Question

#20

Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar, act 3, scene 2.

[BRUTUS.] If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him.
As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was
valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I
slew him.

Which paraphrase of the passage is the best?

Brutus explains that if people ask why he killed Caesar, he will tell them that it is not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. He asks the people, “Would you rather have Caesar alive, and we all die as slaves, or Caesar dead, and we die free?” He says he is sad because he and Caesar were friends. He honors Caesar’s bravery, but Caesar was too ambitious, so he had to be killed.
Brutus asks the people of Rome if they would rather have Caesar alive and they all be slaves, or have Caesar dead so they can live freely.
Brutus explains that he loved Caesar, but loves Rome more. He had to kill Caesar because, although Caesar was a brave man and his friend, Caesar was too ambitious.
Brutus clarifies that he rose against Caesar not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. He asks, “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” He says he weeps for Caesar and honors his valiance, but slew him because Caesar was ambitious.

Answer 1

The best paraphrase of Brutus's speech from Julius Caesar, expressing his motives for participating in the assassination, is that he acted not out of lack of love for Caesar, but out of greater love for Rome, believing Caesar's ambition threatened the freedom of the Roman people.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked for the best paraphrase of Brutus's speech from Act 3, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. In the passage, Brutus justifies his role in Caesar's assassination. He explains that his actions were not due to a lack of love for Caesar but rather because he loved Rome more. Brutus rhetorically asks if the citizens would prefer Caesar alive, which would mean they would die as slaves, or Caesar dead, enabling them to live as free men. He acknowledges his sorrow for Caesar's death and his admiration for Caesar's valiant nature but states that Caesar's ambition left him no choice but to kill him to save Rome from tyranny.

The best paraphrase that captures all nuances of Brutus's reasoning is:
Brutus clarifies that he rose against Caesar not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. He asks, "Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?" He says he weeps for Caesar and honors his valiance, but slew him because Caesar was ambitious.

Answer 2

Answer above me is INCORRECT!

Step-by-step explanation:

Correct answer:

Option A: "Brutus explains that if people ask why he killed Caesar, he will tell them that it is not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. He asks the people, “Would you rather have Caesar alive, and we all die as slaves, or Caesar dead, and we die free?” He says he is sad because he and Caesar were friends. He honors Caesar’s bravery, but Caesar was too ambitious, so he had to be killed."

On edge 2020