In William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar, the character Marcus Brutus is tasked with making a difficult choice: kill one of his most beloved friends or risk corruption and the fall of Rome. Although Brutus recognizes the ethical and moral concerns of his actions, he engages in the conspiracy against Caesar and carries it out with conviction. The question, however, is whether or not Brutus' actions are justifiable from an objective point of view. Unlike most other political assassinations, Brutus is not a hysterical stranger distraught by his target, but a close ally and trusted friend. Brutus justifies his actions by convincing himself and others that they are sacrificing, not killing Caesar, and acting not out of greed or personal gain, but to prevent what he truly believes to be a legitimate and powerful threat to the Republic in the work of Julius Caesar . growing power; however, while this may be a coping mechanism to nullify his own culpability, there are numerous supporting reasons that make Caesar's death defensible. The main reason for the necessity of Caesar's death is the very real possibility that he will become corrupt once his power can no longer be suppressed by the Senate. This is Brutus' primary concern, as he seeks to ensure the freedom and safety of the Roman people, as well as the integrity of the Republic. Furthermore, the combination of Caesar's ego and ever-increasing aspirations poses a threat to Rome, as the socio-political foundation on which it flourished would be dismantled. From the genesis of the first Roman triumvirate, Caesar's lust for power raged, ultimately leading to the disempowerment of the Senate and his rise to power through military imposition. Alth...... middle of paper ..... .y was an unrivaled general, yet Caesar, despite being a talented leader and tactician, grew above all thanks to his family name. Crassus ruled Syria and Pompey ruled Hispania, while Julius Caesar ruled Gaul and what is now Croatia and Albania. This is just one of the ways in which the Caesar before the beginning of Shakespeare's play shows his overwhelming ambition and greenness. After the death of Julius Caesar, Rome entered a period of unparalleled prosperity. Augustus took control of Rome and transformed it into a true empire, which was what Brutus feared most; however, this is not to say that Julius Caesar would have led Rome down the same path, so Brutus' decision, while impossible to prove, is justified. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. “The tragedy of Julius Caesar”. Elements of Literature: Kylene Beers. Austin: Holt, 2009. 842-963. Press.