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Eduardo de las Cuevas Mr. Camara Honors English 9 Period 6 20 March 2013 Brutus Is an Honorable Man Influence is of great power that can cause great devastation when wielded by the most cunning individual. In the case of Brutus, Cassius is quickly able to turn Brutus, the longtime best friend of Caesar, against him. He does this using the power of influence to persuade Brutus of Caesars changing personality and his potential of tyranny and arrogance, despite how Caesar was before his coming to kingship. Originally, Brutus did not respond to Cassius initial attempt at turning Brutus against his best friend, but with time he accomplished just that. With the placement of the forged letter in Brutus home that told of the peoples disliking of Caesars taking of the crown, Brutus had begun to wholeheartedly trust in the conspirators and the actions he must do to take down Caesar. In the novel Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus is characterized with three literary components: language, tone, and point of view. The language used by Shakespeare is one of profound power, capable of touching the hearts of the most cruel and heartless souls. Since Brutus is a man of nobility and one of the main characters of Julius Caesar, the language used by Brutus is done in poetic verse to show his nobility and affluence. Brutus also uses much repetition and emphasis on certain words, certain powerful words. Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, / Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls (Act II, i, 140-141). Certain words used by Shakespeare in Brutus speech, such as: priests, cowards, mean, feeble carrions, suffering souls, are all used to identify the ranging difference between people and that not even they would wish evil upon their actions for what

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they do is righteous. These are certain examples as to how Shakespeare uses language to emphasize Brutus powerful character in speech. As shown throughout the novel, Brutus character is one of seriousness and leadership, reverence and respect, nobility and affluence, and not one of tawdry words flung about carelessly in the wind. To kindle cowards and to steel with valor / The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, / What need we any spur but our own cause / To prick us to redress? (Act II, i, 132-135). The tone easily noted in the quote is one of stern, wholehearted belief in the conspirators cause with a serious firmness about it. Such speeches as those clearly signify his personality; Brutus is a serious, firm man with true faith in what he does and does what he finds right. With that said, the tone of Brutus is serious, utterly faithful, and stern. A certain characteristic of Shakespeares writing that sets him apart from most authors and playwrights was his ingenious use of point of view to define ones character. He demonstrates this powerful use of it to develop the character of Brutus by his major use of first person in his speech with only slight use of third person. What need we any spur but our own cause / To prick us to redress? (Act II, i, 134-135). The intense use of first person in this quote signifies Brutus belief that the issue at hand is one that must be dealt with by his hand in majority, almost as though it his own personal problem to resolve and that no others know quite how to do it as he does. And every man hence to his idle bed. / So let high-sighted tyranny range on / Till each man drop by lottery. But if these - / As I am sure they do bear fire enough (Act 2, i, 128-131). In this, Brutus involves the role of the citizens but disregards them as valuable to the cause since they know nothing of what goes on but bears the burden of Caesars tyranny should his kingship come to fruition. For these reasons, Brutus character is greatly

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represented by the point of view used by Shakespeare in showing his acceptance to his task and readiness and necessity to complete such for the greater good and not his own selfish desire. As represented in the novel Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, it is easy to concur that Brutus character is greatly signified by Shakespeares use of language, tone, and point of view. The language shows Brutus powerful character and readiness to provoke the serious matters at hand. A serious, firm tone with total faith easily shines through in his many speeches of what must be done for, what he feels is, the greater good. Thirdly, the use of point of view to represent Brutus acceptance of his task and willingness to complete such for it is his sole responsibility, not really the responsibility of the citizens. Shakespeares use of these three literary components leads us to believe that Brutus truly is, an honorable man.

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Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.