Does the end justify the means

Does the end justify the means?

‘Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more…. As Caesar loved me, I weep for him…as he was valiant, I honor him.’ ~Brutus Act three Scene2 p128. This is one of Brutus’s speeches that partially show both of the motivations of Brutus in the play. This shows Brutus’s love toward his country, Rome and his love toward Caesar. Choosing between Caesar and the Roman Republic is probably the main conflict that Brutus has to deal with due to his motivations. Obviously, he is being driven by patriotism. It also shows his honor. This quotation shows that Brutus would do anything for the country even if it means Caesar’s death. But he will make it an honorable act. He won’t make his death look dirty. All his actions in the play were caused by patriotism and honor. Brutus had no personal reasons against Caesar, but only those two. He killed him for the good of Rome and tried to make his death honorable, which might justify his actions.

Brutus is concerned about his country Rome and the citizens day and night. He was the only one who killed Caesar for the general good of Rome. The reason of Brutus being motivated this way is because he always thinks about the Roman republic and the roman citizens. While he was with the conspirators, his main concern was freeing his country from tyranny and making Rome become a better place. His patriotism is the key factor that makes Brutus decides to join the conspirators and kill Caesar. ‘It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general.’ –Act two Scene1 p62. When he first heard the plan to kill Caesar from Cassisus, he showed a bit of disapproval. But when he saw letters that Casca wrote, pretending to be Roman citizens suffering from Caesar’s tyranny, he decides to conclude that it must be Caesar’s death to let Rome stay as a country free from tyranny and power. Later on, Brutus kills Caesar. When he’s giving his speech to the angry crowd, he says that it was because of Caesar’s ambitions and growing power that he had killed him. But in his speech, his patriotism can be seen too. ‘If then that friend demands why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more’. –Act three Scene2 p128. This quote means that Brutus was in turmoil trying to decide between Rome and Caesar. But his patriotism is stronger than anything else. Even if it has to be solved with death of his closest friend, he would choose to do it if it means the welfare of Rome. His patriotism was the only reason for Brutus killing Caesar. He was a true sacrificer full of patriotism. Ready to give his life away for the good of his own country.

Brutus is also a man of honor. Even tough he knows that the conspiracy is going to be bloody and violent, he wanted to make it look honorable and meaningful. Brutus is being motivated this way because he loves Caesar and he doesn’t have any personal reasons against him. So he wants to prove keep his love toward Caesar and kill him honorably. This motivator makes Brutus to think of some ways to make the conspirator’s actions look justifiable and honorable as possible. He knows that if they decide to kill somebody who’s being served as a king, they need to get an approval from the people. Also in the play, he says that he wants to make this a dish fit for god, not just another carcass fit for hounds. ‘When every drop of blood that every roman bears, and nobly bears, is guilty of a several bastardy, If he do break the smallest particle of any promise that hath pass’d from him’ –Act two scene1 p72 This quote comes from a part where Cassius suggests to swear an oath. This quote means that he does not want the whole plan being done for the bad purposes and most importantly, he is honorable. If he wasn’t he wouldn’t have cared why the ‘noble’ blood is being spilt just like the other conspirators do. He is really concerned about making people view the whole plot as an honorable act. ‘Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius we all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, And in the spirit of men there is no blood… And, gentle friends, Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully. Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods.’ Act two Scene1 p74. This quote means that Brutus will make Caesar’s death a dish fit for the gods. Dish for the gods has to be something grand and godly. You can’t just put some horrible things on dish fit for the gods. It shows Brutus’s honor too. If his motivation weren’t honor, he wouldn’t have cared about how Caesar dies. He would have chosen some horrible ways to ensure that Caesar dies. In the end of the play, Antony calls him the noblest man of all. I do agree with him. He cared about how someone dies for the general good, how to make it look meaningful and honorable. Perhaps he was an unlucky fellow who was being used by other because he didn’t have enough information about the whole plot.

Brutus was honorable and patriotic. This put him in the huge conflict between love for his friend and the good of his country. He was motivated by honor and patriotism. This caused him to basically join the conspirators and try to make Caesar’s death honorable If he wasn’t the whole thing wouldn’t have had happened because he wouldn’t have cared what the letters said. If he weren’t honorable he wouldn’t have let Antony give a speech to the crowd, making them turn their back against Brutus. Even tough he lost his life and friends, he partially achieved his goal. He did succeed to get rid of Caesar, who was holding all the power. Maybe after Brutus’s death, tyranny would disappear in Rome and there might be democracy. His goal was really noble. Tough the other conspirators’ weren’t. In his mind, he was always thinking about some other people’s good than his own. Even his soliloquies show that. Even tough he was alone; he didn’t have any means to become a king or something. I say that Brutus was a truly noble person who sacrificed himself for the others.