Compare and contrast the differences between Cassius and Brutus.

They each have their reasons for killing Caesar; but they are totally different in their scope. Show how they are similar and different by using examples from the play. Marcus Brutus and Caius Cassius are both important characters in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, and are in several ways are either quite similar to or quite different from one another. These ways are presented in both their words and their actions. In putting them side by side, the likeness and disparity in their morals, motivation, and decisions show. There are many different examples of both similarities and differences. There are two differences and one similarity that show the most. Morally, Brutus and Cassius could not be more different. Brutus would never dream of taking bribes or killing another human being out of spite; he adheres to the principles of honesty and justice. When plotting against Caesar at Brutus's home, Act II, scene two (lines 155-161), Cassius wants to also kill Antony and anyone else who may cause trouble for them after Caesar's murder. This shows indiscriminate killing. Brutus intercedes for these innocents' lives, keeping the conspirators from the act of wanton murder. However, a similarity is that they both think it better to die than to live under rule of the new triumvirate, and both kill themselves rather than suffer the humiliation of being led through Rome as prisoners. Another difference is their motivations for killing Caesar differ far greatly than anything else between the two of them. They both see Caesar as a threat, and recognize his ambition to be king and rule completely over Rome and Italy. But Brutus takes part in the murder for the good of Rome, believing that he was doing the wrong thing. He believed that the people did not want Caesar as a king, and that Caesar would become a tyrant if he gained such an office. He did not want to see Caesar fall, but he did

not want to see Rome fall even less, but at Cassius's hand, it was not for the good of Rome that Caesar died, but the good of Cassius.