Julius Caesar: Brutus As A Tragic Hero
In William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" Brutus is a friend of Caesar. Brutus is a believer in the republic and a member of the conspiracy against Caesar. Brutus is a highly respected man in the upper class of the Roman society. Brutus is a noble and a good man throughout the play. Brutus is a tragic hero because he is born from a high class family, is an overall a good person, and his trust is his tragic flaw. A noble man should be patriotic, ethical, and selfless. He should come from a heredity rank in a political system, and have qualities of a high moral character. They shouldn't think well just for themselves but for everyone. They should also be able to express their nobility. Everyone in the play knows that Brutus is a good
man. At the end of the play when Caesar says "Et tu Brute" (3.1.76), it shows how surprised he was. It shows Caesar had always thought that Brutus was a good person because he was shocked to see Brutus as a part of the conspirators. Cassius also knew this very well and he states that in his soliloquy "Well, Brutus, thou art noble" (1.2.297). The only reason Cassius wanted Caesar to be a part of the conspirators was to justify their selfish motives by Brutus's nobility. Even Brutus himself admits his nobility "I love the name of honor more than I fear death" (1.2.88-89). It shows that a noble man takes his own life rather than suffer humiliation. Brutus justifies his killing of Caesar by his nobility when he says to the crowd at Caesar's funeral "Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more" (3.2.19-20). Brutus's tragic flaw is his trust. Brutus is too trusting in the human nature of other people, he is also too trusting in his own motives and beliefs. His tragic flaw is brought to more attention after Caesar's death, when Brutus permits Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral. Cassius doesn't want him to, but Brutus tells him that he will speak before Antony. "I myself to the pulpit first and show the reason of our Caesar's death" (3.1.236-237). If Brutus didn't leave Antony alone with the crowd then the outcome wouldn't have happened. But Brutus did leave Antony alone. The reason that Antony's speech is so famous is because through his speech "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me you ears!"(3.2.65) he is able to sway the crowd into an angry mob with the power of his words. Brutus trusted Antony not to turn the crowd against the conspirators, he also trusted his motive was correct, he also made the mistake of trusting the conspirators, especially Cassius. Brutus's trust leads to his down fall. His innocence and purity of motives cause him to trust the motives of others. He believes he is doing the right thing which is that he is doing what is best for Rome and the Roman people. The traits that allow him to be successful private man are the very ones that hurt him in public life. He does not make quick and good judgments because of his ethical and moral views. Brutus is too trusting in the human nature of other people, he is also too trusting in his own motives and beliefs. Brutus's trait is generally a good trait to a person, provided it is toned down from the extent it has on Brutus. His tragic flaw adds to his character, in the way he is a selfless, noble Roman who is willing to put his state before his life.
man. At the end of the play when Caesar says "Et tu Brute" (3.1.76), it shows how surprised he was. It shows Caesar had always thought that Brutus was a good person because he was shocked to see Brutus as a part of the conspirators. Cassius also knew this very well and he states that in his soliloquy "Well, Brutus, thou art noble" (1.2.297). The only reason Cassius wanted Caesar to be a part of the conspirators was to justify their selfish motives by Brutus's nobility. Even Brutus himself admits his nobility "I love the name of honor more than I fear death" (1.2.88-89). It shows that a noble man takes his own life rather than suffer humiliation. Brutus justifies his killing of Caesar by his nobility when he says to the crowd at Caesar's funeral "Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more" (3.2.19-20). Brutus's tragic flaw is his trust. Brutus is too trusting in the human nature of other people, he is also too trusting in his own motives and beliefs. His tragic flaw is brought to more attention after Caesar's death, when Brutus permits Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral. Cassius doesn't want him to, but Brutus tells him that he will speak before Antony. "I myself to the pulpit first and show the reason of our Caesar's death" (3.1.236-237). If Brutus didn't leave Antony alone with the crowd then the outcome wouldn't have happened. But Brutus did leave Antony alone. The reason that Antony's speech is so famous is because through his speech "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me you ears!"(3.2.65) he is able to sway the crowd into an angry mob with the power of his words. Brutus trusted Antony not to turn the crowd against the conspirators, he also trusted his motive was correct, he also made the mistake of trusting the conspirators, especially Cassius. Brutus's trust leads to his down fall. His innocence and purity of motives cause him to trust the motives of others. He believes he is doing the right thing which is that he is doing what is best for Rome and the Roman people. The traits that allow him to be successful private man are the very ones that hurt him in public life. He does not make quick and good judgments because of his ethical and moral views. Brutus is too trusting in the human nature of other people, he is also too trusting in his own motives and beliefs. Brutus's trait is generally a good trait to a person, provided it is toned down from the extent it has on Brutus. His tragic flaw adds to his character, in the way he is a selfless, noble Roman who is willing to put his state before his life.