How does the characterization of caesar in this passage
connect to the central idea of the passage?
read the excerpt from act 2, scene 1, of the tragedy of
julius caesar
brutus. it must be by his death: and for my part
i know no personal cause to spurn at him
but for the general. he would be crowned:
how that might change his nature, there's the question.
it is the bright day that brings forth the adder,
and that craves wary walking. crown him that,
and then i grant we put a sting in him
that at his will he may do danger with
th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
remorse from power. and to speak truth of caesar,
i have not known when his affections swayed
more than his reason. but 'tis a common proof
that lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
but when he once attains the upmost round,
he then unto the ladder turns his back,
by reflecting on caesar's position in society, brutus
comes to realize that caesar has lost integrity as a ruler
and that he must join the plot to assassinate caesar.
when brutus allows himself to be convinced to join the
conspiracy against caesar, it seals his fate and leads to
his ultimate defeat and death.
brutus decides to join the conspiracy against caesar
because he fears that caesar will become ruthless
once he has absolute power.
brutus decides that he must prevent caesar from
becoming ruthless as a result of having absolute power,
but in the end it is brutus who is corrupted by power.