Question

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,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Then lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities;
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.

What moral dilemma does this excerpt express?

Brutus must decide whether to ascend to power.
Brutus must decide whether to help Caesar ascend to power.
Brutus must decide whether to help in the plot to kill Caesar.
Brutus must decide whether to support a monarchy.

Answer 1

Answer: Brutus must decide whether to help in the plot to kill Caesar.

Explanation: The moral dilemma that this excerpt from Act II, Scene I, of "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, shows is Brutus must decide whether to help in the plot to kill Caesar. Caesar is going to be crowned. Brutus is not sure whether this power will corrupt Caesar. He decides to help in the plot because his danger is like that of a serpent's egg that should be killed before it hatches.

Answer 2

Hi!

It seems like the answer to this option C, Brutus must decide whether to help in the plot to kill Caesar.

Step-by-step explanation:

It seems like Brutus is questioning if Cesar’s rise to power will change who he is. This is seen in how he wonders if Cesar’s rise “might change his nature”.

He seems to believe Cesar won’t be fit for it, as he talks about his concerns with the “young’s ambition” and seems to think Cesar is not ready to rule. Because of this, Brutus is deciding if he should Kill Cesar to prevent him from ruining their city or if he should not interfere and watch him and the city fall.