The Fall of a Tragic Hero: Marcus Brutus
The Fall of a Tragic Hero: Marcus Brutus
William Shakespeare is the master of tragedy. The universes in which his heroes live are never perfect: justice doesn’t always win, and people never simply get the answers to their questions. There is always somebody who gets hurt, the tragic hero, who’s downfall occurs from a reverse of fate and hamartia, an error of judgment. In Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus is often seen as that tragic hero. He was always seen as an honorable man, and although he had joined the conspirators to kill his friend, he truly believed it was done for the good of the Republic, but in the end what killed him was a reverse of fortune and his own flaw – naivetés.
Brutus had integrity of character: he was loyal, selfless, strong, an honorable man in everything he did – one of Caesars favorite.Throughout the play Brutus never deceives anybody because of his will to become powerful. Agreeing to kill Caesar for the wellness of the republic, Brutus tells Cassius in caution: “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers…Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods” (2.1.179,186). Even in his plans of killing Caesar, Brutus talks of him highly, and believes he is not deceiving his friend in anyway. Brutus’ selflessness is proven in act 2 scene 1 when he decides not to share his plans of Caesars assassination with his wife Portia. Curious of what the conspirators were up to when coming to her household says: “you have some sick offense within your mind. Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of" (2.1.288-290). Brutus felt that his wife already had enough stress on her shoulders and did not want her to worry about his plans or problems too. Brutus is a powerful figure and has the strength to overcome Cassius and rule the conspirators. Before the battle of Philippi, Brutus puts Cassius in his place: “Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm” (4.3.9-10). Brutus oversteps showing he has the power of say
William Shakespeare is the master of tragedy. The universes in which his heroes live are never perfect: justice doesn’t always win, and people never simply get the answers to their questions. There is always somebody who gets hurt, the tragic hero, who’s downfall occurs from a reverse of fate and hamartia, an error of judgment. In Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus is often seen as that tragic hero. He was always seen as an honorable man, and although he had joined the conspirators to kill his friend, he truly believed it was done for the good of the Republic, but in the end what killed him was a reverse of fortune and his own flaw – naivetés.
Brutus had integrity of character: he was loyal, selfless, strong, an honorable man in everything he did – one of Caesars favorite.Throughout the play Brutus never deceives anybody because of his will to become powerful. Agreeing to kill Caesar for the wellness of the republic, Brutus tells Cassius in caution: “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers…Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods” (2.1.179,186). Even in his plans of killing Caesar, Brutus talks of him highly, and believes he is not deceiving his friend in anyway. Brutus’ selflessness is proven in act 2 scene 1 when he decides not to share his plans of Caesars assassination with his wife Portia. Curious of what the conspirators were up to when coming to her household says: “you have some sick offense within your mind. Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of" (2.1.288-290). Brutus felt that his wife already had enough stress on her shoulders and did not want her to worry about his plans or problems too. Brutus is a powerful figure and has the strength to overcome Cassius and rule the conspirators. Before the battle of Philippi, Brutus puts Cassius in his place: “Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm” (4.3.9-10). Brutus oversteps showing he has the power of say