Read the excerpt from act 2, scene 1, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. BRUTUS. It must be by his death: and for my part
I know no personal cause to spurn at him
But for the general. He would be crowned:
How that might change his nature, there’s the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder,
And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,
And then I grant we put a sting in him
That at his will he may do danger with.
Th’ abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power. And to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections swayed
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof
That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Then lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities;
And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg
Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.

How does the characterization of Caesar in this passage connect to the central idea of the passage?

By reflecting on Caesar’s position in society, Brutus decides to report the conspiracy to Caesar and join him on ambition’s ladder.
When Brutus realizes the power that ambition brings, he decides to kill Caesar and Cassius in order to successfully climb the ladder.
Brutus decides to join the conspiracy against Caesar because he fears that Caesar will become ruthless once he climbs ambition’s ladder and has absolute power.
Brutus decides that he must cut the legs off from the ladder to prevent Caesar and Cassius from stepping on anyone along the way.