Compare and contrast the characters of Brutus and Cassius in Julius Caesar.

Marcus Brutus -

� A supporter of the Republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators.

� While Brutus loves Caesar as a friend, he opposes the ascension of any single man to the position of dictator

� He fears that Caesar aspires to such power.

� Brutus’s inflexible sense of honour makes it easy for Caesar’s enemies to manipulate him into believing that Caesar must die in order to preserve the republic.

� While the other conspirators act out of envy and rivalry, only Brutus truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome .

� Torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his allegiance to the state, Brutus becomes the tragic hero of the play.

� Brutus emerges as the most complex character in Julius Caesar and is also the play’s tragic hero.

� He is a powerful public figure, but he appears also as a dignified military leader, and a loving friend.

� In a moment of na�ve idealism, he ignores Cassius’s advice and allows Antony to speak a funeral oration over Caesar’s body 

Cassius -

� A talented general and long-time acquaintance of Caesar

� Dislikes the fact that Caesar has become godlike in the eyes of the Romans.

� He slyly leads Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die, finally converting Brutus to his cause by sending him forged letters claiming that the Roman people support the death of Caesar.

� Impulsive and unscrupulous-- shrewd opportunist-- proves successful but lacks integrity.