Question

According to Plutarch, why was Brutus initially not inclined to overthrow Caesar?

A. Caesar did not yet seem tyrannical.
B. Caesar had treated him well.
C. Brutus feared he did not have enough support.
D. Brutus did not believe it was right to overthrow the Roman emperor.

Answer 1

Option (B), Brutus was initially reluctant to overthrow Caesar because Caesar had treated him well, showing the significance of personal relationships in historic political actions.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Plutarch, Brutus was initially not inclined to overthrow Caesar because Caesar had treated him well. Though Caesar accumulated power and made himself dictator for life, which unnerved many, Brutus's hesitation stemmed from the personal treatment and relationship he had with Caesar.

Plutarch highlights this by showing that despite Caesar's actions against the Roman Republic, Brutus felt a sense of loyalty or obligation due to how well Caesar had treated him personally. This situation exemplifies the complex interplay of personal relationships and political actions in historical events.