Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar, act 3, scene 2.
[BRUTUS.] If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my
not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him.
As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was
valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I
slew him.
Which paraphrase of the passage is the best?
Brutus explains that if people ask why he killed Caesar, he will tell them that it is not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. He asks the people, “Would you rather have Caesar alive, and we all die as slaves, or Caesar dead, and we die free?” He says he is sad because he and Caesar were friends. He honors Caesar’s bravery, but Caesar was too ambitious, so he had to be killed.
Brutus asks the people of Rome if they would rather have Caesar alive and they all be slaves, or have Caesar dead so they can live freely.
Brutus explains that he loved Caesar, but loves Rome more. He had to kill Caesar because, although Caesar was a brave man and his friend, Caesar was too ambitious.
Brutus clarifies that he rose against Caesar not because he did not love Caesar, but because he loved Rome more. He asks, “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” He says he weeps for Caesar and honors his valiance, but slew him because Caesar was ambitious.
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