“Et tu, Brute?” and the Serpent’s Egg: Tales of Power and Betrayal
Brutus argues that Caesar is currently harmless, like a serpent still inside its egg. However, if he is "hatched" (given absolute power), he will inevitably become dangerous and poisonous. The Serpent's Egg
The necessity of taking preventative action against a threat before it becomes fully realized and unstoppable. “Et tu, Brute
In alchemical traditions, the serpent's egg can represent the lapis philosophorum (Philosopher's Stone), containing the Ouroboros symbol of eternal circulation. 2. Film: Ingmar Bergman’s The Serpent’s Egg (1977) The Serpent's Egg
The term originates from William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar . In Act II, Brutus uses the phrase as a metaphor while debating whether to assassinate Caesar.