Brutus: Tragic Hero

In the play, The tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus, a real person in ancient Rome, was a honorable man and respected by the people of Rome until he killed his best friend, Caesar, thinking it was for the good of Rome. Brutus is the perfect example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. William Shakespeare’s definition of a tragic hero includes traditional elements. These elements are a person usually of noble birth, one who suffers a catastrophe, and one who has a tragic flaw. In act I, Cassius talks about Brutus’s nobility “You and I have heard our fathers talk of another Brutus-your ancestor-who would’ve let the devil himself reign in his Roman Republic before let a king rule” (Crowther). That ancestor is Junius Brutus who defeated the tyrannical Tarquin Kings and established democracy in Rome. Brutus suffered a catastrophe, and that was he joined with the people who may have killed Caesar for dishonorable reasons for envy and greed. Brutus has a tragic flaw. His tragic flaw was that he is at war with himself. An example of this is in Act I, scene ii when Brutus is talking to Cassius and says “Cassius, don’t misunderstand. If I have seemed distant, it’s because
I’ve been turning my troubled expression entirely toward myself. Lately, I’ve been vexed by some conflicting emotions, issues that are strictly personal, which perhaps have put a stain on my behavior. But i don’t want this to grieve my good friends-of which number you are one, Cassius-nor should you make anything more of my neglect than that Brutus is at war with himself, and forgets to show love to other men”(Crowther). This quote shows the reader that Brutus is at war with himself. Shakespeare adds complexity to his hero's, who may have desires and who may suffer hesitation and doubt before acting.
Brutus wants to maintain the democracy in Rome and wants the best for Rome. On the other hand however, Brutus also does not want to kill his best friend, Caesar. An example of Brutus’s goal of maintaining democracy in Rome is when Brutus said “the only way is to kill caesar. I have no personal reason to strike him-only the best interest of the people”(Crowther). The reader can also see that Brutus does not want to kill Caesar by reading that quote. This quote become a turning point in the play. Shakespeare uses soliloquy to show one a deeper understanding of a character’s inner self. In Act II scene i, Brutus is alone in his orchard thinking about what he should
do. Shakespeare focuses on the choices Brutus make rather than on fate. The three choices that Brutus made; were to join the conspiracy, letting Antony live and letting Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral. Brutus said in the play, “As for mark Antony-Forget him. He’ll be as useless as Caesar’s arm after Caesar’s head is cut off”(Crowther). Cassius did not want Antony to speak but Brutus already made the decision of letting him speak. In Act III,scene i, Cassius said “I’m worried about the outcome of his speech. I don’t like this plan”(Crowther). When Cassius said this, he meant that he is scared for Antony to speak at the funeral and tell the people the truth. If Antony would do this, Cassius is afraid that the people of Rome will come after him and kill him. Shakespeare’s character problems often concerned the difference between the reasons for an action and its outcome. These actions were for the best of Rome and they were, its democracy and going to battle. The outcomes were he killed his best friend thinking it was the best, he lost the battles, democracy fell and Octavius becomes emperor. The paragraphs above are the reasons why Brutus is the perfect example of William Shakespeare’s tragic hero. He fits all the requirements that need to happen to become a tragic hero. He is born into nobly, he experiences a catastrophe, and he has a tragic flaw. He has complexity, opposing desires with hesitation and doubt before taking action. Brutus makes decisions that have negative outcomes. His problems often concern the difference between the reasons for an action and its outcome. So this is why Brutus is the perfect example of a tragic hero, from Shakespeare’s point of view.