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Brutus. Character Sketch. Brutus is worried. Brutus is introduced in Act One, Scene Two. Our first impression of him is that he is a serious man: ‘I am not gamesome; I do lack some part / Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
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Brutus Character Sketch
Brutus is worried • Brutus is introduced in Act One, Scene Two. • Our first impression of him is that he is a serious man: ‘I am not gamesome; I do lack some part / Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. • Cassius says that Brutus has seemed unhappy or unfriendly recently. Brutus admits that he is, saying ‘Poor Brutus, with himself at war, / Forgets the shows of love to other men.’
Rome vs. Caesar • Brutus is torn between his concern for Rome and his love for Caesar. • ‘ I do fear the people / Choose Caesar for their king’. • Although he says of Caesar ‘I love him well’, Brutus makes it clear that Rome and honour come first: ‘I love / The name of honour more than I fear death’.
Manipulated by Cassius • Cassius says that everyone respects Brutus greatly and he wishes Brutus could see himself as others see him. • Brutus wonders why Cassius is flattering him: • ‘Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, / That you would have me seek into myself / For that which is not in me?’
Unhappy to be a Roman citizen in these times • ‘Brutus had rather be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay on us.’
His virtue makes him vulnerable • Cassius believes that he can use Brutus’ nobility to his own advantage. He plans to bend Brutus to his will: ‘Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see / Thy honourable mettle may be wrought From that it is disposed
Act One – Key Words about Brutus • Worried • Distracted • Noble • Honourable • Loyal • Modest • Vulnerable