Julius Caesar: The Tragic Hero
Caesar is not the Tragic hero of a play called The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Although the title may claim so, Caesar is not the true tragic hero of his own play. This title belongs to Caesar friend, Marcus Brutus. In The Tragedy of Caesar, Brutus is the tragic hero not Caesar.
Admittedly Caesar is of great magnitude, he is close to being dictator and even refers to himself in the third person but he doesn’t bring the audience to pity him. However Brutus is also a man of great magnitude, being a senator he has a large amount of influence. Casca explains this influence by saying, of Brutus, “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts,”(I.iii.162). This quote explains Brutus’ high status with the people, and his influence of Rome. Brutus’ fall is thus one from a high stature.
Brutus further exemplifies the tragic …show more content…
hero through the stature he gains from death. Brutus after killing himself is found dead by Mark Antony, who was one of Brutus’ enemies. Upon seeing that Brutus is dead Antony doesn’t rejoice in victory but mourns the loss of Brutus, who Antony call the most noble Roman(V.v.74-81). The stature Brutus gains after his death is through Antony’s respect. This brings Brutus even closer to what Aristotle would call a tragic hero.
Brutus’s actions are almost unison of those of Aristotle’s guidelines of the hero’s actions bringing about the opposite effect.
Brutus kills Caesar for the good of the people, believing that his action would lead to the unification and freedom of the Roman people. Although later Brutus sees that his actions bring about the opposite effect, causing a riot (III.ii.216-217) and eventually a civil war (III.i.280-301). This is not what Brutus wished to happen and these events cause Brutus to follow another of Aristotle’s guidelines for a tragic hero, realizing the wrong in his choice. This regret is seen when Brutus kills himself, as his dying words are “I killed not thee with half so good a will.” (V.v.57). Showing remorse for his bad decision.
Brutus exemplifies all of Aristotle’s requirements of a tragic hero, making Brutus the tragic hero of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Brutus shows regret for his action to kill Caesar, caused by a lapse in his judgment. As well as gaining stature through his death, bringing the audience to pity the Tragic Hero. But is Brutus’s story over, is the world done rebelling against the tyrant or are their more Brutus’s to
come?
Admittedly Caesar is of great magnitude, he is close to being dictator and even refers to himself in the third person but he doesn’t bring the audience to pity him. However Brutus is also a man of great magnitude, being a senator he has a large amount of influence. Casca explains this influence by saying, of Brutus, “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts,”(I.iii.162). This quote explains Brutus’ high status with the people, and his influence of Rome. Brutus’ fall is thus one from a high stature.
Brutus further exemplifies the tragic …show more content…
hero through the stature he gains from death. Brutus after killing himself is found dead by Mark Antony, who was one of Brutus’ enemies. Upon seeing that Brutus is dead Antony doesn’t rejoice in victory but mourns the loss of Brutus, who Antony call the most noble Roman(V.v.74-81). The stature Brutus gains after his death is through Antony’s respect. This brings Brutus even closer to what Aristotle would call a tragic hero.
Brutus’s actions are almost unison of those of Aristotle’s guidelines of the hero’s actions bringing about the opposite effect.
Brutus kills Caesar for the good of the people, believing that his action would lead to the unification and freedom of the Roman people. Although later Brutus sees that his actions bring about the opposite effect, causing a riot (III.ii.216-217) and eventually a civil war (III.i.280-301). This is not what Brutus wished to happen and these events cause Brutus to follow another of Aristotle’s guidelines for a tragic hero, realizing the wrong in his choice. This regret is seen when Brutus kills himself, as his dying words are “I killed not thee with half so good a will.” (V.v.57). Showing remorse for his bad decision.
Brutus exemplifies all of Aristotle’s requirements of a tragic hero, making Brutus the tragic hero of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Brutus shows regret for his action to kill Caesar, caused by a lapse in his judgment. As well as gaining stature through his death, bringing the audience to pity the Tragic Hero. But is Brutus’s story over, is the world done rebelling against the tyrant or are their more Brutus’s to
come?