Critical Lens
...ntain a positive conscience. The name Romeo, in popular culture, is associated with “lover.” Romeo, in Romeo and Juliet, does indeed experience a love in which immensely impacts his attitude towards devotion and life, itself. The love that they had begun sharing was far more profound and intense than either Romeo or Juliet had ever experienced in the past. Romeo and Juliet had even begun to go against their Christian ways, as Juliet refers to Romeo as “the god of my idolatry”, where she elevates Romeo to the level of God. Juliet unexpectedly dies, leaving Romeo in complete despair. Romeo believed that he must kill himself in order to reveal his love for Juliet. Therefore, Romeo commits suicide in order to be with his beloved, which is likewise very un-Christian. Brutus, in the playwright Julius Caesar, is torn between his loyalty to Caesar and his allegiance to the state. Brutus is very fond of Caesar, however, he opposes the mounting of any single man to the position of dictator. He fears that Caesar aspires to such power. Brutus’s rigid sense of honor makes it easy for Caesar’s enemies to influence him into believing that Caesar must die in order to preserve the republic. While others tend to act out of envy and rivalry, only Brutus truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome. Brutus becomes the tragic hero of Julius Caesar, due to his faltering devotion to one partnership. However, Brutus puts aside his personal loyalties towards Caesar, and acts on what he believes to be the public’s wishes, and kills Caesar. Even after Brutus has committed the assassination with the other members of the conspiracy, questions rema...