Read the following interaction between Cassius and Brutus. Then answer the question that follows.

Question

CASSIUS:
Decius, well urged. I think it is not meet,
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and, you know his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all; which to prevent,
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.

BRUTUS:
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar.
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar,
And in the spirit of men there is no blood.
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
Our purpose necessary, and not envious;
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be called purgers, not murderers.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him,
For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
When Caesar's head is off.

Which of the following literary elements is most evident in the intentions of Brutus and Cassius regarding Antony?
A.Archetype of good vs. evil
B.Dramatic irony
C.Foreshadowing
D.Symbolism

Answer 1

The literary element that is most evident in the intentions of Brutus and Cassius regarding Antony is A. Archetype of good vs. evil.

Brutus represents the archetype of good, portraying a moral stance that seeks to act justly without excessive violence. He advocates for a noble assassination of Caesar, emphasizing the need for their actions to appear honorable rather than bloody and ruthless. In contrast, Cassius embodies a more pragmatic and ruthless approach by suggesting that they eliminate Antony along with Caesar, highlighting the tension between their differing moral perspectives. This conflict aligns with the archetype of good versus evil, where Brutus seeks to uphold righteousness while Cassius is willing to resort to darker methods for their cause.