Act One contains a huge (and significant) scene between
Cassius and Brutus, and the most obvious way that Cassius serves as a foil to Brutus is
that he is much more obvious (and bold) in suggesting that the solution to both of their
dissatisfaction with Caesar's level of power is
assassination.
Brutus only alludes to his
feelings:
...Vexed I am
Of
late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only
proper to myself.
Yet,
Cassius, ever rash and free with his words goes to great lengths to describe both the
nature of Brutus' dissatisfaction and his own -- the deification of
Caesar.
Cassius is the one that lays out the grievances of
the conspirators, though Brutus is the one that will lead them. In this way, he plays
the part of the villain of the play, while Brutus remains the Tragic Hero, swept up into
the events of the play, but not besmirched by the lust for power and sarcasm that drive
Cassius' actions.
Cassius' makes it clear in this scene
that he intends to lead a rebellion against Caesar, while, ever patient and thoughtful,
Brutus only agrees to consider it:
What you have
said
I will consider. What you have to
say
I will with patience hear, and find a
time
Both meet to hear and answer such high
things.
Cassius does round up
a group of like-minded conspirators to meet with Brutus at his home in Act II. And,
much to Cassius' chagrin, it is Brutus that they look to as their leader, not
him.
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