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[BRUTUS.] Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar

I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream.
The genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council, and the state of man,
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.

Excerpt 2:

BRUTUS. Kneel not, gentle Portia. . . .

You are my true and honourable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.

PORTIA. If this were true, then should I know this secret. . . .
Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose 'em.
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound
Here in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience,
And not my husband's secrets?

How do Brutus’s moral dilemmas in each excerpt compare?

In both excerpts, Brutus detests lying to someone he loves.
In both excerpts, Brutus is trying to stop someone from taking too much power for himself.
In both excerpts, Brutus is deciding whether or not to end the relationship rather than reveal the truth.
In both excerpts, Brutus is convinced by the person he loves that he is doing the right thing.

1 answer

Brutus’s moral dilemmas in the two excerpts focus on his internal struggles regarding truth, loyalty, and the weight of his actions.

  1. Detest Lying to Someone He Loves: In the first excerpt, Brutus grapples with the enormity of the decision he faces regarding Caesar, indicating a deep sense of unease about betrayal and the moral implications of plotting against a friend. This reflects his values and the conflict he feels about being secretive. In the second excerpt, Brutus’s reluctance to disclose his secret plans to Portia highlights his struggle not to deceive her, emphasizing his love and respect for her. In both cases, Brutus is torn between his obligations to his beloved and the burden of the secrets he must keep for the supposed greater good.

  2. Stopping Someone from Taking Too Much Power: In the context of the first excerpt, Brutus is concerned about the potential tyranny of Caesar and sees his actions as a necessary intervention to protect the republic. Similarly, in the second excerpt, while his intentions are not explicitly mentioned, Brutus’s secret plans can be viewed as an attempt to prevent the concentration of power in Caesar's hands. This theme of intervention, while noble, also compels Brutus to keep secrets from those he loves, compounding his moral conflict.

  3. Ending the Relationship vs. Revealing the Truth: While Brutus does not explicitly consider ending his relationship with Portia, he is certainly weighing the costs of revealing his plans to her. In the first excerpt, the fear and anxiety weighed against his resolve to act suggest he is contemplating the personal consequences of his political actions. In the second excerpt, Portia's insistence on knowing his secret further complicates Brutus's stance, as keeping her in the dark feels like a betrayal of their bond.

  4. Convinced by His Loved One: In the first excerpt, Brutus seems isolated in his thoughts, but in the second, Portia’s probing and her demonstration of strength and loyalty challenge him. While he initially resists revealing his plans, her insistence and the display of her constancy might lead him to believe in the righteousness of sharing his burdens, reflecting the influence of love on moral decisions.

Overall, Brutus’s moral dilemmas in these excerpts highlight his struggle between personal loyalty, political responsibility, and the impact of his choices on his relationship with Portia. Both passages illustrate the emotional turmoil he faces as he reconciles love with the harsh realities of political action.