# What is the source of Et tu, Brute? And, what was Shakespeare's source(s)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-et-tu-brute-and-what-was-shakespeares-source-s/634067>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-et-tu-brute-and-what-was-shakespeares-source-s/634067 "2012-09-08T02:25:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-et-tu-brute-and-what-was-shakespeares-source-s/634067/1 "2012-09-08T02:25:53Z")

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See subject(s).

Thanks,

Leo

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**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-et-tu-brute-and-what-was-shakespeares-source-s/634067/2 "2012-09-08T02:35:51Z")

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The main source for Shakespeare’s play _Julius Caesar_ is [Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_Lives), particularly the chapters on Julius Caesar and on Brutus. However, Plutarch does not include the quotation “Et tu Brute?”

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**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-et-tu-brute-and-what-was-shakespeares-source-s/634067/3 "2012-09-08T02:39:36Z")

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The “Et tu, Brute” line seems to be inspired by [Suetonius](http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suetonius-julius.asp), who says some writers report that Caesar said “You too, my child” in Greek when Brutus stabbed him. (Interestingly, it’s _not_ in Plutarch’s _Life of Brutus_ or _Life of Caesar_, which would have been Shakespeare’s most important sources for the majority of the play; in Plutarch, Caesar’s last words are “Accursed Casca, what does thou?”)