The supposed last words of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar have been the subject of debate among historians and has been speculated about for centuries. In modern popular culture the phrase " Et tu, Brute? While the phrase became popular during the Late Middle Ages , it cannot be found in any surviving ancient sources. During the assassination , senator Tillius Cimber grabbed hold of Caesar's toga and pulled it down from his neck, which signaled to the other conspirators that it was time to attack. According to the historian Suetonius , Caesar shouted out in Latin , "Ista quidem vis est! Suetonius further writes that Caesar spoke no more after this, besides a groan after the first knife blow, and died without saying anything. Such violence against Caesar! However, the historian Plutarch claims that Caesar cried out in Latin "Accursed Casca, what dost thou? Modern scholars have expressed that their denial that Caesar said anything might be due to the idea that it was thought at the time to be more honourable to die silent as a soldier.
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The story behind ‘Et tu Brute’
It is common for people to use this expression when someone whom they did not expect has betrayed them. This is one of many expressions that the famous English playwright William Shakespeare popularized. This quote appeared in the play Julius Caesar , a tragedy likely written around the year This play revolves around the historical figure of a leader of Rome, Julius Caesar. In the play, other political leaders, senators, were worried that Caesar would become the emperor of Rome. They did not want Rome to have an emperor; they wanted Rome to be a republic.
‘Et tu Brute’ meaning
Et tu, Brute? The quote appears in Act 3 Scene 1 of William Shakespeare 's play Julius Caesar , [1] where it is spoken by the Roman dictator Julius Caesar , at the moment of his assassination , to his friend Marcus Junius Brutus , upon recognizing him as one of the assassins. The first known occurrences of the phrase are said to be in two earlier Elizabethan plays; Henry VI, Part 3 by Shakespeare, and an even earlier play, Caesar Interfectus , by Richard Edes. There is no evidence that the historical Caesar spoke these words.
Rome has a proud republican tradition and the group, led by Cassius and Brutus, have decided that the only solution is to assassinate him. He stands, watching Caesar dying, stabbed by several senators. Caesar staggers towards his friend, appealing to him, but Brutus stabs him. Then fall, Caesar. When Shakespeare writes about real historical characters he takes his information from the writings of historians. Plutarch has Caesar just pulling his toga over his head and dying in silence. And so, Shakespeare uses these three words for maximum theatrical effect. To ask that question of your best friend, who is in the process of murdering you, has to be one of the most moving utterances ever made.
