Group+01


 * Minimum Project Requirements: **
 * 5 **//__IN__//** __DEPTH __ discussions with opposing counsel via class network. These discussions must present not only relevant and specific facts from the play, but also from your historical research.
 * Preliminary Draft of Closing Statement entered in your class network. Draft must contain **//__at least 5 detailed paragraphs__//**: 1) Introductory paragraph outlining the overall theme of your case - thesis statement; 2) //at least// 3 paragraphs which include **//__detailed__//** supporting evidence for your case - 1 piece of evidence with explanation per paragraph; and 3) a closing paragraph which ties all the evidence together and solidifies your case.
 * Peer editing of opposing counsel's statement following guidelines to be provided; plus an additional peer revision of your choice.
 * Works Cited page containing **//__at__//** **//__least three __//****//__(3) sources __//**: 2 book sources for each electronic source.
 * Final Draft of Closing Statement, typed, double-spaced at a 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Please no decorative fonts – use something easy to read.
 * Oral recitation of your Closing Statement before the court. Be sure to use your voice as a persuasive tool to effectively deliver your statement. Suggestions for oral interpretation to be provided.


 * Remember that the above represent the minimum requirements for this project, the completion of which will earn you a minimum average grade of 70%. You can improve this grade by going above and beyond these minimum expectations. **

One way to increase your points will be to complete more than five discussion posts with your opposing counsel. To post a discussion, click the DISCUSSION tab above; click NEW POST, label the subject with a specific name, and then type and post your comment. To reply to a comment, simply click on the post heading, scroll to the bottom of the page, and then type and post your reply. Ideally, discussion topics will reflect either specific research sources or ideas learned from your research. You must cite all sources within your discussions so that your opposing counsel can verify your information.


 * Post Prosecution Closing Statement Here:**

Prosecuting Kristen Bernecker Bell 3 **Brutus is Guilty of Murder**

Marcus Junius Brutus had absolutely no logical reason for killing Gaius Julius Caesar, only personal reasons. Brutus believed that he was killing Caesar for the good of Rome, if that were true then why would he later regret killing Caesar if he killed him for Rome? Why would he leave Rome after he killed Caesar? If he killed him for Rome then the people shouldn’t be mad at him for doing so if it was for them, did he leave Rome because he was afraid that the people would be mad because they like Caesar? Of course they would, the people loved Caesar and the fact that Brutus killed him made them mad. So there for I find him guilty for the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was loved by the people of Rome and benefitted Rome but was later betrayed by Marcus Brutus because of Brutus’s obsession with his ancestors.

Gaius Julius Caesar was loved by the people of Rome and benefitted Rome. For Caesar to benefit Rome he was contributing to improve Rome in whatever ways that he could. In the play //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar//. Anthony states that “He hath brought many captives home to Rome, whose ransomes did the general coffers fill”. (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 73-107). This shows that he was good to Rome and cared about them. If he didn’t then he would have kept the money all for himself but instead he gave it to the people. For Caesar to be loved by the people of Rome it shows that they thought good of him and looked to him for guidance. In Michael Perenti’s book //The Assassination of Julius Caesar// he states that “Gaius Julius Caesar was a man of outstanding qualities, a commanding figure, uncommonly intelligent, attractive, and utterly charming when he cared to be.” This shows that he was a kind and that the people of Rome thought good about him and not negatively like Brutus.

Gaius Julius Caesar was betrayed by his dear friend Brutus when he was assassinated by him, but before that Brutus didn’t trust him or want him to be king. Since Brutus didn’t want Caesar to be king he believed that he should be stopped before he gets the chance to be king. In the play //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar//. Brutus states “And therefore think him as a serpents egg which hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous, and kill him in the shell.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 32-34). This basically says that Brutus doesn’t trust Caesar to be king because he thinks that when he gets power he will change, and not for the good of Rome. In the play //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.// Brutus says “But for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question.” (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 12-13). Brutus believes that once Caesar is crowned king he will change and turn against Rome. He is saying that he doesn’t trust him, his own friend.

Brutus might have been expected to turn against the dictator because of his ancestors. Brutus was obsessed with being like his ancestors that had killed a king in Rome before and he wants to live up to them and be like them so because of this it gives him motivation to kill Caesar. Caesar was assassinated by Brutus because of his obsession to be like his ancestors who had expelled the tyrant Tarquin. In Michael Grants book //Julius Caesar//, he states that “Brutus might be expected to turn against the dictator; and that was now exploited by Cassius who (although Caesar had promoted Brutus over his head) saw him as the leader of the conspiracy. This was because Brutus was obsessed with his ancestors. There was nothing about that among Roman nobles, but the ancestors fervently honoured by Brutus included two legendary figures, Lucius Brutus and Servilius Ahala, one whom, according to the saga, had expelled the tyrant Tarquin, while the other, not long afterwards had killed Spurius Maelius who aimed at tyranny.” This statement indicates that Brutus doesn’t have a logical explanation for assassinating Caesar, so what if he was obsessed with his ancestors that doesn’t give him any reason for killing him.

As a result I hear by find Marcus Junius Brutus guilty of the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar. Brutus’s obsession forced him to betray his good friend Caesar who was loved by the fellow people of Rome. Brutus has accused Caesar of doing wrong to the people of Rome and Rome itself, saying that he was ambitious when he wasn’t because he did not accept the crown when it was offered to him three times. In the play //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar//, Casca tells Brutus "I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown-yet ‘twas not a crown neither, ‘twas one of these coronets-and, as I told you, he put it by once; but for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers on it. And then he offered it the third time. He put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopt hands, and threw up their sweating nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown, that it had, almost, choked Caesar; for he swounded and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air." (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 234-248). This shows that Caesar was not ambitious or he would have accepted the crown the first time it was offered instead of turning it down three times like he did. So Brutus couldn’t have killed Caesar because he believed that he was ambitious. Brutus clearly killed Caesar because of his obsession to be like his ancestors and that is why I find him guilty for the murder of Gaius Julius Caesar.

Work Cited:
 * Grant, Michael. Julius Caesar. New York: Michael Grant Publications Ltd., 1969. Print.
 * Perenti, Michael. The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People’s History of Ancient Rome. New York; The News Press, 2003. Print.


 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**

__Daniel Seyferth attorney at law__
Honorable Brutus is an innocent man because he killed ambitious Caesar with no personal cause but for the good of Rome.

Brutus had a lot of honor he treated people as equals and with respect. In Shakespeare’s play //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar// Brutus says “Let’s kill him boldly not wrathfully; Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for the hounds.” Brutus had a respect for Caesar he wanted his death to be clean and done with no personal cause but for Rome. Brutus has always had this kind of respect for Caesar so therefore this shows he had no personal cause. Also “Brutus says “…I am nothing jealous…” Why would he want to kill Caesar if he had no personal reasons?

Caesar was a very ambitious man who wanted to take over Rome as a king in any way he could. Here is a quote from Steve Forbes //Power Ambition Glory// “Julius Caesar had plenty of ambition. Early in his career he happened upon a bust of Alexander the Great.” This shows another view of Caesars ambition he wanted to be like evil leaders before him. This is just a glance of his ambition to become leader of Rome. Muriel DuBois shows some more things about Caesars ambition to become king in his book //Early Civilizations: Ancient Rome// “Roman law let a consul become a dictator for six months. Caesar was trying to become king of Rome. When Caesar named himself dictator for life the people were worried.” This shows his attempts to become king of Rome proving he had plenty of ambition.

Brutus killed Caesar for the good of Rome he killed him only for his ambition not because he hated him he actually loved him very much. In Shakespeare’s play //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar// Brutus also says “…Cassius let I love him well.” This quote proves Brutus loved Caesar showing he only killed him because of ambition. Also in //The Tragedy of Julius Caesar// Brutus says “It must be by death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” Brutus had no personal reasons at all he states it clearly in this quote therefore he is innocent.