“How Betrayal Affected Julius Caesar”
According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of betrayal is “to fail or desert
especially in time of need.” In Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare you can see that this
undermining word of honor is intertwined and displayed by the thoughts and actions of multiple
characters including Brutus, Antony, and Cassius.
One of the most important displayals of betrayal takes place when Brutus looked Caesar
in the eye and delivered the final stab that would go on to end his life. As one of Caesar’s
dearest friends, the actions of Brutus must have affected him the most. Earlier in the tragedy,
Caesar quotes “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death
but once.” Little did he know that sentence would come back to haunt him as the person he
thought was his confidant came to be the one who officially ended his life. Now, Brutus an
“honorable” man had said, during his speech to the commoners, that “As Caesar lov’d 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.” (830) Basically, Brutus, knowing full well what he was doing, chose
Rome over his best friend, an act of sheer betrayal. In this case, though, it wasn’t only Brutus
who betrayed Great Caesar, it was actually all who chose to join the Conspirators. All of
Caesar’s closest friends turned on him “for the good of Rome”, Brutus even says so himself
when he quotes, “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say, that
Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against
Caesar, this is my answer: —Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you
rather Caesar were living and die all slaves?” (830)
Another example of betrayal in Julius Caesar is when Antony connives the Conspirators
after they slew Caesar. After the massacre took place, Antony approached Brutus and Cassius
and said, “I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand,” (826) and then
continued to shake all of their hands. At this moment in time the Conspirators must have
thought that Antony was partially on their si...
