“I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” (11-12). Brutus is a rational man, he doesn’t want to kill Caesar, but he feels that it is an honorable act and the people of Rome need him to do it. He puts Rome and honor above everything else, and, if the only way to help Rome is for Caesar to bleed, he will assassinate Caesar. He has made his decision, it must be by Caesar’s death that Rome can become stronger, and he believes that Caesar’s death will be for an honorable cause. Brutus loves Rome and the name of honor more than anything else. Patriotism and honor, Brutus’s two motivators, cloud his ability of judgment and make his vulnerable to manipulation and deception.
Brutus’s excessive patriotism fuels him throughout the whole play. It is all he lives for, to assist Rome and the people. His intense love for Rome often meddles with his ability to make judgments. This frequently leaves him exposed to deception and manipulation. He is willing to give up everything and do absolutely anything in his capability to help Rome as a nation. He is willing to sacrifice another human life to aid Rome, even a close friend. He quoted this in his justification to the people after Caesar’s assassination. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (17-19). His speech shows his remorse from killing Caesar, but if it will help Rome, he will not regret it for he cares for Rome more than he loves Caesar. The quotation proves that Brutus is prepared to eliminate even a close friend to aid Rome. Brutus’s love for Rome is far more than his love for any other person. He loves Rome even more than he loves himself. His patriotism is so extreme that he would give up his own life if it shall please the people. Another line from his speech can be used to prove this. “I have a dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.” (42-43). This quote provides evidence that Brutus is willing to do anything to help Rome. He considers the people of his nation far more important than anything else, even his own life. He commits suicide when his goal was not achieved the way he wanted. This is confirmation of his passionate patriotism. Brutus’s patriotism compels him to act for Rome drastically and radically.
Honor is another motivator that drives Brutus. He respects honor and justice, and everything he does has to be honorable. He wants an honorable reputation before the people of Rome. Brutus respects honor, and he rationalizes that his act of killing Caesar was honorable, and that is what keeps him going and fighting. Brutus would rather die than give up his honorable cause. “I love the name of honor more than I fear death” Act 1 Scene2 87-88. Brutus would rather die than be dishonored. The quote is ironic because he commits suicide later in the play to prevent from being dishonored. He maintains throughout the whole play that slaying Caesar was an honorable act and Antony is the dishonorable one. This is what keeps him fighting Antony, because he believes the honorable cause will always triumph. Brutus loves honor so much that even when faced with desperation and hopelessness, he still feels the need to stay loyal to honor and prevent from making vile actions. Brutus says to Cassius that he cannot raise money for an army through vile means. “I had rather be a dog, than such a Roman.” Act4 Scene3 27-28. Brutus feels that a dog is worth more than a dishonorable Roman. This shows how much he respects and loves the name of honor. Even when his life is on the line, he would not dishonor himself to survive. Honor means more to Brutus than life. He is the only conspirator to not kill Caesar out of envy. Honor causes Brutus to assassinate Caesar and commit suicide. Honor is the reason for his actions and it is a very important motivator that inspires Brutus to do what he did.
Brutus has an inner conflict, he is afraid that killing Caesar might not be the honorable thing to do but Rome needs him to step up and do the job. Patriotism and honor conquer Brutus’ thoughts and actions and it sometimes affect his judgments. Everything that Brutus does is revolved around his love for Rome and his love for the name of honor. Brutus did not achieve his goal by eliminating Caesar. He wanted to assist Rome and unite them as a nation by killing Caesar. After Caesar’s death, it turns out to be the exact opposite of what Brutus hope to have happened. Rome became a chaotic place; the people were suffering and fighting in wars. I believe that his goal was a worthy one. He desired to aid Rome and make the people happy and Rome an advanced nation. It turned out differently but he had a noble cause for his actions. Brutus did not think of his own personal good when he acted unlike the other conspirators. Therefore, I think that Brutus’ goal was a noble one unlike the other conspirators. Severe patriotism and his love for the name of honor fuels Brutus throughout the play as crazily as oil fuels fire.
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