Marcus Brutus: A Tragic Hero Bound by Radical Idealism
William Irwin Thompson once said, “Idealistic reformers are dangerous because their idealism has no roots in love, but is simply a hysterical and unbalanced rage for order amidst their own chaos.” Brutus as we generally think about him is seen as patriotic, honorable, self controlled, stoic and quite possibly impractical. In many arguments, Brutus has simply fallen victim to Cassius’s radical idealism, manipulation,and tactfulness. However, no man is without fault, as Brutus can be attributed as an idealist in his own right. Idealism, in terms of philosophy, is ‘the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are.’ In terms of Brutus, his idealism is shown most prominently in Act II, scene I. “Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar; and in the spirit of men …show more content…
Many of his qualities, specifically his patriotism and love of Rome, blinded him from seeing the true outcome of his actions. He wholeheartedly believes that Antony will understand the need for the assassination, as he was also a close companion of Caesar. His suspicions prove wrong, as initially expected by the audience, as Antony and Octavius plan to go to war with Brutus and his armies. However, if Brutus had not joined the conspiracy, the final act of the play would have never taken place. In turn, Cassius would’ve been beheaded long before Octavius’ armies reached him. Yes, Brutus’ idealism caused his own downfall due to his extreme, and entirely inaccurate, expectations following the assassination. Still, he remains a tragic hero, not because he was tricked or manipulated into joining the conspiracy, but because of the fact that he truly believed that the acts of the conspiracy would benefit the Roman
William Irwin Thompson once said, “Idealistic reformers are dangerous because their idealism has no roots in love, but is simply a hysterical and unbalanced rage for order amidst their own chaos.” Brutus as we generally think about him is seen as patriotic, honorable, self controlled, stoic and quite possibly impractical. In many arguments, Brutus has simply fallen victim to Cassius’s radical idealism, manipulation,and tactfulness. However, no man is without fault, as Brutus can be attributed as an idealist in his own right. Idealism, in terms of philosophy, is ‘the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are.’ In terms of Brutus, his idealism is shown most prominently in Act II, scene I. “Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar; and in the spirit of men …show more content…
Many of his qualities, specifically his patriotism and love of Rome, blinded him from seeing the true outcome of his actions. He wholeheartedly believes that Antony will understand the need for the assassination, as he was also a close companion of Caesar. His suspicions prove wrong, as initially expected by the audience, as Antony and Octavius plan to go to war with Brutus and his armies. However, if Brutus had not joined the conspiracy, the final act of the play would have never taken place. In turn, Cassius would’ve been beheaded long before Octavius’ armies reached him. Yes, Brutus’ idealism caused his own downfall due to his extreme, and entirely inaccurate, expectations following the assassination. Still, he remains a tragic hero, not because he was tricked or manipulated into joining the conspiracy, but because of the fact that he truly believed that the acts of the conspiracy would benefit the Roman