BRUTUS. O Antony, beg not your death of us!

Question

Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,

As by our hands and this our present act

You see we do, yet see you but our hands,

And this the bleeding business they have done.

Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;

And pity to the general wrong of Rome—

As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—

Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,

To you our swords have leaden points, Mark

Antony.

–The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,

William Shakespeare

What are the central ideas about the conspirators in this speech by Brutus? Check all that apply.

They are sad about their bloody deed.
They are joyful about their bloody deed.
They threaten to harm Antony.
They had to kill Caesar to save Rome.
Antony does not understand the reasons for the assassination.

Answer 1

The central ideas about the conspirators in Brutus's speech include:

1. They are sad about their bloody deed. - Brutus expresses a sense of pity and sorrow for the act they have committed, indicating that their hearts are not cruel despite the violence of their actions.

2. They had to kill Caesar to save Rome. - Brutus justifies the assassination as a necessary action to prevent greater harm to Rome, implying that it was done for the greater good of the republic.

3. Antony does not understand the reasons for the assassination. - Brutus anticipates that Antony may not comprehend the motives behind their actions, suggesting a disconnect in understanding the necessity of their deed.

The following options do not apply:

• They are joyful about their bloody deed. - Brutus’s tone reflects sorrow rather than joy over the act.

• They threaten to harm Antony. - The speech does not contain any threats directed toward Antony; rather, it attempts to explain their actions to him.