Brutus Act Three

Poor Judge of Others Brutus believes that he will be respected for having sacrificed much by murdering a close friend for the good of Rome. He even thinks he can persuade Antony of the necessity for the murder: ‘Our reasons are so full of good regard, That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar, You should be satisfied’.

Does Not Understand Ordinary Romans Brutus speaks to the people, but he does so in prose rather than poetry. His speech is plain, probably because he believes the ordinary people will understand this better. While he does persuade them that Caesar’s murder was necessary, he does not realise how quickly the mob can change its allegiance.

Clinging to Honour Brutus tells the crowd that he will answer those who ask why he killed his friend. ‘…this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.’ ‘I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please the countrymen to need my death’.

Misjudges Antony Antony is all that Brutus is not. He descends from the pulpit to talk to the people and bowls them over with his rhetoric. Brutus gave the people the facts as he saw them, but was not terribly emotional. He used argument where Antony uses persuasion.

Public Enemy Brutus has made a terrible mistake in believing that Caesar’s murder would bring and end to his charisma. The people now seek revenge on Brutus and the other conspirators, in Caesar’s name. We will soon see that Caesar lives on in Brutus’ troubled mind just as he does in the Roman people’s hearts. Caesar’s ghost will appear to Brutus on the battlefield.