Group+06


 * 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: Caesar loved his country. He Fought to bring his Country to the top. Accomplishing many things. As Phil Grabsky reveals that he was "so great that it has often been said that he was the man who changed the course of history, achieving miracles, accomplishing what had been thought impossible, helping to further the Roman Empire." (19) So the man who furthered Rome needed to be assassinated to protect the good of Rome? Caesar not only furthered the Roman Empire and help the rich but also the poor. That shows nobility to the furthest. He was a great leader who cared for every aspect of Rome. Grant indicates that "Caesar an Bibulus took office at the turn of the year,one of Caesars first actions was to present a law to redistribute the rural areas of Italy. the beneficians were to include the metropolitan poor." (68) To help an entire nation takes a great honorable man.**
 * Caesar loved his country an was dedicated to protecting it. Caesar was betrayed by his own country as Grabsky reveals " yet having survived countless battles on foreign soil, he was murdered in Rome, by Romans." (19) He was killed by the same people he surrendered his entire life to protecting. Not only was he betrayed by his people but by his best friend. As Matyszak indicates "Caesar defended himself, darting left and right and calling for help. But when he saw that even, Brutus had his dagger drawn, he pulled his toga over his head and collapsed." (57) Caesar truly gave up when he knew not only his people wanted him dead but his best friend as well. Brutus Knew that with Caesar out of the way there would be no competition or anyone standing in his way as Cassius reveals Brutus's true feelings. "why should that name be sounded more than yours? write them together, yours is as fair a name." (I.i.766) Brutus agrees with what Cassius has to say by saying "How I have thought that and of these times, I shall re counter here after." (I.i.766) Brutus thinks that he is just as good as Caesar the man who changed the course of history, who made things impossible, possible. Brutus needed Caesar out of the way so he could steal Caesars position and popularity. Ultimately Caesar was killed based on speculation. "He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there's the question." (III.i.783) Brutus thinks that Caesar may change his attitude and become power hungry when crowned. But how can you kill someone from fear of what might happen? You cannot rightfully kill someone with no better cause than to what might happen. "th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power, and to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections swayed more than his reasons. But tis' a common proof that lowliness is young ambitious ladder. where to the climber upward turns his face." (III.i.783) This proves that Brutus had no real reason to Kill Caesar, he clearly states that truthfully Caesar has not swayed his affections more than his reasons. Brutus only knew the common end to where Caesar was headed. He did not know how Caesar would act when crowned. You cannot honorably kill someone based on the common out come. Brutus knew what he done was wrong that's why he stated to Caesar's ghost "I killed not thee with half so good a will." (V.v.51) Brutus proves he had no good reason to kill Caesar. Brutus admits he is guilty by taking his own life in regret to what he done. He compensated Caesars life with his because he knew he was wrong. " Caesar art thou revenged, even with the sword that killed thee." (V.iii.862) This screams guilty!**


 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**

The honorable Brutus slew Julius Caesar to protect the Roman Republic from an unfit ruler. If he had not taken this action, Rome would have been destroyed under Caesar’s power. Caesar’s intentions for becoming a monarch were simply to gain power for himself, stripping the Roman citizens of their own rights. Brutus and the conspirators would not have had to take such drastic measures if he had been the right person to govern Rome in the first place. His own ambition and lack of leadership qualities led to his demise in the end.  Marcus Brutus was considered an honorable man by many. He had strong morals and acted admirably with every affair that he faced. He had proven himself to be principled in many cases through what he said, what he did, and how he handled situations. In Shakespeare’s play __The Tragedy of Julius Caesar__, Brutus makes the statement, “I love the name of honor more than I fear death” (I.ii.90-91). This shows how significant nobility is to him. He finds his honorable qualities to be the most important part of him, and he would rather be lifeless than be thought of as discreditable. He truly values honor. Brutus is also a man who always thinks before he acts. He considers how his proceedings will not only affect himself, but the people around him as well. He has a good head on his shoulders and would not act out of spite. In the play when Brutus describes to the conspirators how he wants to kill Caesar, he says, “…gentle friends, let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds” (II.i.178-181). This makes it clear that Brutus would like Caesar’s death to be as respectful as possible. His commendable traits are shown through his desire that Caesar does not suffer through his death. Brutus’ plan of assassinating Caesar is for logical reasons, and he did not want it to be brutal. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Brutus only agreed to take Caesar’s life because he was hoping to protect Rome. In the play he states, “I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” (II.i.11-12). This shows that his motives behind the assassination were never personal. He was merely acting on his belief that Rome would be better of without Caesar taking power. He hoped to save the future of the Roman Republic. In the Tragedy, Brutus also makes the declaration, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (III.ii.23-25). What he is saying here is that he did love Caesar, but he still had to consider what would be best for the Republic. He was an honorable man with the desire to protect his fellow citizens. Brutus never had any negative feelings toward his friend. He simply knew that by giving Caesar power, the people were destroying their government and their overall futures. Brutus had a strong love for his friend Caesar; however he had an even stronger love for his country. When you look at the situation from a larger perspective, it is clear that by ending Caesar’s life, Brutus saved the lives of every other Roman civilian. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Caesar was not the right person to be governing Rome. He was ambitious and his intentions were only to better his own life. Brutus, who was considered a friend of Caesar, said, “I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king… I would not, yet I love him well” (I.ii.81-84). This reveals a lot about Caesar’s weaknesses as a ruler. If even one of his friends would not wish for him to become sovereign that suggests that he truly was not fit for the job. Caesar himself even proves this idea through his selfish ways. In __Caesar: Ruling the Roman Empire__ Phil Grabsky states that Caesar's “power was clearly going to his head” (54). Caesar was too selfish to have allowed the Roman citizens to have any control over their own lives at all. He was full of ambition, and he would stop at nothing to keep increasing his supremacy. He destroyed the Roman Republic by giving all the power to himself. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Brutus taking the action of killing Caesar ultimately benefited Rome. If Caesar would have stayed in power, Rome would have experienced a major downfall and complete destruction of their government. Julius Caesar was not meant to be a leader, and through his death the Roman Republic was secured. In Caesar's Civil War: 49 to 44 BC, Adrian Goldsworthy states, "there was no grand plan for solving Rome's problems, for Caesar was either unaware of them or could not think of any way of solving them" (81). He acted in such a way that gave no reason for anyone to believe that his motives for becoming powerful were to benefit Rome. As Goldsworthy continues, he mentions that "his behavior gave sufficient grounds for doubting his long-term intentions" (81). It may seem hard to believe that Brutus’ heart was in the right place when he decided to assassinate Caesar, but he did what he thought was the honorable thing to do. He protected the future of his companions and the Republic that he cared so much about.