by JJ

Created on: October 19, 2008

Brutus vs. Mark Antony

Despite Brutus' desire to not appear as a butcher or hack the limbs of Caesar' by killing Mark Antony, Brutus actually did invoke blood and destruction' by leaving Mark Antony alive. Brutus hoped that by killing Caesar he would free Rome of a potential tyrant and that peace would follow. However, despite Brutus' honorable' ideals, Mark Antony saw the death of Caesar as the beginning of a curse of war and bloodshed to men; he took it upon himself to enact this curse that Brutus was trying to prevent. Brutus' speech in 2.1.162-183 and Mark Antony's speech in 3.1.264-277 show their opposing and contradicting views of the consequences of Caesars' murder. These contradictions are the fuel of the ensuing war between Brutus and Mark Antony.

Before they murder Caesar, Caius Cassius and Brutus debate whether or not they should also kill Mark Antony. Cassius claims that Mark Antony is a shrewd contriver' and that it is dangerous to let him live as he was well loved by Caesar. Cassius fears what Mark Antony could do to them after Caesar's death. Brutus, however, refutes Cassius' claim and states that

Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,

To cut the head off and then hack the limb,

Like wrath in death and envy afterwards

For Antony is but a limb of Caesar (2.1.162-165).

Brutus does not believe that Mark Antony poses any threat to them or their plans. He considers Mark Antony as only a limb of Caesar' who cannot make decisions for himself or retaliate in revenge of Caesar. However, after the death of Caesar, Mark Antony proves Brutus wrong by prophesying

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.

Domestic fury and fierce civil strife

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy (3.1.264-266)

Mark Antony takes it upon himself as a limb of man to carry out this curse by going to war against Brutus and his legions. He fulfills his own prophesy of blood and destruction' and fell deeds.'

In his speech, Brutus entreats the other conspirators that by murdering Caesar they be sacrificers, not butchers. He tells them

We all stand up to the spirit of Caesar,

And in the spirit of men there is no blood.

Oh, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit

And not dismember Caesar! (2.1.166-170)

At first it seems as if Brutus thinks that if they (the conspirators) only wish to come against the spirit of Caesar, then by coming against his body by killing him, there will be no blood. But later in his speech he does recognize that Caesar must bleed for their actions. Brutus then

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