1. Cassius uses flattery and manipulation to undermine Brutus's judgment and convince him to join the conspiracy against Caesar. He heaps praise on Brutus, calling him "the noblest Roman of them all" (line 110) and "the last of all the Romans" (line 112). However, this praise seems excessive and artificial, and it may make readers wonder whether Cassius is being genuine or simply trying to win Brutus over.
2. Cassius uses emotional appeals to sway Brutus. He plays on Brutus's love for Rome and his sense of duty to warn him of the dangers that Caesar's ambition poses to the republic. However, these appeals may seem overly dramatic and manipulative, and readers may question whether Cassius is truly concerned about the well-being of Rome or whether he is simply using Brutus's patriotism for his own ends.
3. Cassius relies heavily on hypothetical situations and worst-case scenarios to justify the conspiracy. He warns Brutus of what might happen if Caesar becomes king, but he does not provide any concrete evidence that these fears are justified. Readers may wonder why Cassius is so focused on the potential dangers of Caesar's rule and why he is not willing to consider other possibilities.
4. Cassius dismisses Brutus's reservations about assassination as "mere fancy" (line 118) and "idle thoughts" (line 120). This suggests that Cassius is not genuinely interested in Brutus's concerns but is simply trying to convince him to go along with the plan.
Lines 135-161:
1. Cassius's description of Caesar's supposed decline is highly exaggerated and one-sided. He portrays Caesar as a corrupt and tyrannical ruler who has lost all virtue and compassion. However, this depiction may be biased and inaccurate, and readers may wonder whether Cassius is simply trying to demonize Caesar in order to justify his assassination.
2. Cassius's justification for the conspiracy is based on the idea that "the abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power" (line 145). He argues that Caesar's power has corrupted him and made him unfit to rule, but he does not provide any specific examples of how Caesar has abused his power. This argument may seem simplistic and unconvincing, and readers may question whether Cassius is genuinely concerned about the abuse of power or whether he is simply using this as an excuse to get rid of Caesar.
3. Cassius's insistence that the conspirators must act now or never may seem rushed and desperate. He argues that they cannot afford to wait any longer, but he does not provide any clear reason for this urgency. This may make readers wonder whether Cassius is genuinely concerned about the danger that Caesar poses or whether he is simply trying to pressure Brutus into making a quick decision.
Overall, Cassius's words and actions in these passages may make readers suspicious of his motives because they seem overly manipulative, exaggerated, and one-sided. Readers may wonder whether Cassius is genuinely concerned about the well-being of Rome or whether he is simply using Brutus and the other conspirators for his own personal gain.