In the play Julius Caesar, the tragic hero is Brutus

by doomyneko (student)

International Baccalaureate World Literature

Tragic Hero

Running Head: THE TRAGIC TALE OF A TRAGIC HERO

The Tragic Tale of a Tragic Hero

Edward Sun

ENG 2DE

Colonel By Secondary School

November 22, 2011

All of William Shakespeare’s tragedies have a type of character called the tragic hero. In the play Julius Caesar, the tragic hero is Brutus. Brutus matches the definition of the tragic hero because he is an exceptional human being who is of public importance, he has a character flaw or weakness which leads to his eventual downfall, and has enough goodness to win sympathy.

Brutus’ important public status and unusual amount of suffering is an essential component of being a Shakespearian tragic hero. Brutus’ public status is extremely important, in that “he sits high in all people’s hearts…his countenance, like rich alchemy, will change to virtue and worthiness” (Act 1, Scene 3, line 158-160), meaning that he can change the public opinion of Caesar’s murder to one of virtue instead of jealousy. This held true for the most part, as the citizens indeed believed Brutus that Caesar was too ambitious for his own good. It also shows how even people of Brutus’ own status respect and value him as well. His public importance is once again shown with Caesar. Brutus’ sufferings are also unusual. “O Cassius! I am sick of many griefs” (Act 4 Scene 3, line 143) is an example of how Brutus’ suffered more for his actions than any other conspirator. Later on, the death of Portia, Brutus’ wife is mentioned. Seeing Brutus was the only one to speak of the loss of his family during the conversation with Cassius, it is evident that Brutus suffered the most out of all the conspirators. His status and sufferings are not the only components of a tragic hero.

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Brutus is a tragic hero because he has character flaws that lead to his downfall. This is shown through Brutus’ trusting nature. By how Cassius easily manipulates him by using his trust against him, Brutus’ trusting nature is revealed. When Brutus receives letters written Cassius telling him to “Speak, Strike, and redress!” (Act 2, sc 1, line 48), believing that it is from different citizens. This essentially tells Brutus to speak up, strike Caesar, and redress the issue of Caesar’s dictatorship. With Brutus being a man of the people, he believes what the “people” are saying. However, this was really an act of Cassius’ manipulation, playing with Brutus’ trusting nature. Brutus, representing the citizens, truly believes now that assassinating Caesar is the right choice. Brutus’ second tragic flaw is his poor judgment. His poor judgment led him to make many mistakes, which in turn put him on a path of his own downfall. For example, Brutus thinks that Antony is “but a limb of Caesar” (Act 2 Sc 1, line 165), meaning Antony is useless with Caesar gone. That was not the case. After Caesar’s assassination, Mark Antony initiates a riot, which eventually leads Rome into civil war. Brutus’ misjudgment of Antony is what caused his downfall, as Antony’s apparent victory during the final battle was what led Brutus to commit suicide.

Despite his flaws, Brutus evokes pathos from both the audience and his enemies because he has enough goodness to do so, leaving the audience to think it is a waste for him to die. Even Antony, being an enemy of the conspirators, recognizes that Brutus was “the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators, save he did that they did in envy of great Caesar” (Act 5, Scene 5, line 68-70), telling the audience that Brutus was indeed noble, and that his deeds were done in the belief that it was good for Rome. This allows the audience to generate sympathy, as Brutus’ good qualities shine through. It also leaves a general feeling of waste once Brutus dies. By comparing Brutus with the conspirators, it is safe to say that his motive was the purest of them all. Brutus’ goodness is also shown throughout the play. “Et tu Brute? Then-fall Caesar!” (Act 3 Scene 1 line 77) is an exemplar of Brutus’ good. By saying “You too, Brutus? Then I will fall!”, Caesar recognizes Brutus for being a good man, and by being a good man, Brutus must have a reason to kill Caesar. Thus, Caesar accepts his fate more easily.

By being an exceptional individual in public status, possessing tragic flaws which lead to his downfall, and by evoking pathos from the audience, it is safe to say that Brutus was the tragic hero of Julius Caesar. Brutus’ role in this tragic tale makes him truly, the tragic hero.