The Tragedy of Julius Caesar has catastrophe in more characters than just Caesar. William Shakespeare presented Marcus Brutus in a way that closely followed the example of a tragic hero. He came from noble birth, had a fatal flaw and suffered a great tragedy. He also fits into Shakespeare’s variation of tragic heroes, by giving Brutus complexity, internal conflict, and using choice over fate. Brutus’ ultimate goal is fulfilled in part by his actions. Brutus thought his cause to be honorable, and that cause included the murder of his best friend. He realizes too late that his cause was corrupted and that his actions had brought about what he feared.
One element of being a tragic hero in a story is that the character needs to come from …show more content…
This often comes in the form of internal conflict. His tragic heroes usually struggle with the desired outcome versus the method of reaching it. In Brutus’ case, his desired outcome is the preservation of the democracy his ancestors created. In his eyes, there is a threat to that democracy, and that threat is Caesar. Caesar is in a position because of his victories to become an emperor. Brutus shows his worry about this outcome when he says “ I do fear the people chose Caesar for their king” (I.ii.78-79). Brutus’ honor directs him to intervene, but Cassius convinces him there is only one way to do this, by killing Caesar. Caesar and Brutus had a very close relationship, and were very good friends. Brutus decides to kill Caesar, and expresses this in his soliloquy. He says “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general,” (II.i.10-12). Brutus later expresses his decision to the people after killing Caesar, because “it is not that (Brutus) loved Caesar less, but that (Brutus) loved Rome more,” …show more content…
With Brutus these choices lead to him being run out of Rome and his death. His first mistake was letting Antony live. Brutus did not want to kill him because “our course will seem too bloody...for Antony is but a limb of Caesar,” (II.i.162-165). All of the other conspirators wanted to kill Antony. J.L. Simmons lists their reasons for not trusting Antony. He says that he “is a man who despised the law, favoured autocratic rule, and had acquired great power through his ability to mix familiarly with his soldiers…, and his natural arrogance and ambition had become more dangerous than ever,” (Simmons, 64). Brutus’ honor blinds him to the threat that Antony poses to his conspiracy. The second choice Brutus makes is that he lets Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius tries to warn Brutus that Antony will turn the people against him, but Brutus does not listen. Brutus and Cassius set out some simple rules that Antony has to follow if he wants to be able to speak. Antony agrees, but when the conspirators leave Antony reveals his true feelings. He expresses his feelings to Caesar’s body, saying “Domestic fury and fierce civil strike shall cumber all the parts of Italy...this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial,”(III.i.278-290). Antony then turns the crowd against the conspirators before Brutus can stop him from speaking. If Brutus would have killed
One element of being a tragic hero in a story is that the character needs to come from …show more content…
This often comes in the form of internal conflict. His tragic heroes usually struggle with the desired outcome versus the method of reaching it. In Brutus’ case, his desired outcome is the preservation of the democracy his ancestors created. In his eyes, there is a threat to that democracy, and that threat is Caesar. Caesar is in a position because of his victories to become an emperor. Brutus shows his worry about this outcome when he says “ I do fear the people chose Caesar for their king” (I.ii.78-79). Brutus’ honor directs him to intervene, but Cassius convinces him there is only one way to do this, by killing Caesar. Caesar and Brutus had a very close relationship, and were very good friends. Brutus decides to kill Caesar, and expresses this in his soliloquy. He says “It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general,” (II.i.10-12). Brutus later expresses his decision to the people after killing Caesar, because “it is not that (Brutus) loved Caesar less, but that (Brutus) loved Rome more,” …show more content…
With Brutus these choices lead to him being run out of Rome and his death. His first mistake was letting Antony live. Brutus did not want to kill him because “our course will seem too bloody...for Antony is but a limb of Caesar,” (II.i.162-165). All of the other conspirators wanted to kill Antony. J.L. Simmons lists their reasons for not trusting Antony. He says that he “is a man who despised the law, favoured autocratic rule, and had acquired great power through his ability to mix familiarly with his soldiers…, and his natural arrogance and ambition had become more dangerous than ever,” (Simmons, 64). Brutus’ honor blinds him to the threat that Antony poses to his conspiracy. The second choice Brutus makes is that he lets Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius tries to warn Brutus that Antony will turn the people against him, but Brutus does not listen. Brutus and Cassius set out some simple rules that Antony has to follow if he wants to be able to speak. Antony agrees, but when the conspirators leave Antony reveals his true feelings. He expresses his feelings to Caesar’s body, saying “Domestic fury and fierce civil strike shall cumber all the parts of Italy...this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial,”(III.i.278-290). Antony then turns the crowd against the conspirators before Brutus can stop him from speaking. If Brutus would have killed