The Inability of Brutus to Assume Political Leadership of...

The Inability of Brutus to Assume Political Leadership of the Conspiracy Against Julius Caesar in Shakespeares Play In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare presents a broad range of historical personalities as complicated human beings in agonizing conflict with one another and with themselves. Literary authors A.L. Rowse once wrote, No issue hinders a mans leadership capabilities more than his confusing perception of honor, noble idealism, and inner self-conflict (15). In his drama about power, nobility, assassination, and revenge, Shakespeare examines this particular issue best in his simple yet complex characterization of Brutus. Guided by conflicting emotions, Brutus, an idealistic man, is unable to assume†¦show more content†¦Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Conceptions only proper to myself, Which gives some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors. But let not therefore my good friends be grieved (Among which number, Cassius, be you one), Nor construe any further my neglect Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. (1.2. 37-46). In Scene I, Cassius utters the first in a series of persuasive remarks designed to win Brutus on the part of King 2 the conspiracy to destroy Caesar. But Brutus is incapable of assuming the leadership role as his self-conflict reflects both his personal love of Caesar and his duty to the Republic. He