Chreia's, Maxim's and the Persuasive Essay

Is Brutus an idealist? (Julius Caesar, Act 2)

Hey Guys, this is an essay I wrote for school, based off Acts 1 and 2 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Not sure how many people will actually read this, but hope those who do enjoy it!

-In Him

--Speedstar101

---SDG

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Idealists cannot exist in a fallen world where sinful man craves approval, glory, fellowship, and security. Idealists are people who create a set of laws, or ideals based on emotional feelings or circumstances, and will not stray from these principles. Shakespeare shows us this with the character of Brutus in Julius Caesar. Many label Brutus an idealist, but he cannot be an idealist, unless he is a hypocrite, and hypocrisy cannot coexist with idealism. Brutus is not an idealist for three reasons: idealists do not worry about results, idealists do not consort with bad influences, and idealists do not seek for personal glory.

The first reason why Brutus is not an idealist is because idealists don't worry about results. Brutus sees the possible outcome of Caesar's current path, but he only sees one possible outcome. He is focusing on the future as opposed to his current part in the present. He chooses to try to change future by changing his current morals. An idealist holds to their morals even when the outcome will not be optimal. He gives up his Roman ideal of friendship to try and keep a republic. He also spends the beginning of Act 2 weighing the benefits of going against his morals to save the republic. No idealist would ever think about changing his or her ideals.

Maybe Brutus changes some of his ideals because he genuinely has thought through his stance, and decided it is not reasonable, you might challenge. But idealists, though they may be able to change their ideals, do not consort with people who might bring down their ideals. Brutus does not model this, but instead befriends Cassius, who is deceptive and intentionally brings Brutus down. Cassius is not the only unsavory character Brutus decides to fellowship with. He joins a conspiracy, full of men who want to murder the most powerful man in all of Rome. These men will not influence Brutus to hold to his beliefs; they can, and will, bring him down. Brutus also considers himself a Stoic. The Stoics are very logic driven, and idealists hold to their ideals because of strong emotions, so if Brutus were an idealist, he would not call himself a Stoic, yet he calls himself both, a contradiction.

The third reason Brutus is not an idealist is because he seeks personal glory, something for which an idealist does not aim. Brutus says this in Act 2 about Cicero: "...He will never follow anything that other men begin."(2.2.51-52) Brutus says this to show that Cicero will only lead, and Brutus wants to lead, so he pushes Cicero out. Brutus also makes comments that seem rather self-conscious, like, "I am not gamesome,"(1.2.28) but these comments indicate that he notices that he is different from others, which only matters if you seek glory in their recognition. Brutus also demonstrates this non-idealistic love for glory in his power grab inside the conspiracy. He quickly takes over the operation from Cassius, instead of just being a contributing member, meaning that he wants the glory of leading.

Brutus is not an idealist because idealists do not worry about results, idealists consort with good influences, and idealists do not seek personal glory. Moralistic men and women should look at Brutus as an example of what they should avoid if they seek to stay true to their values, and if they do believe he was an idealist, they should be ashamed of him, because he has utterly failed his idealism in all respects. Look at Brutus as an example of what not to do, not as an example of leadership, but an example of a hypocrite.