Betrayal In Julius Caesar

Death, tragedy, and betrayal are themes that are all too common in the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. These themes all contribute to characteristics of a tragic hero which is someone who starts with power, respect, and happiness but eventually has a major downfall due to a flaw within himself. But who do these characteristics most describe? Brutus, because he starts with the respect of the people and the happiness of friends around him, lets his naivety lead him to a bad decision, and kills himself using the same sword with which he killed Caesar.
Brutus had all the power, happiness, and respect a person could want. In Act III scene 1 Caesar says, “Et tu Brute?”. Caesar is surprised because Brutus betrayed him. Caesar thought he was his friend meaning that Brutus did have people around him who would support him, he wasn’t alone. Antony calls Brutus the most noble roman of them all in Act V scene 5. Everyone respected him, they all knew that Brutus wouldn’t just do something for the wrong reason. He had a reputation of being honorable and the people backing him up for that reason. They always sided with Brutus and
In Act III scene 2 the Roman Republic, who Brutus was supposedly “saving”, turned against him. The people were furious that Brutus would do something like this, he no longer was high in their hearts but rather high on their kill list. Shortly after Brutus escaped Rome he found out terrible news, “No men bears sorrow better, Portia is dead” (IVv 147). His wife has swallowed coals and died, he acted as if he did not care but it was his wife! Now he has the entire Roman Republic against him and his wife was no longer there to help him. The biggest event of Brutus’ downfall happens in Act V scene 5 when Brutus takes his own life. He did not want to be taken by those who once loved him and tortured for what he did. He was no longer loved and that was something he could not