Group+13


 * 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:**

=
Rome was a great civilization. As all good things, they come to an end. What made such a solid empire buckle at the knees? From my experience the downfall comes from inside. This is true here. It’s all because of Brutus’ vendetta against the honorable Caesar, making him not only a criminal, but a traitor to Caesar and to Rome.======

=
Brutus claims he was acting upon the good of Rome, but he had other motives. Brutus was acting off of feelings of hurt, anger, and abandonment. Michael Parenti show’s us an interesting fact in //The Assassination of Caesar.// “Brutus was born during the time Caesar was having an affair with his mother.” (168). You could exchange the word born for conceived. Caesar is Brutus’ father! If this is true, he probably wasn’t in his son’s life much. Keep in mind he was only seventeen when he became a father. I can relate to what Brutus must have felt. My father doesn’t want me, I was a mistake. I thing Brutus was justified ONLY in his feelings. I mean look what he did to Caesar. In the Web page “Death of Caesar” it says “Brutus stabbed Caesar in the groin” (UNRV History). That shows some deep set feelings. From the same book, //The Assassination of Caesar//, Michael Parenti states “Brutus’s mother was few of Caesar’s real loves” (168). It was because of this love Caesar, during a time of war, was looking out for Brutus. It’s said Caesar told his men not to hurt Brutus but to let him surrender. His SON was fighting against him. Caesar really loved Brutus’ mom. He probably didn’t stop seeing her, and knew that Brutus was his son. Even when his son was trying to kill him, he loved him.======

=
Caesar is an honorable man. In //The assassination of Caesar//, it shows this honor at its best. “King Sulla said he’d spare Caesar’s life if he pledged himself to the revolutionary cause. Sulla also expected Caesar to discard his wife and marry one he would chose. IF Caesar was ambitious he would have taken the deal and been launched into the highest circles. Caesar refused the offer and was arrested” (113). In case you passed it, CAESAR’S LIFE WAS AT STAKE! All he had to do to have a fat, happy life was discard his wife; he would even get a new one. But no, he refused. If Caesar wanted power, money, control...King Sulla would have given him it. Instead he made enemies with him. Michael Parenti tells us “Brutus fought under Pompey, only to be pardoned by Caesar after the war” (168). Pompey was Caesar’s enemy, and his son was fighting against him. In a time of war, and even loyalties afterwards, those on the other side will die. (Exile is like death at the time) Even thou Brutus is his son, it doesn’t look like they had the best of relationships. If Caesar didn’t have honor, he would have killed Brutus for his betrayal.======

=
A common criminal knows the laws and breaks them anyway. Brutus is a common criminal. The laws of the twelve tables, Table IX, number 6 says, “Putting to death of any man, whosoever he might be, unconvicted is forbidden.” Brutus killed Caesar, he admits it. He takes joy in it. Brutus has gone unconvicted till now. This is Roman law, Brutus is a Roman. He knows what is right and wrong, and he broke the law. //The Assassination of Caesar// shows the conspirators true side. “After Caesar fell, the assailants continued savaging him with their daggers.” (172). This wasn’t a mercy kill. They hacked at him AFTER he was dead. Brutus can’t claim anything but murder.======

=
Brutus has stabbed his father in the back figuratively for years, until the day he literally did. From Shakespeare’s play __The Tragedy of Julius Caesar__ you hear Caesar’s echo throughout history of the betrayal. “Et tu Brute?” (III.i.77) A common translation is “And you Brutus?” Think about this alternative translation “And you my son?” Brutus had no just case to kill his father. Yet ever time Brutus hurt Caesar, Caesar forgave him. The play also shows the public opinion. “If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong” (III.ii.108-109). They are taking in both sides and deciding for themselves what is right or wrong. They decided it was wrong. Caesar was done an injustice.======

=
This trail isn’t about weather Brutus killed the Great Caesar or not, that’s apparent, it’s about the motives behind Brutus’ actions. People often forget how easy things can change. It only takes one. One person, one action, one consequence to change history forever. I haven’t done a very good job of explaining how Brutus is a traitor to Rome. I’ll leave you with this. Brutus’ action caused the Roman civilization to launch its self into another civil war, the worse they had seen. The death of Caesar also marks the decline of the Roman Empire.======

Rhaea Burton English 10 CP Mr.Nienaber 11-16-11
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here**

Brutus is not guilty of the murder of the ambitious Caesar, Brutus is a honorable man and Caesar was harmful to Rome and Brutus had a motive and reason to kill Caesar.

Brutus killed the ambitious Caesar. He tried to make himself look not greedy and wanted power. Forbes Steve and John Prevas (pg . . . 242) quoted “what destroyed Caesar in the end were not his assassins draggers but his own weakness. He tried to wear two hats or a hat and a crown to be a popular reformer and the supreme ruler of the largest empire in the world”. In this quote it shows that Caesar was ambitious to gain power and control. He put people people who were on his side into power and it increased his chances of getting what he wanted. Collins, Stephan Dando (pg.80) quoted that “Caesar had doubled the numbers of praetors to twenty allowing him many more positions of favor to endow on men who pleased him”. Caesar used his power to let his friends into power and then he persuaded them to take his side which gave the ambitious Caesar more power.

Brutus was an honorable man. Brutus had honored for Rome and that honor over ruled any thought of something else. Shake Sphere (act 2 scene 1 line 82-89) quotes “I would not, Cassius, yet do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, set honor in one hand and death i’th’other, and i will look on both indifferently, I love the name of honor more than i fear death”. This shows that Brutus had strong honor for Rome and would do anything for his country. Brutus is honorable to his wife. Again shake sphere quotes (pg.793) “you are my true and honorable wife, as dear to me as are the ruddy drops that visit my sad heart”. This shows how Brutus was Honorable to his wife and was always by her side unlike Caesar was to women.

Caesar was harmful to Rome. He used sex to get power which was harmful for Rome. Jimenez, Ramon (pg.171-172) quoted “presumably no seductive efforts were needed by either party, and their prompt sexual union should have surprised nobody. In his affairs with the wives at his political associates, Caesar had already revealed a taste for dangerous liaison and Cleopatra would not be his last foreign Queen”. This is not something a person in charge of Rome should do this is not being honorable to Cleopatra’s husband but not only disrespectful to his people. Caesar only wanted what was in the better good for himself. Shake Sphere (pg.798)” the gods do this in shame of cowardice: Caesar should be a beast without a heart if he should stay at home today for fear. No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous the he. We are two lions littered in one day, and i the elder and more terrible. And Caesar shall go forth”. This here shows that he thought of himself above everyone like as a god. A ruler of Rome should not look upon himself as a god and care for what is best for the country.

Now you can see very well that Caesar was not honorable and harmful to Rome and that Brutus had honor and that he did the right thing by killing Caesar.