Tragedy and the Tragic Hero within Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Essay Example

and may the gods support me as long as I love honor more than I fear death" (1.2.85-89). Additionally, early on in the play, Brutus finds himself torn between two conflicting belief systems. As someone who values freedom and righteousness, he believes that living under a tyrant's rule is an endorsement of wrongdoing. However, he also recognizes that killing Caesar would be committing a wrong. Through much internal struggle and debate, he ultimately concludes that murdering Caesar is a duty he must fulfill to benefit Rome.

The irony lies in the fact that despite his idealistic intentions, Brutus’ actions result in anarchy and civil war instead of the peace, freedom, and liberty he had hoped for in Rome. However, even in his communication with the Roman people, he demonstrates his unwavering love for his country, attempting to justify his actions by declaring that his loyalty to Rome outweighed his love for Caesar: “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against / Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, / but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2.20-23) At this point, although the tragic hero has made a mistake in judgment, determining whether his actions were truly flawed can be challenging. On one hand, he possesses a strong sense of righteousness and can provide compelling arguments to defend his choices. On the other hand, his passionate devotion to integrity may sometimes be mistaken for pride rather than principle, potentially revealing another tragic flaw: Hubris. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Brutus never intentionally acts out of arrogance.

Despite acting on principles of honor, Brutus carefully deliberates his moral decisions and constantly battles with

himself, even after choosing a course of action. This diligence is evident in 1.2 where he establishes his position as a humble man rather than a proud one: “But let not therefore, my good friends, be grieved / … that poor Brutus, with himself at war, / Forgets the shows of love to other men.” (1.2.45-49) This quote also demonstrates his goodwill as he ensures his friends are not troubled by his internal conflicts. Regrettably, it is this generosity, combined with his renowned commitment to acting with honor and his love for the Roman republic, that makes him the ideal candidate to lead the conspiracy against Caesar. In the beginning of Act II, Brutus delivers a soliloquy in an attempt to comprehend the potential tyranny he sees in his beloved emperor.

Ultimately, Brutus demonstrates heroism by prioritizing the welfare of the "general" over his own interests, as he states, "It must be by his death, and for my part / I know no personal cause to spurn at him / But for the general." (2.1.10-13) In contrast, Caius Cassius is the mastermind behind the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, possibly driven by jealousy of Caesar's power. Cassius' motivations differ greatly from Brutus' noble reasons for wanting to remove Caesar from power. However, Cassius is committed to Roman freedom and holds the belief that no Roman should be superior to another. Exploiting Brutus' honorable mindset for his own advantage, Cassius relies on someone of Brutus' stature to lead the plot. There are various reasons why this is necessary.

The conspirators aim to gain support from powerful individuals in order to convince the public that Caesar's killing was justified. They

also believe that Brutus, being Caesar's close friend, would not be suspected of betrayal. Furthermore, the conspirators recognize the importance of the nobility and status associated with Brutus in the eyes of the plebeians. Casca, another conspirator, explains in 1.3 that Brutus holds a high place in the hearts of the people. Casca states, "Oh, 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" (1.3.159-62). This means that as long as someone as respected as Brutus leads the campaign against Caesar, the Romans would view it as an act of virtue rather than one driven by jealousy.