Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar has been criticized for its title. Some argue that it should actually be called Brutus. Marcus Brutus would then be the tragic protagonist. It is a good title, because Julius Caesar’s character, even though he has very few lines and dies at the end of Act 3, impacts the other characters in a big way. He is not the tragic protagonist, but he has a major influence on how the play progresses, and causes characters to act in certain ways. Caesar’s role is crucial in determining why Brutus has become the tragic hero.
Brutus’s murder of Caesar is the main focus of this play. Brutus made a bad decision by killing Caesar, but he still believed it was justified. He was convinced that Rome would fall if Caesar had become king. So, Brutus felt it was important to kill Caesar in order to save Rome. His intentions may have been noble and purposeful but ultimately they led to his demise. Aristotle defines tragic heroes as literary characters who make a judgment mistake that inevitably results in their own destruction. He goes on to state that tragic heroes must possess certain characteristics. A character’s flaw is called hamartia. Second, the hero must make a mistake in judgment or have a flaw, which causes peripeteia. Thirdly, he must admit that he is responsible for the change in fortune, anagnorisis. The tragic hero should be overconfident, or hubris. Finally, the character should have a greater fate than they deserved. Brutus definitely fits these five qualities: hamartia (a lack of self-awareness), peripeteia (a lack of insight), hubris (a lack in foresight), and a more tragic fate than he deserved.
Marcus Brutus is not without faults. But his lack of honor, his poor judgment and his idealism are what ultimately lead to his demise. Brutus struggles with his feelings about the assassination of Caesar. Brutus tells himself that if Caesar reaches “the highest round”, he will turn away from the people. He believes the only solution is to assassinate him. Cassius can easily convince Brutus that Rome would fall if Caesar became king. Brutus is convinced by Cassius that Caesar’s death is justified because he loves his country. He is manipulated by Cassius because he misunderstands Cassius’ motives. Brutus’ fate may have been different if Cassius had not so easily persuaded him to join in the murder of Caesar. Brutus is blinded by his idealistic vision of a Rome without Caesar. This leads him to kill Caesar in the name of “the general” instead of a personal cause. Brutus respects and honors Rome, and he believes he has to protect it from Caesar and any “danger he might” bring. He believes it’s his duty to stop its fall. Due to his over-idealism and lack of judgement, he assumes that Caesar’s death will save Rome. But his actions lead to a war that engulfs Rome. His good intentions, however, make him a hero.
Peripeteia occurs because of Brutus’s erroneous judgement. He miscalculates other people’s actions, trusts them when he shouldn’t, and makes bad decisions in the final analysis. Brutus has been easily manipulated at the beginning by Cassius. He then takes part in Caesar’s murder. Brutus holds Caesar’s funeral after Caesar has been murdered. Antony, Caesar’s loyalist, asks Brutus if he could “speak at Caesar’s funeral”. Brutus agrees, but Antony is not to blame the conspirators. He should instead “talk all that Caesar can do for him”. Brutus responds with yes, but that Antony “shall not” blame the conspirators, “but speak all good” he “can devise of Caesar”. The plebeians called the conspirators “villains”,’murderers’ and a traitor, and went on to say Caesar would be repaid. Brutus’s assumption that Antony and the others would quietly step aside when another king is installed was naive. Brutus is the perfect scapegoat. Brutus is in a downward spiral after allowing Antony speak. Antony’s army is built to fight Brutus after the plebeians rebel. This war leads to Brutus’s death. Brutus made a mistake that led to a dangerous situation. His flaws caused him to die tragically.
Brutus, after Antony has incited the crowd against those who have murdered Caesar and Brutus himself is blamed for his reversal of fortunes, realizes he must take responsibility. He should’ve listened to Cassius instead of letting Antony speak. Rome now is against him. After Antony spoke, the servant told Antony that Brutus & Cassius had “ride through Rome like madmen”. Brutus is forced to admit his mistakes after fleeing Rome. Brutus had no idea that Rome was going to turn on him because he believed Caesar’s death to be right. Chaos and war are inevitable. Brutus takes his own life as the war ends. Strato helps Brutus commit suicide because he believes he’ll be killed and captured. Brutus’s final words were “Caesar. Now be quiet.” Brutus’s last words, “Caesar, now be still”, show that he regrets killing Caesar. Brutus says that Caesar can rest now, because he’s killing himself more willingly. Brutus finally realizes that he has lost everything because of his miscalculations.
Brutus’ actions, words, or thoughts were all overconfident. Brutus is talking to Cassius about Antony’s speech at Caesars’ funeral. Cassius disagrees with Brutus about his decision. He tries convincing Brutus otherwise. Cassius asked Brutus “do you not consent Antony to speak at his funeral knowing that the people could be affected by what he utters?” Brutus replied that he was going to speak first. He then gave Antony rules. Brutus thinks that the Romans would understand what Antony said and therefore allows Antony to speak. Brutus believes that the Romans won’t go against him because he is confident. Brutus then takes the stage and says that if Caesar had not been killed, they would all have died slaves instead of “living as freemen”. Brutus makes a horrible mistake when he tries to predict Antony’s words. The overconfidence he displays will again cost him his death.
Brutus dies both heroically and tragically. Strato, the only one who refuses to assist Brutus in his suicide attempt, is Brutus’ friend. Clitus, Brutus friend, said about Brutus that “now that noble vessel has become so filled with grief that tears are running over his eyes”. Clitus realizes that Brutus wants to die before anyone else. Before Brutus takes his own life, he says “farewell” to everyone and accepts his fate bravely. Antony & Octavius declare at the end of the play that Brutus was “the noblest Roman ever” even though he killed Caesar. His actions were made for the betterment of the people of Rome, not just for himself. Brutus is convinced that killing Caesar will bring a better future to Rome. By killing his friend and putting Rome above himself, it makes him a hero. His death is therefore heroic. His death is tragic because he had to do it himself. A man of Brutus’ standing, good reputation, and love for Rome should have a nobler death. He died tragically and heroically. His fate was worse than what he had deserved.
Marcus Brutus embodies what it means to be a tragic heroine. He is driven to a tragic event by his flaws. Brutus accepts all of his faults. He believes that his words and actions are the best, and he is confident. Brutus’ overconfidence leads him to miscalculate his actions and ultimately lead to his death. Even though Brutus committed suicide, his death was not as tragic as he thought. Antony felt sorry for him. Marcus Brutus is the tragic hero in the play, not Julius Caesar.
Works Cited
The works cited section remains the same regardless of whether the text is original or paraphrased.
Henshaw, Kristin. Bainbridge High School. Shakespeare, William. Barbara A. Mowat. Paul Werstine. N.p. The Tragic of Julius Caesar. In 1992, Washington Square in New York was a popular spot. Print.
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