“Does the end ever justify the means? » a surprisingly simple question that poses more of a moral dilemma. Many causes and groups would say that yes, the ends justify the means, but is this true? Do the positive effects outweigh the negative causes? Are betrayal and deception really justified if we want to do good? If ending one life could actually save the lives of ten other people, would you be morally "right" to end the first man's life? Time and again this question comes up, forcing others to question their sense of right and wrong. To answer this question, we must examine the many examples that history gives us in order to truly determine whether “the ends justify the means” or not. Explore the characters of Brutus, Cassius and Antony in the play Julius Caesar (written by Shakespeare) and find out. First, you have to look at the play that is Julius Caesar and pay attention to the exchange between Brutus and Cassius. Several times in the first act, Cassius attempts to persuade Brutus by offering reasons why Caesar should be killed (English Literature). He repeatedly states how weak Caesar is and that if he gains power, he will become corrupt and twisted, thinking only of himself. While Cassius gives many reasons why Caesar must be killed, Cassius' true motive is simply anger and the need for revenge against Caesar. This means that Cassius' actions cannot ultimately be justified, if he was just doing them for himself all the time. However, many people believe that Brutus could be excused because he believed that by killing Caesar he would keep Rome safe and leave Caesar intact. I don't think that even with the "noble reasons" given by Cassius, that would excuse Brutus from killing Caesar, just because... middle of paper... about halfway through the play . However, Brutus was morally sound and truly repented of his actions. Cassius, however, was the most heinous of the three, choosing to act with rage and vengeance. I suppose he also thought of this when ridding the world of Caesar; he could help the people of Rome heal as a leader. However, this was not the case, and he committed suicide in despair because he had led his friends to their deaths. Ultimately, I guess the end does not justify the means, because nothing good can come from evil actions. Works Cited “Julius Caesar (play)”. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, May 13, 2014. Web. May 14, 2014. “Julius Caesar: analysis of the major characters.” SparkNotes. SparkNotes and Web. May 14, 2014. .English literature book