4.

10 Outline

Was Brutus a betrayer or a patriot?

Introduction Introduce the topic of your argument, your claim, and the counterclaims. Introduction
Julies Caesar is a Shakespearian playwright about secrets and betrayals. Throughout this
playwright, Brutus is torn between a choice of whether he should murder Caesar to save the
people of a what was believed to be an unfit ruler or to be faithful to a good and dear friend
who trusted him. Many view Brutus as an honorable man and the hero of the people for
sparing them from a dictator as their ruler who could not be trusted. However, in turn, Brutus
was the one who deceived those around him only to in the end murder his friend. Brutus is a
betrayed who aspired to go through with a conspiracy organized to eliminate their future ruler
and a beloved friend.

Body Part 1  “Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, to cut the head off and then hack the Counterclaim
limbs, like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: Let Present counter
us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius” (Act 2, scene 1, pg8). point A
A. Here Brutus explains that while they must kill Caesar to save Rome from
Refute counter
dictatorship, they must not kill Marc Antony as well, or they will appear to be
point A
cold blooded killers in the eyes of the people rather than defenders of the
country. While it seems, many believe that Brutus is sparing Antony’s life out of
good heart, by stating that “in the eyes of the people rather than defenders of
the country” demonstrates that one of Brutus’s motives relies on appearances Present counter
and what others think of him. point B
I. Refute: “Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night When evils Refute counter
are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough point B
to mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. Hide it in smiles
and affability. For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself
were dim enough to hide thee from prevention” (Act 2, scene 1, pg4-5).
a. Brutus understands that dishonorable actions will not be
justified, even by an honorable cause. He senses the
consequences from before Caesar's murder will cast a hanging
shadow beyond the act itself. Even by killing Caesar that a civil
war does not occur, it will cost Brutus his honor.
 “There is a tide in the affairs of men Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune” (Act
4, scene 3, page 11).
A. This shows Brutus explaining that you should do what you think is the right thing

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 4.10 Outline

Was Brutus a betrayer or a patriot?

to do or else you will feel regret.
I. Refute: “What! Who goes there? I think it’s my bad eyesight that’s
making me see this horrible vision. It’s coming toward me. Are you real?
Are you a god, an angel, or a devil, that you make my blood turn cold
and my hair stand up? Tell me what you are” (Act 4, scene 3, pg15).
a. This proves that Brutus feels guilty about what he did to Caesar.
Brutus’s claim that he addressed to the public of having no
regrets, is later contradicted by his own emotion of guilt proving
that he does indeed have regrets about his actions.

Body Part 2  “How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here? I think it is the weakness of mine eyes That Claim: Brutus is a
shapes this monstrous apparition. It comes upon me. Art thou anything? Art thou some god, betrayer.
some angel, or some devil, that makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? Speak to me
what thou art” (Act 4, scene 3, pg15). Present point A
A. This demonstrates how Brutus is feeling guilty about killing Caesar because he Support point A
himself knows that he betrayed him. We are not aware whether Brutus imagined the
ghost or not but either way it proves he has a guilty conscience.
Present point B
 “Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar” (Act 3, scene 1, pg5)
Support point B
A. In this situation, as Brutus stabs Caesar at the senate, who is surprised that he, that
was his good friend had betrayed him, as proven, when the murder was taking
place and Caesar said the words, “you too Brutus.”
 “People and senators, be not affrighted. Fly not. Stand still. Ambition’s debt is paid” (Act 3,
Scene 1, Page 3)
A. This line demonstrates that he feels and is showing the audience little remorse for
betraying his friend that he murdered.

Conclusion As proven above, Brutus actions of conspiring to murder Caesar have proven him to be a Conclusion
traitor. He has shown that by believing that he has seen the ghost, proves that he has a guilty
conscience and that he himself believes himself to be a traitor. Also, when Brutus is murdering
Caesar, he is surprised and finds Brutus to be a traitor. Even the spectators at the senate can
conclude that he is a traitor based off the lack of remorse for betraying and murdering his

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 4.10 Outline

Was Brutus a betrayer or a patriot?

friend.

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