Julius Caesar Analysis

Reading Brutus:

Marcus Brutus is by definition, an ‘honourable man’, yet the play Julius Caesar poses the question; how can such an honourable man commit such a dishonourable act as murder? This ambiguity is tracked throughout the play as Brutus, a man who is constantly ‘with himself at war’ (I, ii, 51) attempts to convince himself that he acts ‘for the good of Rome’ (3, ii, 45). But the question is not whether Brutus has managed to convince himself of his nobility, but whether he has managed to convince the audience.

From the very early scenes, the audience is witness to the cogs turning in Brutus’ head as he tries to distinguish appearance from reality, truth from fiction and honour from treason. This conflict is fuelled by the ‘lean and hungry’ (1, ii, 206) Cassius, a master manipulator who knows the importance of honour to Brutus and maliciously plays upon it as he plants the seed of doubt in the mid of Brutus. Brutus SHALL provide the conspirators with the face of honour.

Brutus is wealthy, powerful, a loving husband and Caesar’s best friend, but is he the ‘noblest Roman of them all’ (5, v, 73)?

Manipulated by Cassius, Brutus easily persuades himself of the necessity to kill Caesar for the ‘good of Rome’ (3, ii, 45). Elizabethan values are demonstrated through the idealist, Brutus, who does everything he can to preserve the reputation as an honourable man, even after the assassination of a great leader. Through persuasion and manipulation of words, Brutus creates a veil of honour to hide his misgivings and convince the audience and himself the he is an honourable man.

Continually, Brutus demonstrates his love of his honourable name informing Cassius that he ‘love[s]/ The name of honour, more than [he] fears death’ (1, ii, 98 – 99). Yet Cassius is able to play on Brutus’ personal ambition claiming that ‘Brutus’ will start a spirit as soon as ‘Caesar’” (1, ii, 157).

Julius Caersar - Analysis of Brutus

In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the character Marcus Brutus fits the definition of the tragic hero. Like other tragic heroes, he had great promise, ability, and integrity of character. He had a tragic flaw. He had a lust for power, and he died at the end of the play. Brutus had great promise, ability, and strength of character. The fact that he could single-handedly take over the group of conspirators, and completely overrule Cassius demonstrates his strength of character, and his influence on others. Brutus's tragic flaw was that he was too trusting. He frankly and honestly felt that he had had to kill Caesar in order to save Rome from tyranny. He trusted Antony not to blame the conspirators in his speech at Caesar's funeral. Antony broke that promise and got Brutus and the others into deep trouble. Brutus also trusted Cassius. Cassius only asked Brutus to be a part of the conspiracy as a way of getting closer to Caesar. He never suspected that Brutus would take over the group and become their leader. Cassius thought that he was getting someone to lead the men, but that he would still be the head man.

Brutus, however, took all power away from Cassius, and Cassius no longer had any say in the happenings of the group. Brutus had a conscience. It was obvious that Brutus felt terrible about Caesar's death, but he felt that it was the only way to keep peace in Rome. When Caesar's ghost came to Brutus, it could have been a real ghost, but it also may have been Brutus's conscience coming back to haunt him. After all, stabbing one's best friend is dishonorable, and Brutus was an honorable man, so anything that he did that was dishonorable was not acknowledged. Brutus did not associate anything dishonorable with himself, and so when he did do something dishonorable, he did not admit it to himself. Brutus died at the end of the play of his own will. "Farewell Strato. Caesar now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will." Brutus felt unbearable remorse for Caesar's death, and his final words told that.

Brutus had a lust for power. When he joined the conspirators, he immediately took over. When they were considering asking Cicero to be one of the conspirators, Brutus would not have it even thought he was the only one who objected. Having an older, more experienced person in the group would have put Brutus out of power, and he would have had to settle for second-in-command. Brutus could not really predict what Caesar would have done with the crown. He did know that if Caesar was crowned, however, then he had no chance of ever being crowned himself.

Brutus filled the description of the tragic hero quite well. He was a great man, and everyone knew it. Though he killed Caesar, he had a valid excuse, which he had the people believe. He thought that killing Caesar was the right thing to do, even though it was not. Any way one looks at it, Brutus was a great man, and a tragic hero. "This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he-- did that they did in envy of great Caesar; He, only in general honest thought-- and common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up-- And say to all the world, 'This was a man!'" -Marcus Antony

A tragic hero is a central character. This character is good and noble
but has flaws, which lead to his downfall and death. In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Brutus is a tragic hero. In his attempt to go good he makes errors in judgment. Brutus attempting to do what is right, yet doing what is wrong, fits the definition of a tragic hero.
A tragic hero is characterized as a good and noble character. Brutus, fitting the good and noble aspect of a tragic hero, kills Caesar for what he believes is the good of Rome. Brutus expresses his feelings about the death of Caesar,"...as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I/ have the same dagger for myself when it shall please/ my country to need my death" (III.II.82-85). Brutus does not crave power as the other conspirators do. He is willing to sacrifice himself for the good of Rome if it is necessary, an admirable action. His attentions throughout the play are noble, and his death was noble as well. Other characters also see that Brutus has no evil intentions. These characters realize Brutus is simply mixed up with the wrong crowd and therefore his judgment is clouded. Antony and Octavious, leaders of the war against Brutus and the conspirators, speak well of him after his death.
"This was the noblest Roman of them all" (V.V.75). "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed up in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world 'This was a man!' " (V.V. 80-82).
Antony comments in a speech after the death of Brutus that Brutus encompasses the traits of what a man should be like. He is a perfect example of a Roman, as he is irreplaceable, and the best of the best. Brutus may be an amazing Roman, but he does have his flaws.
Brutus has flaws, as do all tragic heroes. He becomes so entangled in the wrong crowd by succumbing to the flattery of Cassius, leader of the conspirators, that he remains blind to the true intentions of him. Cassius knows his remarks have affected Brutus and comments:
"I am glad That my weak words have struck but thus much Show Of fire from Brutus" (I.II.186-189).
Cassius is surprised, yet delighted, his flattery and ridicule of Caesar affects Brutus as much as it does. He then starts to put devious ideas into the head of Brutus, knowing he will soon convince Brutus to join the conspirators. Brutus slowly bends to the will of the conspirators; unable to see their true intentions he utters:
"Cassius, Be not deceived. If I have veiled my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself" (I.II.42-45).
If Brutus allows himself to be deceived, it will result in his own ruination. This happens as his flaws in judgment, and his foolishness, catch up with him.
Because of his flaws and errors in judgment, a tragic hero such as Brutus experiences death and downfall. Brutus, fulfilling the death portion, kills himself. "Caesar, now be still./ I killed not thee with half so good a will" (V.V.56). Brutus, as he kills himself, tells Caesar to rest in peace. He, in a noble thought, says that he killed him, Caesar, not half as willingly as he now kills himself. Brutus realizes what the conspirators have done to both Caesar and him. Under the influence of Cassius, Brutus is lead to believe killing Caesar is the correct thing to do, the only option to save Rome from ambitiousness of Caesar. "Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius" (II.I.179). Brutus, forever righteous, believes the death of Caesar should be sacrificial with a purpose behind it, not a mindless slaughter. Brutus is not scheming to gain power by the death of Caesar as the other conspirators are, but instead he is aiming to help Rome.
A tragic hero, defined by his flaws and misjudgments, fits the noble Brutus. His mistakes lead to his downfall and death, as it goes with tragic heroes. He succumbs to flattery, a deeply rooted flaw. However, throughout it all, Brutus remains good and noble. He wants only what is best for Rome, not what is best for himself.

Brutus as the Tragic Hero

According to Aristotle, “A tragic hero is a character who is not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice and depravity, but by some error or frailty…” The classic tragic hero has some type of tragic character flaw which creates an inner struggle, leads to his making a serious error in judgment, and leads to his eventual downfall and death.

In Julius Caesar Brutus displays the traits of a tragic hero through out this play. His tragic flaw is his being too naive. He makes an error in judgment, and when this error occurred it causes his own downfall. But Brutus causes his own downfall when after killing Caesar all of Rome turns against the conspirators. And all these events cause his death. However, the factors that have made him a tragic hero are discussed below:

The main reason that Marcus Brutus deserves the title of tragic hero is his noble personality. First of all, throughout the play, he never deceives anyone. Although he did murder Julius Caesar, it was for the good of Rome, not to deceive Caesar. Everything that he did was for the benefit of someone else. Even though he killed Antony's best friend, Antony still recognized Brutus as "the noblest Roman of them all." He does this in Act 5, Scene 5, after Brutus' death because Brutus the only conspirator that actually killed Caesar because he "loved Caesar less but loved Rome more." He cared more about others than he did himself. For instance, in the process of killing Caesar, he could have easily backed out because he knew he might have been punished, but he knew in the long run, that it would help the plebeians most. Another example of his selflessness is in Act 2, Scene 1. Brutus decides not to tell Portia his plans for the murder of Caesar. He feels she already has enough stress in her life and does not need to worry or deal with his plans.

Brutus also frequently demonstrated many acts of affection toward others. In Act 1, Scene 2, he is reluctant to join Cassius's conspiracy because he did not want to betray Caesar. He had to weigh his choices and in Act 3, Scene 2, Brutus kills Caesar only because he is afraid of what will happen to Rome if Caesar remains ruler. He knew the commoners’ life would be difficult with the ruling of Caesar. He realizes what a honorable man Caesar was. This is shown again in the same Act and Scene when Brutus allows Mark Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral even though Cassius highly disagreed. Brutus realized Caesar deserved a proper ceremony, and that the best way to do that would be to let Caesar's best friend speak. Finally he shows his endearment for others in Act 5, Scene 5. This is the scene in which Brutus kills himself partly because Cassius, his best friend, died.

All tragic heroes possess a character flaw that leads to their defeat. Brutus' tragic flaw was being naive. He thought that everything was good in the world, and that all men were honorable. He believed all that people told him and felt no one would lie or deceive him. Just because he did not betray anyone, he believed the world would return this act. This characteristic led him to his death. All that he trusted deceived him at one time or another during the play. He allows others, like Cassius and Antony to betray him. He is too trustful and does not realize what people are capable of doing to him after making them his friend. Due to this tragic flaw, a downfall of the character occurred soon after. The events that occurred because of Brutus' naiveness led to his downfall and death. His first mistake was in Act 2, Scene 1. This was when the fake letters are sent to him from the conspirators. This was all a lie, a trap, to get Brutus to join in on the conspirator for Cassius knew he could not do it without Brutus' support. Brutus believes these letters are from the people of Rome and agrees to the death of Caesar. Another example of this naiveness is in Act 3, Scene 2. Brutus decides to allow Antony to speak to show honor to Caesar. In the end, this decision ruins him. Antony riles the crowd into believing that the conspirators are all evil and they must get revenge. In result, a war breaks out. His last error, was not so much because of his naive trait, it was just pure desire in Act 5, Scene 2. This fault occurred when he starts the battle without telling Cassius about it. Brutus realizes it is the time to strike and knows that he must start the battle. There is no time to tell Cassius. This choice, in the end, was the main reason for his suicide. He kills himself because he realizes it is nobler to commit suicide than become captured and dragged through Rome.

Another characteristic is that the character has to have an epiphany or has to learn from his mistakes. This characteristic also fits Brutus. When Brutus and Cassius are planning to fight Caesar and Antony, they get into an argument and Brutus realizes that he cannot trust Cassius anymore.

With all of Brutus's characteristics, he is obviously the tragic hero of this play. Throughout this drama, he demonstrates the quality of honor many times. He is a noble man and I think Antony sums in up well in his last part in the play, which reads,

"This was the noblest Roman of them all.
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He, only in general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, "This was a man!"

In the end, Brutus is defeated because of his tragic flaw. Brutus was naive and did not realize the real ways of the people he trusted. Marcus Brutus is the real tragic hero of Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, and this title should not even be argued.