MORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONFLICT IN BRUTUS: AN ANALYSIS THROUGH COGNITIVE DISSONANCE THEORY
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Date
2026
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DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR
Abstract
This research examines the moral and psychological conflict in Brutus, a character from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Through the theoretical lens of Cognitive Dissonance Theory. This study analyzes the mental discomfort experienced by Brutus created by his contradictory beliefs, as supported by Leon Festinger in Cognitive Dissonance Theory (3). The study explores the tension between friendship and loyalty, which Brutus experiences, he is conflicted between friendship with Caesar and Loyalty towards Rome, which creates mental discomfort and leads him towards his tragic downfall. The research argues that Brutus's part in the assassination of Caesar is not purely political but a result of his internal conflict and to justify his moral choices. Furthermore, this research is based on close reading and textual analysis of the selected scenes from Brutus ' soliloquies, dialogues and key speeches that reveal moral and psychological conflict. This research contributes to psychological literary criticism by offering cognitive dissonance analysis of Brutus‟s character.