To what extent is Brutus the real tragic hero of the play?
In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus is a tragic hero in the play as he makes an error of judgement which brings in his downfall. As he is portrayed as noble and honourable general by many characters in the play, audience sympathises with him.
Brutus is a man of high standing. Throughout the play, the audience sees Brutus as a noble and honourable man. In Act One Scene Two, the audience is hinted of the importance of Brutus when Cassius tries to persuade Brutus to join conspiracy. ‘I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, as well as I do know your outward favour.’ Cassius believes that having him as a part of the conspiracy makes the assassination of Caesar look less bad and respectable because Brutus is known as a noble man to the commoners. When Brutus is about to make a speech in front of the people, plebian says that ‘The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!’ showing that they think highly of Brutus. When he finishes they shout ‘Let him be Caesar!’ which suggests that they are all on his side. However, when Antony is doing his speech, he uses repetition of ‘Brutus is an honourable man’. This repetition makes him and other conspirators seem honourable, but this serves opposite purpose making commoners feel they are not honourable. By using rhetoric speech, Antony makes plebians move from Brutus’ side to Antony’s side effectively. Although Antony says he is an honourable man ironically in his speech, Antony truly describes him in the last scene as ‘this was the noblest Roman of them all’ because although he kills his best friend, he is the only one who kills Caesar for the good of Rome not out of envy like other conspirators. The last single word of Caesar ‘Et tu Brute? Then fall Caesar’ suggests the audience that Caesar loved and trusted Brutus much considering him as ‘Caesar’s angel’. This betrayal to friend was an error of judgement which brings in his downfall.
