Within Julius Caesar there is much debate as to who the real protagonists and antagonists are, especially when it comes to the character Brutus. Some argue that Shakespeare meant for Brutus to be the villain of Julius Caesar, but I believe that Brutus is a protagonist in this story. He possesses many characteristics associated with tragic heroes, a.k.a protagonists, he plays a major role in the story, and his role is capable of being interpreted in many different ways. When the question of protagonist or antagonist is raised, many people get hung up on the idea that these words are synonymous with good and bad, right and wrong. Some might rush to call Brutus an antagonist because hey killing people is bad, but before making a decision you
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Brutus is a perfect example of a tragic hero with tragic flaws; he seems to have trouble understanding his own nature, he killed Caesar to help his people (or so he claims), and he has a sense of pride that eventually leads to his death. These characteristics contribute to Brutus’ standing as a tragic hero and a protagonist of Julius Caesar; especially his pride, because it is what kills him in the end. Tragic heroes are the protagonists of tragedies like Julius Caesar and they are characterized by the tragic flaw and twist of fate that leads to their inevitable demise. Brutus is a prime example of how fate and character combine to bring the tragic end of a tragedy’s protagonist; at the end of the play when he knows that there is no hope of winning he clings to his sense of pride, saying “Our enemies have beat us to the pit: it is more worthy to leap in ourselves than tarry till they push us” (Julius Caesar Act V, Scene V). He is so caught up in his pride that he is willing to kill himself rather than wait for the enemy to defeat him. This tragic flaw is extreme, but I think most people can relate to this in a least some small way. Most people have a sense of pride that has gotten them into strange and sometimes ridiculous situations, making Brutus relatable as a character, something that is important for a tragic hero. These kinds of relatable flaws are what make Brutus a protagonist; he is the one the story follows whether you agree with his actions or
Brutus is a perfect example of a tragic hero with tragic flaws; he seems to have trouble understanding his own nature, he killed Caesar to help his people (or so he claims), and he has a sense of pride that eventually leads to his death. These characteristics contribute to Brutus’ standing as a tragic hero and a protagonist of Julius Caesar; especially his pride, because it is what kills him in the end. Tragic heroes are the protagonists of tragedies like Julius Caesar and they are characterized by the tragic flaw and twist of fate that leads to their inevitable demise. Brutus is a prime example of how fate and character combine to bring the tragic end of a tragedy’s protagonist; at the end of the play when he knows that there is no hope of winning he clings to his sense of pride, saying “Our enemies have beat us to the pit: it is more worthy to leap in ourselves than tarry till they push us” (Julius Caesar Act V, Scene V). He is so caught up in his pride that he is willing to kill himself rather than wait for the enemy to defeat him. This tragic flaw is extreme, but I think most people can relate to this in a least some small way. Most people have a sense of pride that has gotten them into strange and sometimes ridiculous situations, making Brutus relatable as a character, something that is important for a tragic hero. These kinds of relatable flaws are what make Brutus a protagonist; he is the one the story follows whether you agree with his actions or