The Curse of Brutus’ Honor The concept of a tragic hero dates back to the ancient Greek times when Aristotle defined the characteristics of the idea. Aristotle defines a calamitous hero as a character of noble birth or a high-ranking and a well-respected individual in his society. However, these traits also include a flaw or weakness of character that leads to the hero now having a false perception of his actions and reality in general. This imperfection and false assumption results in unsatisfactory decisions by the hero, and the effect can vary from great suffering to a reversal of his fortune. Brutus exists as an exceptional example of this characterization. According to noted critic, Alice Shalvi, “Ironically, though, it is that very sense
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First of all, the author conveys the conspirators as a way that Brutus exhibits an overload of trust. To demonstrate, Brutus displays trust immediately whenever a conspirator would compliment his very well-known nobility. The conspirators acknowledge that Brutus feeds off the positive feedback he receives about his character or attitude. Casca even admits how Brutus abides to be an essential role in the conspiracy plot against Caesar when he implies “…he sits high in all the people’s hearts / And that which would appear offense in us / His countenance, like richest alchemy / Will change to virtue and to worthiness” (Shakespeare 1.3. 162-165) Casca here flaunts Brutus’ uttermost qualities that he believes will lead them to their goal. Brutus lives as a tool in the conspirators’ plan as Casca describes the situation. Alice Shalvi elaborates more on this quote when she states “…the man of virtue, with none but best of motivates, may become the tool of men less noble than himself” (71). Shalvi emphasizes how Brutus invested too much trust in the conspirators when he exists as the most reasonable individual out of the rest. Furthermore, Shakespeare presents another prime case in where Brutus exhibits an immense amount of trust with the situation of Anthony’s speech. Mark Anthony feels heartbreak when he becomes informed about Caesar’s death. Anthony thus …show more content…
To begin, Alice Shalvi states in her article, “Brutus’ honor…is his central motivating force and it is his honorable regard for the ‘general good’ of the Roman people that leads him to join the conspiracy against Caesar” (70). Brutus deciding to finalize his decision about the assassination came about because of the letters he obtains that he assumes the Roman people have written. The amount of directed towards Caesar and the fear of Caesar becoming corrupt with power concerns Brutus heavily. The letters show an immense amount of emotion as it expresses, “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world / Like a Colossus and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs…The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings” (Shakespeare 1.2 142-148). The manner in which they plead for Brutus help motivate him to finalize his decision to kill Caesar. However, little does Brutus know that Cassius deceived him by writing the letters himself. Brutus’ sense of honor has now created one of the most devious acts in Roman history. Additionally, Shakespeare exhibits further explanation of the curse of Brutus’ honor with the amount of pride Brutus displayed after the assassination. Heaps of joy continually sing right in the presence of Caesar’s dead body. The men celebrate them being successful in their plot against Caesar. In
First of all, the author conveys the conspirators as a way that Brutus exhibits an overload of trust. To demonstrate, Brutus displays trust immediately whenever a conspirator would compliment his very well-known nobility. The conspirators acknowledge that Brutus feeds off the positive feedback he receives about his character or attitude. Casca even admits how Brutus abides to be an essential role in the conspiracy plot against Caesar when he implies “…he sits high in all the people’s hearts / And that which would appear offense in us / His countenance, like richest alchemy / Will change to virtue and to worthiness” (Shakespeare 1.3. 162-165) Casca here flaunts Brutus’ uttermost qualities that he believes will lead them to their goal. Brutus lives as a tool in the conspirators’ plan as Casca describes the situation. Alice Shalvi elaborates more on this quote when she states “…the man of virtue, with none but best of motivates, may become the tool of men less noble than himself” (71). Shalvi emphasizes how Brutus invested too much trust in the conspirators when he exists as the most reasonable individual out of the rest. Furthermore, Shakespeare presents another prime case in where Brutus exhibits an immense amount of trust with the situation of Anthony’s speech. Mark Anthony feels heartbreak when he becomes informed about Caesar’s death. Anthony thus …show more content…
To begin, Alice Shalvi states in her article, “Brutus’ honor…is his central motivating force and it is his honorable regard for the ‘general good’ of the Roman people that leads him to join the conspiracy against Caesar” (70). Brutus deciding to finalize his decision about the assassination came about because of the letters he obtains that he assumes the Roman people have written. The amount of directed towards Caesar and the fear of Caesar becoming corrupt with power concerns Brutus heavily. The letters show an immense amount of emotion as it expresses, “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world / Like a Colossus and we petty men / Walk under his huge legs…The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings” (Shakespeare 1.2 142-148). The manner in which they plead for Brutus help motivate him to finalize his decision to kill Caesar. However, little does Brutus know that Cassius deceived him by writing the letters himself. Brutus’ sense of honor has now created one of the most devious acts in Roman history. Additionally, Shakespeare exhibits further explanation of the curse of Brutus’ honor with the amount of pride Brutus displayed after the assassination. Heaps of joy continually sing right in the presence of Caesar’s dead body. The men celebrate them being successful in their plot against Caesar. In