Why Brutus Killed Caesar: Shakespeare’s Leadership & Betrayal Lessons
Manage episode 487202758 series 3078761
Unlock timeless leadership and betrayal lessons from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar as we explore the question: Why did Brutus kill Caesar? In this lecture, we dive into Brutus’s famous “serpent’s egg” soliloquy from Act 2, Scene 1 and unpack how his loyalty to Rome ultimately collides with his love for Caesar. Along the way, you’ll discover:
- Brutus’s Internal Conflict: How his philosophical reasoning convinces him that assassinating Caesar serves the common good.
- Cassius’s Manipulation: Why planted letters and echo chambers can blind even the noblest leaders to hidden agendas.
- Stoicism & Emotional Blind Spots: How Brutus’s Stoic restraint becomes a shield that prevents him from seeing his own ambition.
- Historical Impact: The assassination’s role in ending the Roman Republic and ushering in the Empire—plus modern parallels in today’s boardrooms and tech feuds.
- Practical Takeaways: Leadership red flags, moral agency under pressure, and the dangers of self-sabotage when you “destroy what you love.”
317 episodes