Who Is Caesar's Last Words Et Tu, Brute?
The play Julius Caesar opens on a cramped street in Ancient Rome, 45 B.C. Julius Caesar has just defeated Pompey, the former co-ruler in the first Roman Triumvirate. Caesar’s power is growing and although Romans can finally take a breath, now able to recover from a lengthy civil war, many people are guarded about the new leader in charge. William Shakespeare’s play continues as a conspiracy group forms, filled with members who question Caesar's power and ability to rule. They gain the membership of Brutus who is Caesar’s close friend and is loved by all. With his direction the conspiracy group causes Caesar’s last words: “Et tu, Brute?” (3.1.76) meaning, you too, Brutus? Caesar has met his defeat as Brutus proceeds with the last fatal stab.
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This is the case for Brutus, as previously pointed out, Brutus started out on the top. Even directly after the murder of Caesar a citizen quiets the crowd because, “noble Brutus” (3.2.11) has stepped onto the stage. Unfortunately, this does not last for long. After Antony reveals his views, the plebeians have completely different opinions of Brutus. They now shout out wanting “revenge” (3.2.196) and calling Brutus and the conspiracy group as a whole “traitors” (3.2.193) and “villains” (3.2.193). This change in opinion results in Brutus losing everything. He loses all respect, as well as the love that he once held from everyone. Not only does his character drop from being seen as the top of the gang to the bottom of them all, he loses the ability to remain strong. Brutus ends his life in an act that he himself viewed as cowardly -- suicide. Brutus desperately demands: “hold my sword and turn away thy face while I run upon it” (5.5.47). He does not die graciously, fighting for the good of all people as expected from the person he had been in act one. He dies having lost everything all due to his decision to join the conspiracy, kill Caesar, and put his trust in
This is the case for Brutus, as previously pointed out, Brutus started out on the top. Even directly after the murder of Caesar a citizen quiets the crowd because, “noble Brutus” (3.2.11) has stepped onto the stage. Unfortunately, this does not last for long. After Antony reveals his views, the plebeians have completely different opinions of Brutus. They now shout out wanting “revenge” (3.2.196) and calling Brutus and the conspiracy group as a whole “traitors” (3.2.193) and “villains” (3.2.193). This change in opinion results in Brutus losing everything. He loses all respect, as well as the love that he once held from everyone. Not only does his character drop from being seen as the top of the gang to the bottom of them all, he loses the ability to remain strong. Brutus ends his life in an act that he himself viewed as cowardly -- suicide. Brutus desperately demands: “hold my sword and turn away thy face while I run upon it” (5.5.47). He does not die graciously, fighting for the good of all people as expected from the person he had been in act one. He dies having lost everything all due to his decision to join the conspiracy, kill Caesar, and put his trust in