Caesar and Brutus's Thoughts during Caesar's Assassination

In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a mob led by his friend, Brutus. The mob killed him because he had gotten too popular with the public and had been deemed "Dictator for life.” The Roman Republic feared he would make himself a king any day, as he had made it clear to everyone that he didn't give a hoot what the council thought, defiantly marching straight into battle when the council told him not to. As Caesar was being stabbed, he said, "Et tu, Brute? - Then fall Caesar!" This basically translates to, "You too, Brutus? Then I must die!" He

was surprised by the treachery of someone he thought of as his friend.

Brutus was probably thinking that it was all for the greater good, but was feeling guilty about it, nevertheless. He said did it for the Roman Republic, and while this was true at the time, he committed suicide after losing the Battle of Philippi, the second battle of the Roman Civil War, thus accidently directing the downfall of the Roman Empire.