Julius Caesar is a play about loyalty and betrayal. Caesar's closest friends and allies are truly loyal. The problem is, they are loyal to Rome not Caesar. "Et tu, Brute?" (Act 3, scene 1, Line 85) is a quotation widely used in Western culture to signify the utmost betrayal by a friend. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, these were Caesar’s last words as he resigned himself to his death after looking at the face of his closest friend Brutus who was taking part in Caesar's assassination. Why would his friends and other noble Romans assassinate Caesar. Brutus, Cassius, and the others, truly believe if Caesar were to become the King he was acting like, it would mean the end of the Republican system of government in Rome. The Senators, who assassinated him believe they would no longer be equal, free men. They betrayed Julius Caesar, but they were loyal to Rome. As William Blake says “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.”

Cassius needs to include Brutus in the conspiracy because Brutus is so loyal to Caesar. Cassius resents the fact that the Roman people are starting to treat Caesar like a God. "Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world /Like a Colossus, and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs and peep about" (Act I, scene two, line 138) .Cassius organized the conspiracy to kill Caesar not only out of fear for losing hard-fought democracy, but to help his friend Brutus. Cassius believe Caesar was a tyrant and a corrupter of his friend. That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduced? (Act 1 Scene 2 line 305). His soliloquy at the end of act one portrays his deep feelings for Brutus “oh, he sits high in all the people's hearts”. Cassius believe that Brutus shouldn't associate with people like himself, since he just started to corrupt him by giving him the forged letters. He fears that Brutus has become too close to Caesar, and therefore is in danger of being corrupted and blinded to Caesar's faults. Cassius is acting loyally to Rome. Brutus and Cassius fight in act 4 because Cassius values his friendship with Brutus so highly. “Do not presume too much upon my love. I may do that I shall be sorry for” (act four, scene three, line 68) Cassius is willing to risk his own ambitions and even his own life to keep Brutus good opinion of him. Cassius says “When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Than ever thou lovedst Cassius” (act four, scene three, line 110). In this scene. Cassius bares his soul to Brutus and expresses his deep love and his deeper jealousy of the relationship between Brutus and Caesar. Cassius understands the way the political world works and is shrewd and cunning . But he could never really hurt Brutus. Cassius betrayed Caesar, but he was a true friend to Rome.


 

Caesar had many enemies who betrayed him because they were also loyal to Rome. Casca, Trebonius, Ligarius, Metellus, Cimber, Decius Brutus, and Cinna all conspired against Julius Caesar. These men are of aristocratic origin and see the end of their ancient privilege in Caesar's political reforms and conquests. These conspirators create a superficial motive for Julius Caesar’s assassination. They tell him it’s a petition brought by Metellus Cimber asking for mercy for his banished brother. “Speak, hands, for me!” (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 78) Casca says before he stabs Julius Caesar in the back of his neck first, then the others follow in stabbing him. Metellus Cimber gave the signal for attack on Caesar. He was initially one of Caesar’s strongest supporters and Caesar granted him governorship of two provinces. The conspirators were envious of Caesar's power and prestige. Artemidorus reads a letter out loud that lists Caesar’s many enemies. He says “There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you” (Act 2 Scene 3 Line 5). On March 15, the Ides of March, 44 BC, Caesar was attacked by a group of senators. Caesar initially fought back against his attackers, but when he saw his closest friend Brutus. He resigned himself to his fate.

Brutus wielded the ultimate betrayal to Caesar because of his deep loyalty to Rome. Brutus was Julius Caesar’s closest friend and ally. Brutus was persuaded into joining the conspiracy against Caesar by the other senators through trickery. Brutus decided to work against Julius Caesar after he believed Caesar wanted to be a king instead of a leader. Brutus after killing Caesar says, (Act three, scene two, line 20) Brutus is visited by the ghost of Caesar. "I shall see thee at Philippi," (Act IV, scene three, line 287) the spirit warns him, but Brutus' courage is unshaken and he goes on. As the play ends, Antony delivers a eulogy over Brutus' body, calling him "the noblest Roman of them all." Caesar's murder has been avenged, order has been restored, and, most important, the Rome has been preserved.Brutus is proud of his reputation for honor and nobleness, but he is not always practical, and is often naive. He is the only major character in the play intensely committed to fashioning his behavior to fit a strict moral and ethical code

“Then fall, Caesar” Caesar utters after his famous line “"Et tu, Brute?" (Act III, Scene I)”, and you, Brutus? Suggesting that Caesar did not want to survive such treachery, therefore becoming a hero. That the nobility of Rome are responsible for the government of Rome. They have allowed a man to gain excessive power; therefore, they have the responsibility to stop him, and with a man of Caesar's well-known ambition, that can only mean assassination."This was the noblest Roman of them all."(Act V, Scene V, line 68) In the final scene of the play, and in the wake of Brutus's suicide, Antony gives Brutus's eulogy. Antony cites Brutus's naive nature as to the reason for his nobleness. Of all the conspirators, Brutus was the only one to believe Caesar's death was for the good of all; everyone else acted out of jealousy. According to Antony, even in death Brutus was noble. He ran himself through with a sword rather than surrender. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson