What are Caesar's strengths and weaknesses in act 1 of Julius Caesar?

Due to the importance of the classics in Elizabethan education, the audience of William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" would have been familiar with both the character and the historical setting before watching the play.

In Scene 1 we learn of the essential political strength of Caesar, that he is beloved by the plebs, or the common populace, something we find out when the cobbler admits to being out on the street to "make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph." Flavius' response indicates that Caesar is considerably less popular among patricians, in part because of his unwillingness to share power. He describes Caesar as one who "would soar above the view of men,/And keep us all in servile fearfulness."

When Caesar himself appears, both his popularity and his arrogance are confirmed. Cassius' speeches give the audience more details on how Caesar, rather than treating other aristocrats as equals, tends to treat them as his inferiors. Caesar's dismissal of the soothsayer who warns him "Beware the Ides of March" also suggests arrogance, something that will be confirmed by  his determination to go to the forum, expressed to Calpurnia in Act 2:

Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten me
Ne’er look but on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

Caesar's main speech in Act 1 shows him to be capable of careful thought and analysis, as he correctly says of Cassius:

Such men as he be never at heart’s ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves;
And therefore are they very dangerous.

Despite this strength, the ability to read character and perceive danger, Caesar has a corresponding weakness of stubbornness and a sense of destiny, which prevents him from acting upon his perceptions: "I rather tell thee what is to be fear’d/Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar." The concluding lines of the speech, in which he remarks on his own deafness in one ear, suggest to the reader not only Caesar's age and physical limitations, but also that he has certain mental blind spots despite his political and intellectual astuteness. 

In Julius Caesar, what is Caesar's opinion of Antony and Cassius in act 1, scene 2?

Caesar's interaction with Antony in this scene is limited, but it is revealing. Caesar views Antony as a friend whom he trusts. Caesar feels free to speak to Antony, for instance, in regard to Cassius. He confides in Antony that he has strong reservations about Cassius:

Let me have men about me that are fat,

Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights.

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.

He thinks too much, such men are dangerous.

For Caesar to share these feelings with Antony shows that Caesar is not afraid to speak honestly with him. He does not fear what Antony might think of him for feeling unease in relation to Cassius and he does not fear that Antony might repeat his misgivings.

Antony reassures Caesar that Cassius is not dangerous, that he is a "noble Roman." Antony was well meaning, but he was wrong. Caesar was much more correct in his assessment of Cassius' character. He was dangerous indeed, the primary force behind the developing conspiracy to murder Caesar. Caesar tells Antony that he isn't afraid of Cassius, for Caesar is not given to fear, but if he were, there was no man he would avoid more than Cassius.

In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, what is Cassius's opinion of Caesar in act 1, scene 2, and does Brutus agree?

Cassius holds Caesar in complete contempt. He tells Brutus stories to show how inferior Caesar is, both as a man and as the ruler of Rome.

In the first story, Caesar dared Cassius to join him in swimming the Tiber River on a cold and windy day. Before reaching shore, Caesar cried out, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink!" Cassius then saved him from drowning. In Cassius's second story, he tells of a time when Caesar fell ill and weakly called out for water "[a]s a sick girl."

Cassius insists that Caesar has no special talent or courage to rule Rome. Bitter and angry, Cassius views Caesar as weak and undeserving. He cannot understand how Caesar has gained such power.

Brutus does not interrupt Cassius or contradict anything he says about Caesar. However, he also does not agree with him. Brutus says only that he will think about what Cassius has said, will listen to anything he might have to say later, and will meet with him in the future to discuss matters further.

What does Cassius tell Brutus about Caesar in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar, and how does Brutus react?

Cassius leads the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar. In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Act I, Scene ii, the Roman citizens observe the Feast of the Lupercal, which takes place on February 15.  It is 44 B. C., and the Romans are celebrating  in the streets of Rome and in the arena where Antony will offer Caesar the king’s crown.

Cassius encounters Brutus outside of the Arena.  He expresses concern for Brutus since he behaving as usual. Brutus tells Cassius that it has nothing to do with anyone else; but,  Brutus is at “war with himself.” 

When they hear the shouts of the crowd, Brutus tells Cassius that he is afraid that they are offering the crown to Caesar. This pleases Cassius because he would like Brutus to join the conspiracy.

Cassius explains his feelings about Caesar.

Cassius begins to tell Brutus why he does not like Caesar:  

• Cassius would rather be dead than be a servant to Caesar.  He further compares himself to Caesar:
• He is as free as Caesar.
• They have both been raised in the same fashion.
• Cassius is just as sturdy as Caesar is.

Then, Cassius relates an occurrence between Caesar and himself on the Tiber River.  Caesar challenges Cassius to swim to a certain point.  Cassius jumps in with his soldier’s gear on and tells Caesar to follow him. They both began to swim when Caesar begins to drown.  Caesar cries out,” Help me Cassius, or I sink!” So Cassius saves Caesar’s life. 

Sarcastically, Cassius cannot believe that now Caesar has become a god…and Cassius who saved his life has to bow to him. 

Cassius relates another incident that he experienced with Caesar.  Caesar had a fever and along with it a seizure.  He shook like a coward with his pale lips.  Cassius cannot believe that this man whose had a fit and groaned is worshiped and feared. His speeches are even  written down in books.

 Cassius mocks Caesar:

Alas, it [Julius Caesar] cried, “Give me some drink, Titinius,” As a sick girl. Ye gods! It doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should. 

It dismays Cassius that now this weak, pathetic man is to rule the world alone.

Cassius continues his tirade about Caesar.

He compares Caesar to the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes that spanned a harbor.  Caesar spans the whole world, and everyone must walk under him and be subservient to him. 

In one of the most famous of Shakespearean quotations Cassius tells Brutus:

Men at some are masters of their fates:

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Romans must take control of their own lives.  In other words, the conspirators must kill Caesar.

His next argument compares Brutus to Caesar and states that their names and worthiness are the same.  Brutus can sway people with just as strong a spirit as Caesar.  When has there been only one man worthy of ruling Rome?   

Brutus reacts to Cassius’s arguments.

Brutus listened to everything that Cassius told him.  A sensitive thoughtful man who is not quick to make decisions—Brutus tells Cassius that he does not like the way things are going either.  He wants to think about these things.  He asks Cassius to come to his house later and he will discuss what should be done.

This has been an important meeting, especially for Cassius.  Brutus is well liked among the senators and the people as well.  On the Ides of March along with Brutus and several other senators will assassinate Julius Caesar. 

What does Act 2, Scene 1 reveal about Brutus's character in Julius Caesar?

Brutus's soliloquy in Act II, Scene 1 reveals his thoughts on the possibility of assassinating Caesar. He is torn, as Caesar is his friend, and is very popular with the people. But he fears that if Caesar becomes a king, not only will the Republic be destroyed in the process, but Caesar, who has not really done anything terribly wrong thus far, will do so in the future. In particular, he has not shown himself to be a tyrant. If he becomes king, though, he may well become corrupted by power, and for Brutus, that risk is not worth taking. He says that he and the other senators must

...think him as a serpent's egg 
Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous, 
And kill him in the shell.

This is a serious decision, and a turning point in the play. As he grapples with the question of whether or not to join the plot, Brutus is revealed to be a man of principle who has the interests of Rome, rather than his own ambition, at heart. 

What does Act 2, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar reveal about Brutus's character?

In act 2, scene 1, Brutus contemplates joining the conspirators to assassinate Julius Caesar and weighs his options. During Brutus's soliloquy, he admits that he does not hold a grudge against Julius Caesar and contemplates whether or not Caesar's ambition will transform him into a tyrant. Although Brutus has never personally witnessed Caesar act irrationally or authoritative, he understands that Caesar may be concealing his genuine emotions until he is finally crowned king. Brutus then likens Caesar to a "serpent’s egg" and decides that it is necessary to kill him before he has an opportunity to become a ruthless tyrant. Brutus's soliloquy reveals that he is a discerning man, who sincerely wants what is best for the Roman populace. He is not selfishly motivated like the other senators and views Caesar as a threat to the Republic. His selflessness indicates that he is an honorable man.

Brutus goes on to read a fabricated letter from concerned citizens urging him to act against Julius Caesar, which completely sways Brutus's decision to join the conspirators. When the conspirators arrive, Brutus takes the lead and demands that they do not swear their allegiance. He then reveals his compassionate, sympathetic nature by saying,

Let’s kill him [Caesar] boldly but not wrathfully. Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds. (Shakespeare, 2.1.179-181)

Brutus then tells the senators to let Antony live in order to avoid being perceived as butchers. Brutus's decision regarding Antony's fate will come back to haunt him and reveals that he is naive. He then promises to explain everything to Portia once the conspirators leave, which reveals that he values his wife and considers Portia his equal.

Compare and contrast Brutus and Antony in Julius Caesar.

The most obvious contrast is how they feel about Caesar -- not personally, but in terms of how Caesar's power is growing as the play opens.

Antony is Caesar's right-hand man -- literally.  He is always just at Caesar's side.  He is so ever-present beside Caesar, that the conspirators discuss murdering him as well as Caesar, since he seems to be so dedicated and attached to him.

Brutus, while seen by Caesar as a loyal compatriot, on the other hand, harbors deep misgivings about the power that Caesar is developing.  Brutus is fiercely dedicated to the Roman democratic rule, to the ideals of the Republic.  So, when it seems that Caesar would be declared Emperor, Brutus feels that it is his patriotic duty to revolt.

Perhaps the most accessible way to compare their personalities is to compare their funeral orations.  Brutus speaks from logic and reason, appealing to the ideology of the people in order to garner their support for his actions.  He appeals to their logic and sense of the honorable action, the action that is "best"for the Republic.

Antony, on the other hand, begins with the word "Friends," making it clear from the beginning that it is not their responsibility as citizens to which he will appeal, but their emotions, their feelings.  Suffice it to say, Antony's speech over Caesar's dead body creates an uprising of the citizens that drives the conspirators out of Rome.

Overall, Antony is the sort of man who operates based upon his emotions and is able to garner support based upon this mode of operation.  Brutus, on the other hand, operates based upon logic and sacrifice for the good of the Republic, something that does not reach the common man in the same passionate way that Antony can.

Compare and contrast Caesar and Brutus in Julius Caesar.

"Julius Caesar" is currently undergoing a bit of a critical reappreciation and - as you'll see if you look at other JC Q&As on enotes - there's a lot of argument about the play. So first point is that it depends on how you read the play.

But - for my money - the two are actually very similar characters. Antony says Brutus was "Caesar's angel", and that Caesar loved Brutus dearly (in fact, in some of the sources of the play, Brutus is Caesar's son!). They have a close relationship, it seems, and it is Brutus' betrayal which horrifies Caesar most ("Et tu Brute?" famously expresses shock that even Brutus is part of the conspiracy).

Both men spend most of the play referring to themselves in the third person, a habit not really shared by other characters in the play, and one which underlines their arrogance. As Cassius says

Brutus, and Caesar: what should be in that Caesar?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?

Brutus is dragged into the conspiracy by an appeal to his arrogance and honour - and even he, idealistically, claims "not because I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". Caesar's arrogance leads him to think that he's invincible, and he goes to the Capitol, refusing to send an excuse.

Both men get key decisions wrong. Both men are idealistic and arrogant. Both men - in Shakespeare's play - end up dead.

Compare and contrast Caesar and Brutus in Julius Caesar.

During Julius Caesar’s funeral, Antony repeats, “Brutus is an honorable man.” Though Antony’s intents are ironic, Brutus is, in fact, an honorable fellow. He loves his wife and the Roman Republic, but his strong principles cause him to assassinate one of his closest friends for fear that he will take the throne: “I slew my best lover for the good of Rome.” His ideals are more powerful than friendship.

They also make him ignorant to the manipulations and ill-intentions of Cassius and other senators. Brutus deludes himself into thinking that murder can be done “nicely”: “Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers.” Thus, he is not clear-sighted when it comes to a political assassination. Against the advice of Cassius, he lets Antony live and even speak at Caesar’s funeral, resulting in war and the deaths of the conspirators. Brutus’s downfall and primary characteristic seems to be his sense of honor.

Caesar, on the other hand, is more concerned with strength. He is strong-willed and decisive but subject to overconfidence and hubris. Like Brutus, Caesar also underestimates his ability to be manipulated. Decius says that he can sway Caesar by appealing to his pride: “when I tell him [Caesar] he hates flatterers, / He says he does, being then most flattered.” This independence and desire for power bring about his downfall. The crown entices him, and he describes himself as being superior to other men:

… men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he…

This attitude elicits jealousy and fear in his fellow senators. It also draws him to the Capitol on the day of his assassination, in spite of multiple warnings. Caesar tells his wife, “Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once.” Decius praises and prods Caesar, saying, “If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper / 'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?” These compliments and subtle taunts succeed, and Caesar dies that day. Therefore, while Brutus’s weakness seems to be honor, Caesar’s is the need to prove his strength.

Compare Brutus and Cassius. How are they the same, and how are they different? Compare and contrast the two characters in Julius Caesar.

The most obvious similarity between Brutus and Cassius is the fact that they both want to be rid of Caesar, albeit for different reasons. Furthermore, both are respected senators and have garnered much honor for their bravery. It is obvious that each of the two men deserve their status. Both of them have a following and are much admired by those they lead. 

The main contrast between the two men lies in their different ambitions. Cassius' desires are clearly self-serving, while Brutus cares more about Rome than his aspirations. Caesar himself comments about Cassius having a "lean and hungry look" in Act l:

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

Compare Brutus and Cassius. How are they the same, and how are they different? Compare and contrast the two characters in Julius Caesar.

Compare Brutus and Cassius. How are they the same, and how are they different? Compare and contrast the two characters in Julius Caesar.

For an in-depth answer, this would be a very good question for the Enotes Q&A section. Briefly, they are alike in their desire to be free of the potential tyranny of Caesar. They differ in how they approach the problem of Caesar. Cassius is willing to resort to any tactics to get what he wants. Brutus always wants to do things in an honorable and noble manner.

What are Julius Caesar's strengths and weaknesses?

Julius Caesar, as Shakespeare presents him, is a powerful, charismatic leader, and brilliant military tactician, whose victories have inspired "the masses" with pride in Roman rule. He is able to compel loyalty, to a fanatic extent, in those under his command.

But, although Shakespeare is at pains to suggest ambiguity in this situation, we are led to believe that he may, in fact, aspire to become a dictator, a supreme ruler whose populist support does not reflect the ideals of the Roman republic. This is why Brutus and the other conspirators fear him and eventually assassinate him. Caesar's success in his military campaigns, which rely on his "top–down," absolute rule, leads him to believe that this system is also the best way to govern a country, or, in this case, an empire. He has not grasped the idea that "absolute power corrupts absolutely."

What are Julius Caesar's strengths and weaknesses?

Caesar's greatest strength, as Shakespeare emphasizes in the play, is his willpower. According to Plutarch in his "Life of Julius Caesar," Caesar had truly remarkable determination and willpower. When Caesar decided to do something, he did it, as illustrated by his conquest of Gaul, which took eight years. Caesar also had the ability to command the loyalty of his soldiers. They would do anything for him. They were the source of his strength and support as a Roman politician as well. Plutarch writes that Caesar was responsible for the deaths of two million people and sold many others into slavery. In one incident recorded in his own book The Gallic Wars, Caesar sold a whole city of 50,000 men, women, and children as slaves because they initially refused to surrender to him. 

Caesar's weaknesses included physical ailments. As Shakespeare shows in his play, Caesar suffered from epileptic seizures and had one of them while attending the Lupercal games. Caesar's ambition, or hubris, was probably his main weakness. Shakespeare portrays Caesar as a supreme egotist, and it was this ambition and egotism that led to his assassination. 

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Brutus as a character in Julius Caesar?

Shakespeare seems to have held the opinion that all men are mixtures of good and bad. He shows this clearly in Julius Caesar. Caesar is a great man, but he is an egomaniac. Antony is courageous and resourceful but two-faced. Cassius is brave, intelligent, and an inspiring talker, but he is greedy and stingy. Brutus, according to Mark Antony, had an exceptionally fine character. At the end of Act V, Scene 5, Antony says of his defeated enemy:

This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar.
He only in a general honest thought
And common good to all made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world "This was a man."

Yet Brutus had his weaknesses. He seems to be the kind of introverted, solitary man who is highly intelligent and learned but lacks common sense. He judges others by himself. Once he takes the leadership of the conspiracy, he makes terrible blunders. Mark Antony practically makes a fool of him in getting permission, against Cassius' advice, to speak in Caesar's funeral and then delivering a speech which is far more effective than Brutus' formal speech of self-justification. Cassius even wanted to assassinate Antony along with his great friend Caesar, but Brutus overruled him in Act II, Scene 1, saying:

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's be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.

It is ironic that when Brutus and Cassius are having their acrimonious argument in the tent in Act IV, Scene 2, Brutus says:

I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?

That was done exactly like Cassius. Cassius loves gold, and he has the worldly wisdom and aggressiveness necessary to acquire it, even though their armies are forced to withdraw to the countryside while Antony and Octavius have free access to all the resources of Rome. Brutus judges others by himself. He is noble, generous, and unselfish, and he expects others to be like himself. He was mistaken about Antony, and he is mistaken about Cassius, as he discovers when they have their falling out in his tent. Brutus has to ask Cassius for gold because he is too noble, too aristocratic, too genteel to get it the hard way (which is just about the only way to get it). As he tells Cassius:

For I can raise no money by vile means.
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection.

Brutus shows a further weakness in judgment when he decides to fight Antony and Octavius at Philippi against the strong advice of Cassius. Brutus is not cut out to be an assassin and a revolutionary. He is a meditative, scholarly, impractical type of man who is misled by the crafty, ambitious, and unscrupulous Cassius into becoming the leader of the bloody coup. Cassius might have been a better leader, but Brutus was loved and respected by the Roman people, whereas Cassius was not liked because he was not a likable person--and apparently he knew it.

In Julius Caesar, what are Brutus' views on Caesar and Cassius?

Brutus respects Caesar, but he worries that he has too much ambition.  He thinks of Cassius as a friend, but doesn’t really respect him.

Brutus’s relationship with Caesar is a complex one.  He has known Caesar for most of his life and considers him a father figure.  However, he had a falling out with Caesar over his actions with Pompey and how he came to power in the civil war.  He is concerned that by naming himself dictator he has taken too much power for himself.

Brutus describes these feelings for Caesar in the soliloquy before the other conspirators arrive.  He explains why Caesar needs to die.  He begins by explaining that he doesn’t have a specific reason for disliking Caesar.

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 crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder (Act 2, Scene 1)

Brutus tells the people in his speech after Caesar’s death that he loved Caesar, but had to kill him anyway.

If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his. 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. (Act 3, Scene 2)

Brutus feels that the people will understand that he did not kill Caesar just for power and not consider him a killer.  He wanted to be considered a tyrant slayer instead.  He really believed that he was doing the right thing in killing Caesar.

Although Brutus had respect for Caesar, he did not really respect Cassius.  He considered Cassius his friend, but never took his advice.  The only time he listened to Cassius was when Cassius convinced him to join the conspiracy.  After that, Brutus never took his advice.  Cassius suggested that Brutus kill Antony, and not allow Antony to speak, but Brutus did not listen.

Brutus told Cassius to think not of Antony when they are trying to decide who should die besides Caesar.

CASSIUS

Yet I fear him;
For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar--

BRUTUS

Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
If he love Caesar, all that he can do
Is to himself, take thought and die for Caesar … (Act 2, Scene 1)

This is essentially the same argument he makes when Antony asks to speak at Caesar’s funeral.  Cassius worries that he will influence the people, but Brutus does not listen.  Even after the two of them run their armies together, Brutus and Cassius argue constantly and Brutus doesn’t listen to Cassius.  Cassius doesn’t want to go to Philippi, and Brutus doesn’t listen.  It was a disaster fatal to both of them.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Brutus and Antony in Julius Caesar?

Mark Antony's strengths include being a strong orator.  He is able to convince the crowd to turn against the conspirators and create a civil war with his "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" speech.  He is a loyal friend to Julius Caesar and avenges Caesar's death.  After telling Cassius and Brutus that he would gladly join them if they could explain why Caesar had to be killed, once Antony is alone with Caesar's body, he asks for forgiveness with, "Oh pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth/That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!"  He does, however, prove to be more ambitious than Cassius believed Caesar to be.  Once the civil unrest began, Antony got together with Octavius and Lepidus to create a triumverate.  Once things got going his way, though, he planned on getting rid of Lepidus.  Antony was even ready to sacrifice "his sister's son"  for his political gains.

Brutus' strength is that he is a loyal Roman above all else: before friendship, before family, before self.  He joins the conspiracy because he is convinced by Cassius that Caesar is overly ambitious.  In his oration after the assassination, he shows that he did care for Caesar with his words: "Because Caesar loved me, I weep for him....but as he was ambitious, I slew him".  His major fault is that he is a bad judge of character. He believes that Antony is harmless, but soon learns differently.

What are Octavius's strengths and weaknesses in Julius Caesar?

In Act IV Octavius demonstrates judiciousness.  As Antony dismisses Lepidus as "a slight unmeritable man" not worth to share their power, Octabius defends Lepidus, questioning Antony:

You may do your will;/But he's [Lepidus] a tried and valiant soldier. (Iv,i,28-29)

Likewise, in his judgments that are superior to Antony's, Octavius argues against another limited assessment of Antony:  his concept of the battle.  In Act V, he tells Antony,

Now, Antony, our hopes are answered;/You said the enemy would not come down,/But keep the hills and upper regions./It proves not so; their battles are at hand;/They mean to warn us at Philippi here,/Answering before we do demand of them. (V,i,1-6)

Antony counters that the army of Brutus wants to make a show of braver to convince them.  But, Octavius is not a man of words, but of action.  He calls the bluff of Brutus and Cassius saying,

Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth./If you dare fight today, come to the field;/If not, when you have stomachs. (V,i,64-66)

Yet, Octavius is not without respect.  For, when Brutus dies, it is Octavius who summons the armies from the field, directing that the day's "glories" be shared:

According to his virtue, let us use him/With all respect and rites of burial./Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie,/Most like a soldier ordered honorably./So call the field to rest, and let's away/To part the glories of this happy day. (V,v,76-81).

While Octavius recognizes honor in other men, he is like his relative, Caesar and does love power.  He follows the example of his adopted father and emerges as an authoritative figure of Rome.

What are Octavius's strengths and weaknesses in Julius Caesar?

His strength is his shrewdness. He can make apt political decision. He is good in his ability to work with Antony. He is very decisive in his ability to step up to the plate, to meet with Brutus and Cassius. His confidence in defeating the enemies at Philippi and bringing about a new Roman empre is another strength. However, his weaknesses are his runination.

Octavius' weaknesses are: his rashness in executing a murderous reign of terror that resulted in slaughtering his enemies. However, he got rid of those who were not actual enemies. He killed wealthy Romans, saying that they were "traitors" so the triumvirs could pilfer their estates to get money for the army,which was a bad move and a weakness that would come back to haunt him in the future.

Describe the character of Julius Caesar.

When he returns to Rome from the war against Pompey, Julius Caesar enters the city to the adulation of many. When a soothsayer approaches and warns Caesar to "beware the ides of March" (1.2.21), the confident Caesar does not heed the warning, calling the man "a dreamer." Having dismissed this warning, Caesar delights in the glory, and when he is offered a crown of laurel, he seems tempted to put it on. It is this action, along with the death of Pompey, who was with him in the First Triumvirate, that causes Brutus to worry that Caesar might not continue to be honorable and just if he is given sole authority of Rome.

The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd
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. (2.1.18–25)

Although he has ignored the soothsayer who has approached him, when his troubled wife comes to him and reports her dream, Caesar listens and responds with a certain fatalism. Caesar tells her, "It seems to me most strange that men should fear, / Seeing that death, a necessary end, / Will come when it will come." (2.2.33–35) Further, he compares himself to a lion, saying that he and Danger are two lions from the same litter, and he is the stronger. In response, Calpurnia accuses him of being overly confident. She begs him to stay home and "Call it my fear / That keeps you in the house and not your own." (2.2.53–54) She urges him to send Mark Antony to say that Caesar is not well. To humor his wife, Caesar agrees to do so. However, when Decius arrives to escort Caesar to the Senate House and Caesar tells him why he is not going, Decius reinterprets Calpurnia's dream and then informs Caesar that the Senate plans to

give this day a crown to mighty Caesar....
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
"Lo, Caesar is afraid?" (2.2.98–105)

Caesar reconsiders his decision after hearing Decius's interpretation of the dream and the news that he is to be offered a crown. He then tells Calpurnia that her fears now seem foolish, adding that he is ashamed to have yielded to them. He departs with Decius.

When Caesar arrives at the Senate, Artemidorus approaches with a letter, urging him to read it because it warns him of Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators, but Caesar dismisses him because he has already been indecisive and he wishes to display confidence now. Unfortunately, this is a fatal mistake.

Shakespeare's portrayal of Julius Caesar is that of a complex character who is sometimes reasonable but at times arrogant. At other times he is superstitious, or compassionate, or unapproachable. A complex character, Caesar is a man whom nobles such as Brutus and Cassius have reason to fear—but he is not villainous.

Describe the character of Julius Caesar.

Julius Caesar is described as ambitious by his enemies. Whatever may be said of him, he wants to be well thought of by everyone.  He is vain and perhaps self-centered.  It. is not necessarily clear that he is indeed, ambitious. He does work hard, as he refuses to stay home from the Senate because of Calphurnia's dream (athough it is because a "friend" has interpreted the dream in a way to appeal to his vanity, making the horrible dream into one that honors him throughout all of Rome).  He refuses the crown not once, but three times.

He also suffers from the "falling down" sickness or epilepsy, which could concern Caesar as appearing weak in the eyes of his fellow Romans.  He seems to be always alert as to outward appearances.

Caesar is also seen as a superstitious man who views Cassius as one with a "lean and hungry look".  He doesn't trust very many, and the ones he does trust--Brutus--betrays him.

He could also be seen as hard and unfeeling since he treats Calphurnia with such disregard when he openly requests that Mark Antony touch her during the Feast of Lupercal to heal her barrenness.  It is not unusual that he wants a son, but it is insensitive to request it in this manner for his wife.

Describe the character of Julius Caesar.

I guess Caesar is a perfect example of two phrases: "pride comes before a fall" and "absolute power corrupts absolutely". From the play we know that Caesar is a brilliant military leader - he is charasmatic, has strong leadership qualities and a personal courage and bravery. However, it is clear that he has been seduced somewhat by the power that he has worked hard to gain. He wants complete control and desires to be a despot, which is what the group of conspirators fears and, amongst other factors, leads them to plot his downfall and assassination. Really, Caesar is one historical and literary figure that displays the danger of too much power without any checks or balances. Never a good idea.

Describe the character of Julius Caesar.

Caesar is a controversial figure in history, as well as literature.  He is view by some to be superstitious and weak, by others as ambitious and arrogant, and by still others as a powerful leader who wanted what was best for Rome.  The most commonly favored view is that Julius Caesar was extremely ambitious, a conclusion which was mostly corroborated by his behavior because he so strongly vied for absolute power over Rome. Caesar thoroughly enjoyed the honor and respect he received from those who revered him.  He felt that he would live forever, a figure of immortality, in the minds of his people, and if you take time to consider this, it is actually true, because we still study and discuss him even today.   In a final comment, in my opinion, Caesar was ultimately destroyed by his ambition. 

In Julius Caesar, what are Cassius' strengths and weaknesses?

Most round characters have several strengths and weaknesses. In Julius Caesar, Cassius is recognized as intelligent and convincing. On the other hand, his weaknesses include jealousy, a lack of scruples, and cowardice.

In act I, scene ii, Cassius strives to add Brutus to the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar, and he uses flattery to persuade the protagonist:

And it is very much lamented, Brutus,(60)
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye
That you might see your shadow.

Throughout acts I and II he continues to employ such flattery, and later uses Brutus's love for Rome as the final push. He plants forged letters supposedly written by Roman citizens that ask Brutus to act against Caesar in order to save the republic. Ultimately, he convinces Brutus, who loves and respects Caesar, to become part of the murderous plot. Not only does he persuade Caesar's "loyal" friend, Cassius is also able to convince a large group of senators as well.

Cassius is also recognized as extremely intelligent. Even Caesar who dislikes him acknowledges that "yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look" (200). He is aware that Cassius "thinks too much" and that "such men are dangerous" (201). Caesar would rather surround himself with happy, fat men that sleep at night because this means that they are not scheming plans.

However, Cassius also has some negative traits. For example, he is obviously very jealous of Caesar. In act I, scene ii, he delivers two anecdotes in trying to discredit Caesar and stating that he dictator is weak. According to Cassius, he had to rescue Caesar once, so he does not understand why he has such power. He states, "It doth amaze me a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world" (135-136).

Cassius also shows a lack of scruples. In act IV, scene iii, we learn that Cassius is taking bribes and is asking Brutus to allow his friend to take to do the same. Brutus is upset that Cassius honors corruption and begins to question whether or not Cassius had good intentions in organizing Caesar's assassination:

What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes...? (22-25)

Finally, in act V, scene iii, Cassius shows the reader that he is ultimately a coward. Instead of being captured and facing his punishment for killing Caesar, he chooses to take his own life. Even in suicide he is a coward because he orders his slave Pindarus to commit the act and asks him to wait until his master's face is covered and to use the sword "that ran through Caesar's bowels" (44). He could not face his punishment, could not face death with open eyes, and could not stab his own chest, demonstrating his excessive cowardice.

Compare and contrast the characters of Brutus and Cassius in Julius Caesar.

Enotes has many excellent sources for your question, so also look there, but I will give you a brief answer! Brutus is one of the main conspirators, yet he assists in the assassination of Caesar out of a sense of honor and for the good of Rome, truly believing Rome is better off without Julius Caesar. On the other hand, Cassius, also a main conspirator, is ambitious, and even Brutus accuses him of having an "itching palm," being greedy. He is shrewder than Brutus. Brutus believes in the goodness of people and trusts Mark Antony even after Cassius warns him of Antony's character. Both men end up committing suicide. Brutus's misplaced trust is a main cause for the failure of the conspiracy!

Compare and contrast the characters of Brutus and Cassius in Julius Caesar.

Shakespeare always had to keep his audience in mind. They would be seeing a number of different men dressed in costumes supposed to look like those actually worn by ancient Romans. The audience would not, of course, recognize one as Brutus, one as Cassius, one as Caesar, etc. An important logistical problem for the playwright was simply distinguishing the various actors by names, characters, motives, sympathies, and alliances--just in order to establlish their identities. It should be noted that these characters are always calling each other by name, although this is not natural in ordinary conversation. For example, when Brutus and Cassius hold their initial conversation in Act 1, Scene 2, there is an obvious effort to enable the audience to tell them apart.

BRUTUS

I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.

CASSIUS

Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS

Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved--
Among which number, Cassius, be you one--
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

CASSIUS

Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS

No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.

This sort of name-calling, or "tagging," continues throughout the play. Not only does Brutus call Cassius Cassius, but he even refers to himself as Brutus. They also refer to others by name, including Caesar, Antony, and Casca. The audience gradually remembers that Cassius is not Caesar because Cassius is referring to some other actor as Caesar, and Caesar is not Antony, and so on. There are only two women in the play, Calpurnia and Portia, and they seem to have been included mainly for some contrast to all the men in their robes and togas. The only male character who may be distinguished by his costume is probably Caesar, because his robe will be important later on.

Shakespeare portrays Brutus as noble and public-spirited in contrast to Cassius, who is selfish and cunning. Both men are members of the old aristocracy and quite correctly fear that Caesar intends to become sole ruler of Rome. Brutus is a deep thinker and guarded in his speech. Cassius is emotional and garrulous. Brutus is an introvert; Cassius is an extravert. Brutus is a philosopher; Cassius is a schemer and manipulator who cares about money and not about truth or ideals. The best comparison between the two men is given by Cassius after his conversation with Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2. (Note how many times he mentions names, including his own.)

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?
Caesar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me.

In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, explain Brutus's character as compared to Cassius.

In William Shakespeare’s drama Julius Caesar, the protagonist is Marcus Brutus.  His decisions are based on his personal philsophy of stoicism. Stoics try not to be influenced by their emotions. 

Stoics believe that a person must make his own decisions based on logic and reasoning.  

How does this impact Brutus’s choice to be a part of the conspiracy? 

Brutus tells the audience that he loves Caesar.  This does not stop him from making the choice to kill him.  Brutus struggles with the decision to join the conspiracy; however, in the end, he believes that Caesar must be deposed for the good of Rome and its citizens.

Is Brutus true to himself when he joined the conspiracy?

As a person who makes his decisions based on logic and not emotions, Brutus follows the stoic philosophy.  Another aspect of stoicism comes from idea that the person who makes his choices then keeps them to himself.  Brutus was unwilling to share his decision with his wife Portia. She forces him to share his decision by cutting her leg.

When Portia kills herself, Brutus barely shows any outward emotion.  He does express anger toward Cassius and blames his anger on Portia’s death.  Even when Messala tells him about Portia,  Brutus shows little emotion---he is a stoic.

Was Brutus tricked by Cassius into joining the conspiracy?

A stoic makes his own decisions.  Brutus tells the audience that he has struggled over the choice to become an assassin.  Before Cassius says anything about his own feelings, Brutus was already “at war with himself.”  He listens to Cassius, but chooses his own path.

BRUTUS:

It must be by his death, and, for my part,

 I know no personal cause to spurn at him,

But for the general…

Cassius is obviously not a stoic.  Throughout the play, Cassius shows his emotions at every turn.  During the storm, he bares his chest and tells the gods to let the lightning strike him if he is not making the right decision.  Of course, nothing happens.

What is the difference in the reasons for joining the conspiracy between Cassius and Brutus?

Cassius despises Caesar.  He has seen Caesar at his most vulnerable and found him lacking.  Cassius saves the life of Caesar, sees him beg for water, and witnesses his epileptic seizure.  From these weaknesses, Cassius finds himself to be just as worthy of the crown as  is Caesar. His reasons are emotionally tied to getting rid of Caesar,

Brutus chooses to become a conspirator for the good of Rome.  He does not know how Caesar will use his power.   During the Act 1, Scene ii, Brutus tells the audience that he loves Caesar and has never seen him misuse his power.  Brutus makes his judgment to based on possibilities.  Caesar might…and not Caesar did…

Brutus or Cassius---Who was more noble?

Antony answers this question in Act V, Scene v. He tells the audience and Octavius that it was Brutus who killed Caesar for good of Rome.  All of the rest of them were a part of the conspiracy for personal reasons. 

ANTONY:

This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators, save only he,

Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
And say to all the world, “This was a man!”

This was a great compliment from Antony.  He listens to Brutus’s funeral oration and understands that Brutus believes that killing Caesar is the best thing for Rome.

What are the differences between Brutus and Cassius in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

I think it is interesting to look at the differences between Brutus and Cassius from Caesar's perspective. According to Caesar, Cassius has a lean, hungry look:

Cassius over there has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.

Caesar is very perceptive. He realizes Cassius is dangerous.

No doubt, Cassius is very critical of Caesar when he and Brutus are talking. Cassius is greedy himself. He uses deceit and false petitions to convince Brutus to join the conspirators.

Brutus is an honorable man. He loves Caesar, but he loves Rome more:

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome
more. Would you rather Caesar were living, and you all die slaves, than that Caesar were dead, so you all live freemen? As Caesar loved me, weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I killed him.
There are tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who is here so low that they would rather be a slave? If there are any, speak, because I have offended him.

Brutus had good intentions when he slew Caesar. He admits that loved Caesar and that Caesar loved him. More than anything else, Caesar's dying words prove that Brutus is an honorable man. When Caesar realizes that Brutus is in on the conspiracy, he cries out "Et tu Brute? Then fall Caesar."

Caesar is in agreement with Brutus that if Brutus sees the need to kill Caesar, then Caesar must need to die. That is the confidence that Caesar had in Brutus.

As Brutus falls upon his own sword in death, Antony proclaims that Brutus was an honorable man:

This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators, except him,
Did that they did out of jealousy of great Caesar;
Only he, in a general-honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, "This was a man!"

What are the differences between Brutus and Cassius in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Brutus is an introvert; Cassius is an extravert. Brutus is often shown alone. Cassius is always with someone in the play.

Brutus is an idealist; Cassius is a realist.

Brutus is unselfish; Cassius is a greedy miser.

Brutus is self-sufficient; Cassius is competitive.

Brutus is honest; Cassius is typically dishonest.

Brutus is bookish; Cassius is worldly wise.

Brutus is likeable; Cassius is not liked by most people, including Caesar.

It should be remembered that Shakespeare's characters are not the real Brutus and Cassius of history. I think Shakespeare got most of his information from Plutarch, in translation. Shakespeare wanted to give his characters striking distinguishing character traits in order to differentiate them for his audience. It is hard to understand why Shakespeare's Brutus and Cassius should be such good friends, since they are so different. Maybe Cassius is trying to disguise his true nature most of the time. He has different reasons than Brutus for wanting to assassinate Caesar. He wants power and wealth. He is also afraid of Caesar, who might actually have Cassius killed or exiled if he became absolute ruler.

How would you evaluate the character of Brutus? Is he strong, weak, or something in between?

Brutus is a great character.  He is a loyal friend, a trusted confidant, and a noble character whom all respect.  Otherwise, the conspirators would never have bothered with recruiting him and manipulating him with falsified letters to make him feel the need of his leadership.  If Brutus has a fault, it is his sincere love of country or his gullible nature.  He does not immediately take up the conspirators' cause, but he does, after much agonizing, agree that Caesar must die if he is so ambitious as to accept the crown and become emperor for an indefinite period of time.  Before this time, Roman law stated that one man may take the role of emperor in times of great strife, but only for the period of six months at which time he would be expected to step down.  Brutus was led to believe that Julius Caesar would not agree to step down, and all that is Rome would be lost. 

Brutus is a strong, noble, and honorable character.  He is not the best example of friendship, but he is the best example of loyalty to one's country in the play. 

Compare and contrast the characters of Brutus, Cassius, Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.

First of all, Julius Caesar is seen as perhaps the weakest of these four characters. He suffers seizures; in the swimming match with Cassius, he cries,"Help me, Cassius or I sink" (Act I, Scene 2), and he wavers between superstition and ego when his wife tries to persuade him not to go to the Senate. However, he is a cunning man, much like Antony and Cassius. He refuses the crown to appear unambitious. Cassius is extremely ambitious and is a main instigator in the Conspiracy. We also find out he is somewhat greedy. Antony is clever and wants power, yet he also wants the good of Rome. He is a brilliant orator and is liked by the people.

Of all the characters, Brutus is motivated by good. He does not act out of ambition or greed, but for what he believes is truly the good of Rome! Brutus is also liked by the Romans though Antony changes that. Cassius and Brutus both commit suicide; Caesar is assassinated; Antony lives to join the Second Triumvirate! (A quick answer to a very big question as you could come up with lots more. Look further in the enotes links!)

What is a character analysis of Brutus in Julius Caesar?

Brutus, known as the "noblest Roman of them all," is a popular politician and close friend of Julius Caesar. Throughout the play, Brutus is a conflicted, complex man who makes the difficult decision to join the conspirators in Julius Caesar's assassination. Unlike the other senators, who assassinate Caesar for personal gain, Brutus chooses to follow Cassius out his concern for the Roman citizens. While Brutus has no evidence that Caesar has misused his power, he deliberates with himself over Caesar's ambitious nature. In Brutus's soliloquy in Act One, Scene 2, he likens Caesar to a "serpent’s egg," which will grow into a malevolent creature. He decides to join the conspirators out of fear that Julius Caesar will turn into a ruthless tyrant. Despite Brutus's good intentions and positive reputation, he is also naive, impressionable, and hypocritical. He is heavily influenced by Cassius and believes that the Roman citizens will sympathize with the conspirators after Caesar's assassination. Brutus also makes the costly decision to allow Mark Antony to live and give a speech during Caesar's funeral, which incites a riot in Antony's favor. While Brutus has good intentions, he is manipulated by Cassius and the other senators into committing an egregious act against the state. Brutus's guilt is also evident in his hallucination when he speaks to Caesar's ghost. Brutus's complex nature and controversial decisions make him an unforgettable tragic hero throughout the play.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Lepidus and Cassius in Julius Caesar?

In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, it is ironic that in Act I Cassius tells Brutus

Men at some time are masters of their fates:

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

But in ourselves, that we are underlings. (1.2.145-147)

For, Cassius is at times master of his fate, and at others is himself superstitious and weak. 

In Act I, Scene 2, from which these lines come Cassius persuasively convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.  In Act III after the men have slain Caesar, it is Cassius who recognizes the threat that Marc Antony poses; he advises Brutus to have Antony killed.  But, Brutus tells him that they will make a friend of Antony.  Wisely, Cassius replies that his doubts always turn out to be justified,

I wish we may.  But yet have I a mind

That fears him much; and my misgiving still

Falls shrewdly to the purpose. (3.1.158-160)

Then, when Brutus gives Antony permission to address the Romans after he does, Cassius warns him against doing so:  "You know not what you do" (3.1.250),  His suspicions of Antony are correct, but he defers to Brutus.  Still, he expresses his anxiety, 

I know not what may fall; I like it not he defers to Brutus. (3.1.262)

Of course, Marc Antony turns against them and becomes their mortal enemy, fomenting a civil war, and defeating them at Philippi.  Even there, Cassius's assessments are correct, for he suggests that his and Brutus's troops to remain at Sardis and force the others to advance so that they will be fatugued and use valuable resources, but Brutus disagrees.  As it turns out, Cassius again is correct, although he has acquiesced to Brutus.

But, just before this final battle, Brutus and Cassius quarrel bitterly.  Cassius accuses Brutus of wronging him repeatedly, and complains weakly that Brutus no longer loves him:

Hath Cassius lived

To be but mirth and laghter to his Brutus

When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him? (4.3.124-126)

just as he has been worried in the first act: 

Brutus, I do observe you now of late;

I have not from your eyes that gentleness

And show of love as I was wont to have (1.2.36-38)

Finally, Cassius becomes weakly superstitious.  In Act 5 he talks to Messala, telling him that even though he "held Epicurus strong" and has not believed in omens, now he has seen

Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,

Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands,

Who to Philippi here consorted us.

This morning are they fled away and gone,

And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites

Fly o'er our heads and downward....

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost. (5.1.87-93)

In the end, Cassius still has wisdom, but he is fearful and superstitious, and defers to Brutus. 

________________

One of the triumvirs after the death of Caesar, Lepidus is considered unworthy to be one of the three rulers of the Roman empire by Marc Antony, while, on the other hand, Octavius is willing to honor him as "a tried and valiant soldier" (4.1.32).   At the beginning of Act IV, the triumvirate compile a death list of their political enemies.   Lepidus is sent to get Caesar's will so they can reduce some of the legacies in it; when he returns, with a lack of honor, Lepidus  consents to allow his brother to die provided Antony will sacrifice his nephew.  So, while he may be an excellent soldier, Lepidus lacks loyalty to his family.

How can I compare and contrast the two characters Brutus and Cassius in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare?

Cassius and Brutus are the main two people who head up the plot to assassinate Caesar. Interestingly, although Cassius throughout the play shows that he is a more accurate and canny judge of character, he constantly refers to the leadership of Brutus, even against his better judgement.

Cassius makes it clear that his motivation for wanting to topple Caesar from power is both political ideology and his own personal envy of Caesar. In the scene where Cassius persuades Brutus he makes this abundantly clear by expressing his resentment that Caesar is now akin to a "god". He also shows that he will let nothing get in his way when he states in his soliloquy that he will send Brutus forged letters to further persuade him to join his cause.

Cassius has a deep love and friendship with Brutus, and it is this perhaps that causes him to defer to the judgement of Brutus, in spite of his own superior abilities to judge situations. We see this when Cassius wants Mark Antony killed too, and then also when Cassius expresses his concerns about allowing Mark Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral.

Finally, at the battle of Philippi, his poor sight leads to the mistaken report that his friend Titinius is dead. Cassius therefore kills himself. Critics have viewed this as deeply symbolic - Cassius is has poor sight, both biologically, and in the context of the play as he doesn't truly understand the conspiracy, its consequences and his role in it.

Looking at Brutus in comparison, you will want to examine his motivation for joining the conspiracy (very different from the motivation of Cassius), his devotion to Roman republicanism, and his role as a tragic hero. Brutus attempts to moderate the conspiracy, by saying "Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers" and states his reason for killing Caesar as being "Not that I lov'd Caesar less, but that I lov'd Rome more", and states that Caesar was killed because of his ambition. Some have suggested that Brutus too, like Cassius, is blind, but in his inability to separate his political idealism from his own personal motivation. Lastly, Brutus attacks prematurely, showing his poor military skills, but rather than face the dishonour of being taken to Rome, kills himself.

What are the character analyses of Brutus, Antony, and Julius Caesar from Julius Caesar?

Click on the enotes link below, and navigate to the section on Character Analysis on the right.  The site has comprehensive information on each of the characters you named.

In a nutshell, Brutus is considered by most to be a noble man.  He has high ideals for the republic, and is tormented because in his mind, he believes that Caesar must be killed for the good of the nation.

Antony is a professional soldier, a gifted and influential speaker, and a bit of a playboy.  Some believe he is cruel and motivated by selfish desires, but he is also perceptive, and offers at the end of the play a sensitive analysis of the character of Brutus.

Although his character is central to the play, Julius Caesar remains a surprisingly ambiguous entity, because most of the impressions the reader gets obout his nature are from the opinions of other people, many of whom are his enemies. He is a strong leader, however, who has led his armies to victory, and he seems to be revered by the common people, although not by the tribunal.

Octavius Caesar, the successor of Julius Caesar, is fair-minded and judicious.  He appears to be a man who has a clarity of vision and the strength to be a good leader. 

The leader of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, Cassius is a good judge of other men's characters, but frequently finds himself in a position where he must go against what he believes and adhere to the wishes of others.

How would you compare and contrast Antony and Brutus?

Although both Antony and Brutus are friends to Caesar, it is Brutus who is easily swayed. Brutus says he loves Caesar, but he loves Rome more. He is easily convinced that Caesar would cause harm to Rome, but what he doesn't see is that Cassius's motives are not for the good of Rome. Cassius dislikes Caesar as a man. He is jealous of Caesar's power and is able to quickly convince Brutus that Caesar would be a dangerous ruler for Rome. Antony, in contrast, cannot be swayed from his support of Caesar. He sees the good that Caesar has done for Rome and cannot be convinced otherwise. Brutus lacks the power of persuasion that is a gift to Antony. Even after Caesar's death, it is Antony who convinces an angry mob against Caesar that Caesar was truly good to the people and provided for them upon his death. It was the power of Antony's words that turned the people against Brutus and the other conspirators, which eventually led to war. Although both Antony and Brutus cared for Caesar, it was Antony who had true genuine love for Caesar. It was also Antony who used his gift of speech to turn the people into an angry mob against all the conspirators. Antony planned his moves very carefully; Brutus made decisions based upon the words of others, not on what he actually saw and experienced.

Compare and contrast the personalities of Brutus and Cassius in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, conspirators abound. Caeasar has enemies everywhere; yet, he has been offered the crown by Marc Antony. Too much power, too much arrogance---Marcus Brutus fears that Caesar will become a true dictator, ruling with an iron fist.

The conspiracy is led by Cassius.  Like Brutus, he is a Roman senator; however, Cassius is not as well liked and trusted as is Brutus.  Brutus and Cassius have a familial connection because Brutus married Portia who is Cassius's sister.

Cassius wants Caesar dead for more personal reasons than does Brutus.  Once Cassius had to save Caesar from drowning, so he believes that Caesar is weak.

Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!”
I, as Aeneas our great ancestor
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber(120)
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god

Cassius is a much harder, more cynical man than Brutus. The qualities that Cassius exhibits stand him in good stead to carry out the assassination. He is clever, more experienced, older, and able to see into the hearts of the men around him.  When observing Antony, Cassius sees that he is dangerous; Antony should be put to death as well.  Caesar rankles Cassius because he believes that Caesar is no better than anyone else. Cassius thought himself to be a great soldier just as Caesar was.

One surprisingly quality that Cassius demonstrates throughout the play comes from a subservient feeling toward Brutus. Time and again, Cassius suggests something that probably should have been done, and Brutus vetoes the idea and interjects his own.  Unfortunately for all,  Brutus never makes good decisions. The conspirators suffer from  Cassius not standing up to Brutus and overruling him.

Brutus is a softer, more sensitive man.  He does think about personal gain or jealousies.  Brutus works for Rome.  His decisions are based almost entirely on what would be the best for Rome.  That is why he joins the conspirancy in the first place.  Not to murder Caesar,  but to save Rome from a dictatorship.

Brutus does not see in to men's hearts.  He trusts people.  Cassius knew that Antony was dangerous.  Brutus will not agree:

And for Mark Antony, think not of him,
For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
When Caesar's head is off.

How wrong can a man be!  Of course, Antony is more dangerous than either man understood.  Brutus repeatedly overrides Cassius's decisions which leads to the downfall of the assassins.

Brutus=sensitive, trusting, wise, popular, lover of Rome

Cassius= cyncial, clever, admiring of Brutus, jealous, greedy

This is what makes these men unlikely partners in the greatest assassination plot in literary history.

Compare Brutus and Cassius from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Two of the major characters---Cassius and Brutus--- in Julius Caesar by Shakespeare served as the leaders of the conspiracy to kill Caesar. These two powerful men became comrades in the struggle to survive after they led the assassination to its fruition.  Their diversity spanned the reasons for the assassination to their quarrel over money and power when they meet to combine their armies to fight the triumvirate’s forces.

Cassius was the instigator of the plot.  Serving as an experienced general, Cassius fought with Caesar in the battle against Pompey’s sons.  In addition, he was a powerful senator.  On a personal level, Cassius let his emotions rule his logic in several situations.  Cassius believes that he can manipulate any situation. 

Resentful and jealous of Caesar---Cassius determined to rid Rome and the world of Caesar.  He felt that Caesar’s weakness, sickness, and lust for power necessitate the assassination.  Caesar has been behaving like a god:

Why man he doth bestride the narrow world

Like a Colossus, and we petty men

Walk under his huge legs and peep about…

Cassius knew that Brutus was needed in the conspiracy because of his popularity with the people and the other senators.  Believing that he can manipulate Brutus, Cassius explains his hatred of Caesar and flatters Brutus.  He uses the tactic of falsifying letters to make Brutus believe that the people of Rome want him to do something about Caesar’s lust for power. 

On the other hand, Brutus followed the philosophy of stoicism.  He believed that logic and reasoning must rule over emotions. After Cassius presented his case for the assassination of Caesar, Brutus spent the next month arguing within himself about whether to join the conspiracy.  As a personal friend of Caesar, Brutus had to decide if Caesar was a threat to Rome and its citizens.  More than anything, Brutus served the people of Rome and loved the Republic.

Finally, Brutus made the decision to become a part of the assassination.  His reasons were not personal as were Cassius', but rather for the good of Rome. He then began to assert his authority overruling Cassius in several decisions.  Surprisingly, Cassius did not resent Brutus for usurping his authority.

Brutus established several rules that lead to the downfall of the assassins.

• Believes that  Marc Antony shoudl live
• Allows Antony speak at the funeral
• Trusts Antony to follow the rules
• Leaves after the Capital after he finishes his own speech

Even when Brutus learns of his beloved wife Portia’s death, he shows little emotion to indicate his devastation.

Contrast Cassius and Brutus

Cassius and Brutus are two different type men. Cassius is very critical of Caesar. He ridicules him. He makes light of his epilepsy. Cassius seems more concerned about his own welfare. He is worried about his future. He sees Caesar as a man who can keep him from having any say so whatsoever. Even Caesar is concerned with Cassius' hungry look. In Act One, Scene Two, Caesar confides in Antony, stating that Cassius has a lean, hungry look about him:

Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;(200)
He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.

Caesar is so right. He can read Cassius. Caesar realizes that Cassius is dangerous, claiming that he thinks too much. Indeed, Cassius is the conspirator who persuades Brutus to join the conspiracy. Cassius uses deceit and false petitions to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy. Cassius is not a just and honorable man as Brutus is.

Truly, Brutus is an honorable man. Everything he does is for the good of Rome. He acts out of concern for Rome and its citizens. Brutus is concerned that Caesar has become overly ambitious. For this reason, Brutus joins the conspiracy against Caesar. In Act Three, Scene Two, Brutus admits that he loves Caesar but that he loves Rome more:

If there is anyone in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to
him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his love. If
then that friend demands why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is
my answer,—Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome
more.

Brutus is an honorable man. He risked his life for the good of Rome. He fell upon his own sword in death, dying an honorable man. Even Antony declares that Brutus is the most honorable of all the conspirators:

This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators, except him,
Did that they did out of jealousy of great Caesar;
Only he, in a general-honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, "This was a man!"

No doubt, there is a major difference between Cassius and Brutus. Cassius was selfish. He was concerned about his own well being. Brutus was concerned for the citizens of Rome, even though they turned against him in the end.

In Julius Caesar, how can the characters of Brutus and Cassius be compared and contrasted?

It sounds as if you have started your own research into the similarities and differences between these characters. Have considered these?

Similarities:

• Brutus and Cassius both have taken note of Caesar's growing power and don't like what they see.
• Both command armies after Caesar's assassination.
• Both are capable of deception, political intrigue, and murder.
• Both choose suicide over capture.

Differences:

• Brutus acts out of a sense of responsibility for Rome; Cassius seeks power and position for himself.
• Brutus is trusting; Cassius is manipulative.
• Brutus is naive; Cassius is cynical.
• Brutus is an idealist; Cassius is a pragmatist.
• Brutus does not abuse power; Cassius does.

There are some other differences that are developed in the relationships these two have with others. Brutus, for example, has a wife whom he loves and tries to shield. Portia's death is devastating for him. Cassius, however, seems to love no one. His sole focus remains upon himself, the wrongs he has endured at Caesar's hands and the prominence he feels he is due.