflict for Brutus because he feels it is his duty to do what is best for the people of Rome. He feels that is his duty to keep the Republic. Although he does not want to kill his friend, he thinks that if he kills Caesar then Rome will free from the Dictator that Caesar may be become. It is Brutus’s love of Rome and how much he values his nobility and honor that in the end motivates him to Kill Caesar.
Brutus’s love for Rome is strong, and he would to anything for it. Even if meant killing his friend to keep the Republic his ancestors fought hard for. Brutus feels motivated to keep the Republic because he feels that it is his duty to stand up for the people of Rome, and do what is best for his country, because it was his family that drove out tyranny for a fairer, and more just way of ruling. Brutus wants to preserve the nobility and honor in his family’s name. Because Brutus thinks that it is his responsibility to do what is best for Rome he does not listen to others ideas well, and becomes very closed off to other suggestions. An example of this behavior would be when the conspirators are discussing Caesars death. When Cassius say’s “Let Antony and Caesar fall together” Brutus’s reply is “Our course will seem to bloody, Caius Cassius!”(-2:1, pg 74) This shows how Brutus does not want to accept others ideas, because he wants to be in control. However, Brutus is fast to act when he thinks the people of Rome need his help. When Brutus receives a note that he thinks is from the people of Rome saying “Brutus, thou sleep’st; awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, ect.Speak, strike, redress!”(-2:1,pg 66) He decides to join the conspirators because he thinks that the people of Rome need him. Brutus loves the people of Rome, and therefore would do anything for them. This shows how much he values his honor and how he is willing to step for Rome when they need him.
Brutus loves Rome, but he also values his honor. This motivates him to keep doing what is best for Rome, and to keep the Honor in his family name. He is proud of what he and his ancestors have done for Rome, such as driving dictatorship out of Rome and replacing it with a Republic. Brutus wants to keep the family legacy strong.
When Brutus and Cassius are talking, Brutus tells Cassius just how much he values his honor. “For let the Gods so speed me as I love the name of honor more than I fear death.”(-1:2,pg 32) This quote shows that he loves his honor more then he is afraid to die. Although, this trait makes Brutus very naÔve, and he does not plan things carefully or think about consequences. He thinks that everyone wants what he wants, in this case to kill Caesar and keep the Republic. He does not think about the fact that people like Caesars supporters will be very angry that they have killed Caesar. When making his speech he does not have a good argument of why he killed Caesar apart from that he was “ambitious” so he says “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe.”(-3:2 pg 128) This is Brutus’s argument, “believe me for my honor.” He has not thought of a good reason to explain to the public why he has killed Caesar.
Brutus’s has conflict on deciding if he should kill Caesar to keep the republic or let a tyranny rule Rome. He was motivated in the end, to kill Caesar by his love for Rome, and how he wants to do what is best for the Roman people. He also feels it is his duty to keep the Republic since it was his ancestors who got rid of Tyranny from Rome. He was also motivated by how he values his honor, and he wants to keep the honor in his family name alive. These factors, his Love of Rome and how much he values his honor was what motivated Brutus to kill Caesar.
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