Compare and contrast Brutus and Caesar are they similar or different.

Julius Caesar and Brutus were two well respected people. Caesar not for his egotistic characteristics but for his power and his arrogance. Brutus, for his nobility and liberty loving. They are both loyal Romans and play a crucial part in Roman society. The way the two express the way they feel are very similar for example, refusing to let someone take advantage of their position in Rome. In the play Brutus wants to keep Rome a Republic,while Shakespeare’s idea to make the viewers believe Caesar’s ambition was to become the head of the monarchy when really there is no evidence of Caesar saying that. In this essay I will analyse and compare the hubris and other literary devices shown by both Romans. Also, quotes to back up my opinions. My main points I am trying to put across are that they both show similar personality traits throughout the play.

One of the similarities Brutus and Caesar share is a device called hubris. Below is a quote used at the start by Brutus while Cassius is trying to brainwash and manipulate Brutus into joining the conspiracy by identifying what they believe as the downfall of Rome and how the people consider Caesar to be a god and worship him. Shakespeare makes Cassius use rhetorical questions, persuading techniques and other devices which makes Brutus finally resort to joining the conspiracy. This quote is an example of hubris as Brutus talks about himself in the third person (something Caesar tends to do) Brutus is basically saying that ‘he would rather be a poor villager than call himself a citizen of Rome under the hard conditions that this time is likely to put them through’.

‘Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten’d me

Ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see

The face of Caesar, they are vanished’.

The two have, and also show, many differences throughout the play. Again, I will present an example of how Shakespeare inter prates  and shows the audience their differences using quotes from the play.

Shakespeare intended for Brutus to be shown to be very humble towards the citizens and Caesar that is until Brutus becomes brainwashed by Cassius and realizes after the tragedy of Caesar’s death that a guilty conscience could interrupt his thoughts at Sardis. Brutus’s suicide in the denouement was a major part in the play. His death makes viewers realize his nobility with a quote below from Mark Antony stating about Brutus. This quote took place at The battle of Philippi were Brutus runs on to his sword, held by Strato, then Antony and his crew discover him deceased on the battlefield.

‘This was the noblest Roman of them all’.

Caesar is more of an ambitious character and never shows a hint of weakness. A born fighter. The quote below shows how brave Caesar is, despite Caesar defying three warnings of his fate he describes himself as the brightest star, at the senate, with the noblemen on their knees begging that he would repeal Cimbers banishment he fount himself butchered on the scene with the strength to fight back to one of the conspirators and manage to wound one of them. Caesar was surprised to see the menacing face of Brutus, who he thought was his friend, turned out to betray Caesar, and put a stop to the ambitious Caesar.

“I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.”

Those are most of my main points into why I think Brutus and Caesar share many similarities and differences. To conclude this essay I have to say that Shakespeare affected the viewers maybe even the actors on the stage the way he has directed he play.

By Jack Welsh