BRUTUS: But as he was ambitious, I slew him. . . . Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak, for him have I of
fended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. Which message in his speech does Brutus try to support when he uses epimone? Caesar will be sorely missed by Romans. Caesar’s assassination was to help restore freedom to the Roman Republic. Caesar’s assassination stopped him from being the kind of ruler who cared more about his own welfare than that of his country. Caesar was disliked by many, but he didn’t deserve to be assassinated.
Answer: Caesar’s assassination was to help restore freedom to the Roman Republic.
In this excerpt, Brutus tells us that Caesar was ambitious, and that he was ambitious enough that he would have destroyed the freedom of all Romans. He asks who in the audience would have wanted to be a slave. If anyone wanted to, then Brutus injured him. Otherwise, if people want to be free, they can only be happy that Caesar is dead. This rhetoric is effective in bringing people over to Brutus' side.
