Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

Page 23 text:

JUNIOR YEAR BOOK. HARACTERS OF SHAKESPEARE’S BRU¬ TUS AND CASSIUS. ORATION, BY IRENE BUCKNER. Anyone who reads Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, will have a vivid impression remaining in mind of the differ¬ ence in character of the leaders of the conspiracy, Brutus and Cassius; the one a brave soldier, loving friend, and noble man; the other, a selfish man, working only for his own welfare. The character of Brutus is full of beauty and sweet¬ ness. In his home life he was gentle, upright and pure, always solicitous for the welfare of others. Take for ex¬ ample of this, his gentle and loving devotion to his wife, Portia, and how he considered her his superior, for after his conversation with her during the formation of the plot to kill Caesar, he said: “O, ye Gods! Render me worthy this noble wife.” This was certainly an unusual remark to be made in an age when women were considered as mere ornaments or slaves of men. Then, also, in his camp a short time before the final battle, he spoke gently, almost affectionately to his servant Lucius, who had played for his master until he had fallen asleep. When Brutus saw that the boy was asleep he said: “This is a sleepy tune. [my boy 0 murderous slumber, lays’t thou thy leaden mace upon That plays the music? Gentle knave good night! I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee; I f thou dos’t nod, thou break’st thy instrument. I’ll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night!” In his political life Brutus worked for the interest of his state. No thought of reward for himself, no spirit of revenge entered his mind. It was simply because he be¬ lieved lie was working for the good of his beloved Rome, that lie entered the conspiracy, and in fact, he hesitated a long time before he could be persuaded by the wily Cas¬ sius to enter it at all. Caesar was one of his dearest friends, his most trusted companion; then could it have been that he who detested dishonor so thoroughly would have plotted against the most noble ruler of Rome for any reason but that he thought he was benefiting his country? Of course, we now think that it was a mean and dis¬ honorable act which Brutus did, but would not any really true patriot do the same under the same circumstances? Would not any man who loves his country do that which he truly believes to be the only thing that will save it from destruction? Brutus was a firm believer in the free repub¬ lic of his forefathers, the grand old Rome “glorified with the high virtues which had grown under her cherishing.” He always spoke of Caesar with respect and almost rever¬ ence, and it was only his ambition which Brutus disliked. After the ghost of Caesar had appeared to him, he said: “O, Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!” Does not this

Page 22 text:

JUNIOR YEAR ROOK FIRST M. E. CHURCH

Page 24 text:

.1 l) N I () II Y K A It MOO K . show he honored Caesar, even though he had he!lied to kill him? On the other hand, look at the character of Cassius. He was shrewd, ambitious and disloyal. His part in the conspiracy was wholly for the motive of gain for himself, and not because he hoped to better the conditions of his country. By his wily talk he persuaded Brutus to .enter into a plan which was distasteful to such a nature, and led the other members of the plot to believe that Brutus, and not himself was the leader, so that the blame might not fall upon him. Cassius formed the plot with the idea of success, and he worked for this without one thought as to whether it was right or wrong. He took men for what they were, Brutus, for what they ought to be. These two men had at one time stood for praetership of Rome, and Brutus was elected through Cassius’ influence. Thus Cassius held a private hatred for Caesar and constantly thought of this while planning to take his life. After the assassination, Brutus was a changed man, and brooded much over his part in the cruel deed; but Cassius was unaffected and apparently as happp as ever, until Antony’s army attacked them. The fact that Brutus was the better and greater man was recognized at the time of the tragedy, for after his death, Antony said of him: “This was the noblest Roman of them all: All the conspirators save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Caesar; lie only in a general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle; and the elements So mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world, This is a man!” Thus we see that two great and wise men made a seri¬ ous mistake; the one for what he thought to be the best thing for his country; the other, to satisfy his own am¬ bition. Who sits and waits for dead men’s shoes, In which to make his climb, Will leave no footprints of his own Upon the sands of time.