Julius Caesar Flaws

Tragedies of the Elizabethan era often explore characters whose most harrowing conflicts originate from dark places within the innermost levels of immoral hearts. As written by the playwright Shakespeare, Julius Caesar considerably displays that traditionally nefarious quality in his characterization. Although, more specifically, Caesar’s tragic flaw is his overly ambitious nature, which eventually becomes the cause for his downfall despite having originally been what had brought him many successes. The character’s tragic flaw manifests itself throughout the play by demonstrating a tale of hubris: while Caesar’s egotism creates envious enemies after his blood, it is undoubtedly Caesar’s own personal actions that are ultimately responsible for …show more content…
When Cassius remarks to Brutus, “Why, man, [Caesar] doth bestride the narrow world / Like a Colossus, and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs and peep about / To find ourselves dishonorable graves” (21), he is attempting to turn Brutus against Caesar by describing how Caesar’s growth in power shadows the rest of his fellow warriors to the point of disreputability. Caesar’s tragic flaw, during Act 1 of the play, has clearly set the character on a negative path, considering that Cassius, who was once loyal to Caesar for a long time, is scheming to convince Brutus, who is thought to be one of Caesar’s most trustworthy acquaintances, of Caesar’s unjust conceit. The fact that Cassius even thinks that …show more content…
Brutus is reiterating the necessity of punishing Caesar regardless of Caesar’s honorable accomplishments, thus implying that the negative aspects of Caesar’s tragic flaw surpassed the positive. Caesar’s tragic flaw has undergone a complete manifestation now; and in death, his own ambition is revealed to be what was responsible for his demise and what would have proved detrimental to