Which statement best describes the contrast between Brutus and the other conspirators?

• A. Brutus acted from honesty; the others acted out of jealousy.
• B. Brutus acted out of jealousy; the others acted from honesty.
• C. Brutus acted for personal gain; the others acted for power.
• D. Brutus acted for the state; the others acted for fame.

Answer: (A)

Motives shape how we judge a character’s choices. Brutus is shown as acting from honesty and a sense of duty to Rome, choosing to join the conspiracy because he believes Caesar’s rise would threaten liberty and the republic. The other conspirators are driven by personal motives—jealousy, resentment, and a desire for power or influence. That contrast is why this statement fits best: Brutus’s action stems from a sincere, upright motive for the good of the state, while the others act from jealousy and self-interest. The other choices mix up those motivations or push Brutus in a direction that the text doesn’t support, and they don’t capture the central contrast between noble motive and personal envy.