and then the end is known; a comparison of brutus and cassius
TRANSCRIPT
And Then The End Is Known.
Taylor Downs
The comparison of Brutus and Cassius is that of the comparison of bravery and
cowardice. Both characters are vital to Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, and in
putting their words and actions alongside each other, the dissimilarities in their motivation,
decisions, and morals are evident. Including even their suicides, Marcus Brutus reveals bravery
in each of his conquests, while Caius Cassius walks the path of cowardice.
One can prove bravery by their honesty, for one cannot be honest without also being
brave. One of Brutus’ morals is honesty, he would much rather be straight about what he is
doing to everyone than hide behind a false pretense. This is shown by his unwillingness to make
an oath with the other conspirators, “And what other oath / Than honesty to honesty
engaged / That this shall be or we will fall for it?” (Act 2, Sc. 1, 137-139) In comparison, Cassius
proves his wish of secrecy and manipulation over the given honesty on many occasions; one of
which his expectancy for the conspirators to take the oath, “And let us swear our resolution.”
(Act 2, Sc. 1, 124) The instance of deciding how to attack the Roman Republic reveals both
Brutus’s and Cassius’s moral values.
Brutus
Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching into Philippi presently?
Cassius
I do not think it good.
Brutus
Your reason?
Cassius This it is:
‘Tis better that the enemy seek us;
So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offense whilst we, lying still,
Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness. (Act 4, Sc. 3, 224-232)
While Brutus would prefer to straight-out attack the oncoming forces, Cassius’s idea is to
manipulate the army into finding them instead, to weaken them; and therefore, to give
themselves a higher hope of winning the unavoidable battle.
To hold one’s trust in another’s hands, one’s wellbeing and life, takes courage. Although
it is a major flaw in him, Brutus unconditionally trusts others; often, laying more confidence in
them than they deserve. He expects every man to act as he would, and this fact alone shows
not only idealism, but nativity. Cassius has a more accurate and clearer grasp on humanity, and
as his expectations are lesser, his trust in man is far lesser as well. The debate of letting Antony
speak to the people exposes Cassius’s realism, as well as Brutus’s fatal flaw.
Antony That is all I seek;
And aim, moreover, suitor that I may
Produce his body to the marketplace,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Brutus
You shall, Mark Antony
Cassius Brutus, a word with you.
You know not what you do, Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter? (Act 3, Sc. 1, 248-259)
Brutus is fixed on believing that Antony believes what they did was the right thing, that he
would put his love for his friend aside for the greater good of Rome – like he, himself did. The
only problem is one that Cassius sees well, that most do not do what is right, per say, but what
their emotions communicate to their minds; and most would want revenge for those that
brutally murdered their best friend.
Finally, to sacrifice one’s self takes debatably the most, or least, amount of bravery of
all. Both Brutus and Cassius commit suicide nearing the end of the tragedy, but they do so in
very different manners. Cassius did not have the courage to kill himself, but made his slave
Pindarus stab him with the sword that he had used to killed Caesar, “Now be a freeman, and
with this good sword, / That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom. / Stand not to
answer. Here, take thou the hilts, / And, when my face is covered, as ‘tis now, / Guide though
the sword. / Caesar, though art revenged / Even with the sword that killed thee.” (Act 5, Sc. 3,
44-51) Brutus, on the other hand ran upon his own sword, using his own courage to take his
life, not that of an oath taken by a slave, “I free form the bondage you are in, Messala. / The
conquerors can but make a fire of him, / For Brutus only overcame himself, / And no man else
hath honor by his death.” (Act 5, Sc. 5, 60-63)
Though it would seem as though neither bravery nor cowardice is the path to take, for
both meet their ends in death, both Octavius and Antony reward Brutus’s courage in the end,
remarking upon how Brutus was the “noblest Roman of them all.” As opposing are bravery and
cowardice, are Marcus Brutus and Caius Cassius.