Tragic Hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Tragic Hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Many pieces of literature are dependent on their protagonist(s). This character often acts upon emotion and creates a path from which a purpose emerges. Brutus, a powerful Roman figure in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar takes on this role. He kills Caesar’s under the assumption that he will soon become mad with power. He later realizes his wrongdoings and dies because of them. In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Brutus acts as a tragic ‘hero’ because he believes his actions are justified and because he has a moment of catharsis, which leads to his death.
The first reason why Brutus is the tragic hero is because he believes that his actions are justified. Brutus’ decision to kill Caesar is based fully on assumptions and his reasoning behind this decision lacks substance; however, he still convinces himself that his actions are necessary. He has this to say to the people of Rome” not that I had loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more (Act 3, Scene 2, 22-23). This shows how Brutus’ intentions are pure and how he truly believes that what he does is for the good of the people.
The second reason why Brutus is the tragic hero is because he has a moment of catharsis that results in his death. Brutus rarely questions himself or his actions. This tunnel vision leads him down a dangerous path starts a war. His army is defeated and before capture he has an outpouring of emotions; asking for his friends to kill him. Realizing his wrongdoing Brutus says “The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me…thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes” (Act 5, Scene 5, 17; 23). He ends up falling on Strato’s sword, killing himself. Fighting and dying for what he believes in is a major part in being the tragic hero
Some may argue that Caesar is the tragic hero, but this cannot be true because his intentions are never fully developed, and without pure intentions one cannot be a tragic hero. Others may also argue that Cassius is the tragic hero; however, this belief is also false because Cassius’ intentions are far from pure. He misleads and manipulates Brutus for his own personal gain. For these reasons Brutus is the only eligible candidate to be the tragic hero.
In conclusion Brutus is the tragic hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar because his intentions are pure and because he has an outpouring of emotions that results in his death. You must believe that Brutus is the tragic hero because his actions fit the requirements of a tragic hero, and because he is the only eligible contestant for the role.