Question

Read the excerpt from act 2, scene 1, of Julius Caesar.

BRUTUS. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards—
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar.
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar,
And in the spirit of men there is no blood.
O, that we then could come by Caesar’s spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends,
Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully.
Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
Our purpose necessary, and not envious;
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be called purgers, not murderers.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him,
For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm
When Caesar’s head is off.

Which statement best explains Brutus’s motivation in this scene?

Brutus wants to include Mark Antony in the conspiracy.
Brutus wants people to think that Mark Antony is involved in the conspiracy.
Brutus wants people to think of the conspirators as honorable, not evil.
Brutus wants Caesar and Mark Antony to die at the same time.

Answer 1

Which statement best explains Brutus’s motivation in this scene?

Brutus wants to include Mark Antony in the conspiracy.

Brutus wants people to think that Mark Antony is involved in the conspiracy.

Brutus wants people to think of the conspirators as honorable, not evil.

Brutus wants Caesar and Mark Antony to die at the same time.

Explanation: answer is D

Answer 2

Step 1: Determine which options are correct

Which statement best explains Brutus’s motivation in this scene?

- Option C: Brutus wants people to think of the conspirators as honorable, not evil.

The reason why Option C is correct is because Brutus is trying to convince the people that the conspirators are not bad. Therefore, the answer is Option C.

See the attachment for clarification