Group+23


 * 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:**

Prosecution Caesar's love for Rome may have been too powerful for Brutus to accept him as king, which makes his honor

questionable. Brutus was having a hard time accepting Caesar as king, so now we must question his honor. All of this

comes down to Caesar's true love for Rome and the people. Brutus and Caesar were close friends. So for Brutus to

participate in such a brutal murder gives off signs that he wasn't very honorable to Julius Caesar afterall.

Marcus Junius Brutus was having a hard time accepting his friend as king. The people would cheer for Caesar and throw

parades for him in the city streets. Brutus didn't appreciate this. In Shakespear's play, //A Tradgedy of Julius Caesar//, Brutus

says, “What means this shouting? I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.” (I.ii. Lines 78-79) It's quite obvious that

Brutus fears that the people will choose Caesar as their king. Brutus is Caesar's best friend, he should support him, not

fear him becoming king. This a connection to my thesis statement because by what he says clearly states he fears him

becoming king.

Brutus' honor to his friend is questioned a great deal. In Denise Rinaldo's book, //Julius Caesar: A Dictator for Life//, it

clearly states, “On the way into the Senate, Caesar was approached by a Greek teacher who worked for Brutus and had

caught word of the plot.” (pg.113) Brutus was part of the conspiracy and was helping to plan a plot for the murder of Caesar.

This quote brings a witness in for the plot against Caesar. Also from Denise Rinaldo's book, //Julius Caesar: A Dictator for// //Life//, it states, “For the first time in Caesar's life, there was no escape. When he saw Brutus in the group Caesar stopped

trying to fight. “You too my child?” he cried in despair. Then he pulled his toga over his face and collapsed.” (pg.115) Brutus

was Caesar's best friend so when he saw him in the group he thought there must not be a reason to keep fighting if his best

friend wants him dead too. This is a connection to my thesis statement because it truly questions Brutus' honor towards his

friend.

Caesar's love for Rome and the people was very strong. In Denise Rinaldo's book, //Julius Caesar: A Dictator for Life//, it

exclaims, “When Caesar's will was read aloud at his funeral, I revealed that he had left money for a lavish public garden and

gift of cash to every ciizen.” (pg.116) Caesar wouldn't have left money for the citizens if he didn't truly care about them. This

is a good connection to the thesis statement because it shows that Caesar really did care about Rome and the

people. Also from Denise Rinaldo's book, //Julius Caesar: A Dictator for Life//, it states, “When the ceremony ended, rioters

took over the city streets, demanding vengeance for the murder of the dictator who used his power for the common

good.” (pg.117) This quote shows that Caesar was obviously doing good for Rome and the people because if he wasn't they

wouldn't go looking for revenge on his death.

Overall, we find Marcus Brutus is guilty for the murder of Julius Caesar. He took consent in being part of the

conspirators and one of the many to plot the murder. Caesar was a good dictator for Rome and the people. He cared for the

people and they cared for him. Brutus had no reason to kill Caesar. Caesar had taken him under his wing and became his

friend. Brutus turned his back on him because he feared him becoming king. Ultimately he was thinking what would be

better for him over him thinking about the good he was bringing and doing for Rome.

Defending The honorable Brutus killed the ambitious Caesar because Brutus knew that if Caesar became king, Rome would fall. Brutus was defending the liberty of Rome by killing Caesar, which definitely justifies his actions. Brutus was a very honorable person who would do anything to protect the liberty and common good of Rome. “I love the name of honor more than I fear death.” –Brutus (I.ii.88-89) This quote shows that Brutus is concerned more with honor than the very act of death. This also reveals that Brutus is truly honorable and would be willing to give his life, so long as he was honorable. “I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.” –Brutus (I.ii.78-79) This quote shows that Brutus is actually concerned about Caesar becoming king and knows that he would not be good for the general of Rome. It also shows that Brutus is honorable because he is concerned about what Caesar will do to Rome if he’s crowned king. Caesar would not have done well for Rome because he wasn’t a good leader and was ambitious. “In the aftermath of the civil war, Caesar surveyed his city. Crime rates had risen to the point where ordinary citizens were afraid to walk the streets. Desperately poor people packed the slums, and wealthier citizens had fled the city in droves.” –Pg. 107 Rinaldo. The city was plummeting due to Caesar’s lack of skills as a leader. Caesar, obviously couldn’t keep Rome together and have order, as it was falling apart to the point where “ordinary citizens were afraid to walk the streets.” That is a clear sign that, under Caesar’s rule, Rome will continue to worsen as time goes on. “Brutus had remarked that killing Caesar was ‘necessary to defend the liberty of Rome.’” –Pg. 115 Rinaldo. This should be an obvious statement that Caesar would not be good for Rome in the least. If people are willing to kill someone to stop them from becoming king, there is definitely something wrong with what that person is doing. This reveals that Brutus was willing to kill Caesar to protect the liberty of Rome. Brutus killed Caesar because he wanted to protect Rome from Caesar who, if crowned, would bring Rome down. “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general. How might that change his nature, there’s the question.” –Brutus (II.i.10-13) This quote shows, quite blank, that Brutus killed Caesar, not out of personal spite, but “for the general.” This quote definitely justifies Brutus’s actions of killing Caesar, proving that no personal reasons were involved whatsoever between the two men. Brutus also knew that killing Caesar was the only way to stop him from becoming king. “Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods.” –Brutus (II.i.172-173) Brutus had the respect for Caesar not to butcher him in a wrathful manner, but kill him boldly just to ensure he does not become king. The quote shows that Brutus wasn’t wrathful towards Caesar, but only wanted to rid of him for the sake of the common good of Rome. Brutus’s actions of killing Caesar were justified because Caesar was ambitious and power-hungry; while Brutus was honorable and did what he felt was necessary to defend the liberty of Rome. Brutus had no personal reason to spurn at Caesar, but for the common good of Rome and in doing so, his actions are therefore justified.
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**