e power inRome, plans to form a conspiracy to kill Caesar, and other nobles, who believe that Caesar’sdeath is the only way to save the Roman citizens from a tyrannical ruler and to retain republicangovernment, were easily persuaded to join the conspiracy with Cassius. However, althoughBrutus agrees that Caesar should be killed for the better of the country, joining the conspiracywas extremely pressing and strenuous for him, because Caesar was his good friend. “ Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dea, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him” (Act 3, Scene 2, 25 - 27)As Brutus was struggling with his mind, (Cassius speaks of an idealized “Rome” of thepast in which kingship was unthinkable.“ Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!... O, you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once that would have brooked Th’ eternal devil to keep his state in Rome As easily as a king” (Shakespear 1.2. 151 - 161) Cassius’ reminder of an idealized “Rome” draws Brutus’s heart toward joining theconspiracy with Cassius, because he realizes that while Cassius and he were different in the natureof joining the conspiracy, both equated Rome with the republic. They see themselves as Romansbecause they believe in the Republic. They repudiate kingship, so that power can be sharedamong the elected rulers, the aristocratic patricians who make up the Senate. Therefore, Cassius,and certain nobles who are willing to risk their personal safety to resist one who abuses powerjoin in the conspiracy, and they are convinced that they must turn the commoners against theambitions of Caesar. Their justification is that no one man can domin...
