A tragic hero is commonly defined as a literary figure who, during the course of the plot, makes a deadly flaw that seals his fate and ultimately leads to his demise. Two classic examples can be found in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: Brutus, the killer of Caesar, and the dictator of Rome himself. Marcus Brutus and Julius Caesar both serve as exceptional illustrations of tragic heroes because of their social relevance, their harrowing mistakes, and their cataclysmic deaths.
It is almost common knowledge that Julius Caesar was a powerful man in the annals of history. In the play, Caesar’s military might won his armies many battles, and in turn, lots of land. He was definitely the most popular man in Rome, because citizens took time off work to celebrate his return from war, and later offered him the crown of Rome not once or twice, but three times. Caesar could have anyone killed, and anything he wanted, he would get; he was no man’s dog. …show more content…
Throughout the play, Caesar listens only to what he wants to, and denies any threat to his power. His pride and ambition lead him to ignore many things, but most fatal would be the warnings of the Soothsayer, Calpurnia, and Artemidorus. Early in the play, a Soothsayer tells Caesar to beware the ides of March, but Caesar doesn’t listen. In Act 2, Scene 2, Caesar’s wife Calpurnia points out all of the signs from divinity that he shouldn’t go out that day (the ides of March), yet he still doesn’t listen. Finally, just moments before his death, Caesar receives a final warning from Artemidorus with a letter about the conspiracy, but the attempt is futile. Directly following that event, Caesar compares himself to the North Star, then, proclaims “Wilt though lift up Olympus”? Caesar has compared himself to the Gods, therefore it was then acceptable for him to be killed
It is almost common knowledge that Julius Caesar was a powerful man in the annals of history. In the play, Caesar’s military might won his armies many battles, and in turn, lots of land. He was definitely the most popular man in Rome, because citizens took time off work to celebrate his return from war, and later offered him the crown of Rome not once or twice, but three times. Caesar could have anyone killed, and anything he wanted, he would get; he was no man’s dog. …show more content…
Throughout the play, Caesar listens only to what he wants to, and denies any threat to his power. His pride and ambition lead him to ignore many things, but most fatal would be the warnings of the Soothsayer, Calpurnia, and Artemidorus. Early in the play, a Soothsayer tells Caesar to beware the ides of March, but Caesar doesn’t listen. In Act 2, Scene 2, Caesar’s wife Calpurnia points out all of the signs from divinity that he shouldn’t go out that day (the ides of March), yet he still doesn’t listen. Finally, just moments before his death, Caesar receives a final warning from Artemidorus with a letter about the conspiracy, but the attempt is futile. Directly following that event, Caesar compares himself to the North Star, then, proclaims “Wilt though lift up Olympus”? Caesar has compared himself to the Gods, therefore it was then acceptable for him to be killed