Brutus is one of the most significant characters in William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar. He plays a key role throughout the play, being one of Caesar's closest friends but paradoxically also a leading conspirator. We can trace the evolution of how Brutus' character is affected by Caesar's ego, by the conspiracy and finally by the chaos that Rome plunges into after Caesar's assassination.

Julius Caesar is a historical play beginning with Caesar's return to Rome after his recent military triumphs. Various people are, however, beginning to turn against him, and a conspiracy develops in which even Brutus, an old friend of Caesar's, is persuaded to become involved. The conspirators murder Caesar by stabbing him in the Senate house on the Ides of March. Mark Antony, who is not part of this conspiracy because of his extremely close friendship with Caesar, swears vengeance for his murder.

We first meet...