Question

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 bring 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.
–The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,
William Shakespeare
What does Brutus reveal in this soliloquy? Check all that apply.
a. Brutus plans to kill Caesar.
b. Caesar is already a tyrant.
c. Brutus will be part of the plot against Caesar.
d. Killing Caesar will prevent him from becoming a tyrant.
e. Brutus despises Caesar and wants to rule himself.

Answer 1

A). Brutus plans to kill Caesar.

C). Brutus will be part of the plot against Caesar.

D). Killing Caesar will prevent him from becoming a tyrant.

Step-by-step explanation:

A soliloquy is elucidated as the literary devices that the authors employ to disclose a character's underlying thoughts, intentions, and feelings while conversing with himself/herself.

In the given soliloquy from Act II, scene I of Shakespeare's popular drama i.e. 'Julius Caesar', Brutus reveals his inner thoughts and plans to the audience.

His plan of killing Caesar is reflected through his statements 'we put a sting in him', 'kill him in the shell.' However, the plan was initially framed by Cassius but Brutus becoming a part of his plan eventually which is mirrored at the very beginning of this soliloquy('It must be by his death') despite having 'no personal cause.'

The use of the pronoun 'we' substantiates the claim that Brutus joins the murder plot with Cassius against Caesar. His agreement to 'I grant we put a sting in him' clearly reflects that he participates in the plot.

The key reason for which Brutus joins the plan is 'to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant' as he clearly reveals that he does it 'for the general cause.' He feels that Caesar becoming the king might prove as dangerous as a 'poisonous snake.' Thus, options A, C, and D are the correct answers.