History bathyalists often make sure to mention Brutus was really Caesar’s son. Much like an autistic child’s need to tell you every part of a train, they crave for this chance to let you in on this secret. A secret that anyone who’s taking basic literature courses is already aware. But let’s entertain them.
So why did Brutus do it? Why grab the knife and thrust it into his father’s side? We can tell this was likely something he was hesitant on. He was the last one to, after all. You can imagine, perhaps, the senators let him in on this plot earlier. Perhaps they took pity on young Brutus, and tempted him. “When you do it, he’ll already be dying” they may have told him. “You’re not really killing him Brutus, he’s already dying”. But that begs the question. Why did the Senators want him to partake at all? Why join the heir to the king with their antimonarchical plot?
F A I T H
In order for the forces of Democracy to triumphantly save the Republic from that tyrant Caesar, the Senators needed to pull the people onto their side. Their five year propaganda campaign against Caesar made hardly a dent in his polling numbers. The leader of the Populares party just kept winning! Brutus had, in the civil war, joined the Optimates, the party of Rome’s deep state. So here we see some clues onto their tolerance to Caesar Jr. He was, in effect, both heir to the Populares, and the Optimates. You can see now, perhaps, the apple in their senatorial eyes. Grooming Brutus meant total monolithic control. Both the party of the state, and a controlled opposition of the common folk. An excellent game, to be clear. Faith in the system totally restored, with the theatre of common worries and elite desires scripted and edited to the liking of powers that be.
H O P E
All this is, of course, a cope. The framing of Brutus as this youthful heir groomed into the pines of power to be devoured and worn like a wool coat by these wolves ignores some simple facts. Brutus was a Senator. He was part of the swamp. At the time of Caesar’s death, he was about 40. He was well aware of his actions. He was used up with youth. He was looking for his retirement. Oh and this all means Caesar would have bore Brutus at age 15, as he died in his mid 50s. Not unreasonable, of course. Any long-term exposure to Sicilians will let you know on their tradition of visiting a brothel for one’s 16th birthday. Just unlikely. Instead what we find are Two brothers of war increasingly falling further apart, finding themselves on opposite sides of a civil war, engaging in reconcile efforts after, and then backstabbing in the end.
L O V E
Of course, He still thrust the blade last. At the very least, this is evidence of hesitation. And where there’s hesitation, there’s a plan to trust or doubt. At the very most, my suspicions are correct. Brutus was indeed Caesar’s Son, and the Senators were grooming him away from his patriarch, and into their chessboard for total domination of the game. The only thing better than checkmate, is an infinite loop to catch the King.
P O W E R
Cue, 2021. You, oh conservative, are a son or daughter of Trump’s America. You tolerated a nasty man to get the judges you wanted, avoid the wars you didn’t want, and see the America you crave. Well, you have it now. So why are you still hesitant to thrust your blade in with the Senators? Do you still trust the plan? Do you hope loyalty will bring you power? Do you truly love Trump more than your values?
Know the game of power, Tekna agapēta. For your ideas to live on, you must thrust your blade into the man. Kill the man, and your ideas are free. Stay y our blade, and your ideas die with the man. Don’t take knife for Caesar. He’s already taken Twenty Two. Besides, you’re not really killing Trump. He probably stabbed a few in there himself.
All you are doing, is ensuring your ideas continue to exist in the Monolith. It’s not winning or losing. It’s contingency.
Viruses hibernate with their hosts.
Bats wake up in March.