Would a real man conspire against a friend or would a good citizen kill a leader before expressing concern to him? The conspirators that put Caesar to death were not only slayers of the democratic system and awful friends that did not try to verbally talk problems out with him, but people that were no more human than Caesar himself. The conspirators also did not consider all of the numerous excellent things that Caesar did for the benefit of Rome, nor his sympathetic spirit. If I had been approached in 44 B.C. to kill Caesar, I would have taken a totally different approach to stopping the madness caused by his rule. Being that I am an excellent citizen and faithful friend, Caesar's life would have been spared.
Firstly, it is obvious to see that the conspirators were cold-blooded slaughters; they acted without thinking of all of the excellent things that Caesar did for the positive health of Rome.
The Death of Caesar
Augustus of Prima Porta, statue of the emperor Aug...
Italiano: La Morte di Cesare di Vincenzo Camuccini...One thing that the noble Caesar did to help Rome was the bringing home of several captives to the Roman Treasury. This helped the economy of the Roman Empire. Caesar wanted to help Rome become a better place to live. Antony, the man that spent the most time with him, stated that Caesar wept for the poor, Antony also stated that Caesar left all of his parks to the Romans. During the speech that Antony made after the death of Caesar, Antony read the will of the beloved man. "To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas." (3.2.257-258) This act of kindness shows that Caesar was looking out for the best of Rome, by helping the people economically. A man containing this kind of compassion should have been rewarded, rather than exterminated by the disgraceful conspirators.
Another tremendous instance that demonstrated that Caesar should have been spared was his vast heart and his ability to set aside his pride and covet for power, and consider the hearts of others. Caesar often would forgive his enemies after a battle, rather than eradicate them. Caesar was known for not just letting people live, but giving them government jobs. During the feast of Lupercal, Caesar showed that he was looking out for the best interests of Rome. "Why there was a crown offered him; and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus." (1.2.234-235) Caesar was able to put aside his desire for power, and deny the crown that Rome offered to him; this shows that he was not after control. If Marcus Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Trebonius, Ligarius, Decius Brutus, Metellus Cimber, and Cinna had considered all of the positive things that Caesar did for Rome, then they would have realized that Caesar deserved the same forgiving heart that he had shown an immeasurable number of people.
The greatest reason that Caesar needed to be spared is that with every stab to Caesar's body was a knife in democracy's soul. While Brutus contemplated if he wanted to kill Caesar, he thought out loud. "It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn him, but for the general." (2.1.10-12) Brutus believed that he could decide what was best for Rome with his own personal judgment. A democracy is a strong form of government that is based on group decisions and the people's vote. The plotters had no respect for society's view on whether or not Caesar lived. Rather than holding a vote, or inquiring questions about what society wanted, the group felt they could decide for the people.
Finally, the last reason that the schemers did the wrong thing by assassinating Caeser is that they made no effort to inform him that he was becoming to powerful and dominating. While telling the conspirators what to do, Brutus made sure to tell them to "to mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; hide it in smiles and affability!" (2.1. 86-88) The group chose to keep their views silent from Caesar, not giving him the chance to change. They did not tell him that he should deny the crown, and become the dictator of Rome. If Brutus was really looking out for the high-quality of the Roman Empire, he would have been looking out for every citizen in it; unfortunately, Brutus did not look out for the best interest of his excellent comrade Caesar. If I were Brutus, the man that claimed to be a good friend of Caesar, I would have confronted him in a more gentle and peaceful way. I would have advised him to give more power to the people. I would also have enlightened by the fact that Rome is proud of their democracy; and tell him it would be wise for him to reevaluate his motives and goals.
All in all, the sums of all of the reasons that Caesar should have been not exterminated were not observed by the horrific males that took the life of a high-quality man. The conspirators took no regards to the great things that Caesar did for Rome, his forgiving heart, respect for the democracy of, or to mediate the issues. If I were Marcus Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Trebonius, Ligarius, Decius Brutus, Metellus Cimber, or Cinna, the great Caesar would have been spared