In Act 3, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus delivers a speech in prose format to the Roman commonwealth explaining why Caesar had to die. He begins his speech by asking the crowd to remain quiet until he finishes his explanation, and he asks them to listen carefully to his words so that they can judge for themselves whether or not Brutus acted justly. The following excerpt is taken from the opening of his speech:
Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better judge.
Understanding that he has committed a controversial act, Brutus offers an endearing plea to the Roman commonwealth in an effort to appear compassionate to the republic. He wants to establish from the start that he has acted with the general public’s best interest in mind. Brutus goes on to say that he genuinely loved Caesar as a dear friend, claiming he rose up against Caesar only because he loved Rome more: “ If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Again, Brutus tries to appeal to the masses by emphasizing Rome as his number one priority. Therefore, not only is Brutus defending his actions, he is simultaneously strengthening his position as a rising leader.
Brutus then asks the crowd the rhetorical question of whether they would rather have Caesar alive and die as slaves, or have Caesar dead and live as free men. Brutus again tries to emphasize that he did not act out of jealousy or anger by honoring Caesar’s bravery as a leader and soldier: “As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition.” Here, Brutus provides the reason for killing Caesar: his ambition. Brutus insinuates that if Caesar had continued to live, the Roman public would have been made slaves to an ambitious dictator, for he again poses a rhetorical question asking, “Who is here so base that would be a bondman?”
Brutus goes on to pose a series of rhetorical questions: “Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak—for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak—for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.” Here, Brutus manipulates his language to suggest that anyone who opposes his actions is an enemy of the republic, which of course leads to the response from the crowd, “None, Brutus, none.”
Brutus strategically crafts his speech to glorify his actions and vilify anyone who opposes him. This not only protects him from prosecution, it bolsters his position as a seemingly fair, just leader to assume control in Caesar’s absence. This is supported by his proclamation that Caesar’s honor and glory will be forever remembered and that he, Brutus, has not exaggerated the circumstances of the murder: “The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol. His glory not extenuated wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced for which he suffered death.”
At this point in the speech, Mark Antony enters with the body of Caesar, and Brutus announces that Antony, along with the public, will all receive “a place in the commonwealth.” This is again another effort to persuade the public to Brutus’ side, and Brutus even states that if he ever acts with the same greed and ambition of Caesar, that he will kill himself for the good of Rome: “With this I depart: that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death.”
Brutus does an excellent job of defending his actions by appealing to the safety and freedom of the general public. He claims to the crowd that if Caesar had continued to live, that they would all have been made slaves, and that he, Brutus, loved Rome so dearly, that he had to kill his best friend to protect and defend the rights of his people. In summary, Brutus’ speech states that he killed Caesar for Rome, not for his own personal gain.
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