sar, he resorts to a generalization, a “commonproof,” which says that ambitious men, at the height of their power, will corrupt. “ More than his reason. But ‘tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back,” (Shakespear 2.1. 21 - 25) Then, Cassius returns to flattery, reminding Brutus of his own reputation and that of hisancestor, the Brutus who expelled Tarquini, a tyrant, from Rome. This statement moves Brutuseven more.In act 2, he concludes that Caesar must be considered as a snake’s egg, which would hatchand become a powerful atrocity. Therefore, he must be killed before he becomes a king. “ And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg Which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell ” (Shakespear 2.1. 32 - 35) To come to such a decision, Brutus’ idealism is one of the factors that supported hischoice of his country over his friendship with Caesar. (His motives for joining the conspiracy arewholly pure, and he intends to maintain this purity in everything. He is very conscious of hisposition among people. He is well respected of his noble nature and honored by many. His dutyis to carry out general people’s will and his duty solely for people’s benefit. His background alsohas a role in providing another motive for him to kill Caesar. He is descended from patriots, andhe is often reminded of the Lucius Junius Brutus who drove Tarquin from Rome and helped tofound the first republic. Brutus, once he is convinced that Caesar would be crowned, sees him asdestined to repeat his ancestor’s heroic mission: by killing Caesar, he will, he thinks, restore thetrue “Rome” - the republic. (Mowant, P. 215 - 216) Therefore, despite his friendship ...
