The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, exhibits the two contrasting natures of leaders--good shepherds versus false shepherds; true heroes versus selfish leaders. A false shepherd focuses on his own desires and overlooks the needs of his people. A good shepherd is defined as a noble, compassionate leader who puts forth the needs of the community before his own desires; his concern is solely for the people. Brutus, as a leader of Rome, is a good shepherd considering the fact that all of his actions throughout the tragedy were rooted in the intention of making Rome a better and stronger republic.

Throughout the play, Brutus continues to display the characteristics of a good shepherd. Brutus cared and acted compassionately towards others, even to the people of lower classes. For instance, Brutus was very considerate towards the young servants, Lucius, Varrus, and Claudio. Brutus illustrates this when he commanded that they all stay in his tent for he may suddenly have an errand to run. Varrus offers, "So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure." (Act 5.5.300) . In other words, he willingly wanted to stand by and wait for any commands. However, Brutus responded, "I will not have it so. Lie down, good sirs..." (Act 5.5.301-316). A few moments later in that scene, Lucius speaks of how his duty requires that he please every one of Brutus' wishes. Brutus responds to Lucius' statement, "I should not urge thy duty past thy might. / I know young bloods look for a time to rest." (Act 4.2.312-313). Brutus understands that the young must take time to rest.

Another characteristic of a good shepherd that Brutus possesses is nobility. For example, Antony stands over Brutus' dead body and he says, "This was the noblest Roman of them all /...He only in a general honest thought / And common good to all made one of them." (Act 5.5.67-74). This translates that Brutus was the noblest Roman for he was the only one whose intentions were always the most honest and honorable, and for the justice of Rome.

Brutus' actions throughout the book were based on the ideology that Rome needed to be defended from the hands of corrupt leaders. In act two, scene one, Brutus ultimately decides that the death of his good friend, Caesar, is necessary in order to defend Rome from the hands of a future tyrannical leader. He states that he has no personal reason to kill Caesar, but it must be done for the best interest of the people: "It must be by his death. And for my part / I know no personal cause to spurn at him, / But for the general." (Act 2.1.10-12). He continues to justify his reason as to why Caesar must be killed. At the end of his soliloquy, Brutus compares Caesar to a serpent, "...think him as a serpent's egg, / Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, / And kill him in the shell." The metaphor demonstrates that Caesar must be killed immediately before arrogance and power envenoms his mind and corrupts his actions.

Another example of Brutus' solid beliefs is when Brutus delivers his speech to the plebeians in an attempt to justify the conspirators' reasons for the assassination of Caesar. Brutus states that he loved Caesar. He continues to profess his perpetual love for Rome, "...not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." (Act 3.2.21-22). Brutus carries on with his speech, "As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him." (Act 3.2.24-26). Brutus emphasizes