Julius Caesar Tragic Hero Essay

Both Brutus and Caesar are thought to be tragic heroes; however, Brutus is the driving force of the plot whose death marks the end of the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, and is therefore the real tragic hero. A hero, by definition, is someone who is respected for outstanding morals and honor. But a tragic hero also has a tragic flaw, a fault that causes his or her downfall. Brutus’ tragic flaw is his tendency to trust the wrong people, and this is what causes a lot of the conflicts in the play. Brutus is also in all five acts with a peak in the third, another mark of a tragic hero. Lastly, Brutus fits the description of being of noble birth and of having a strong moral compass. Brutus’ tragic flaw of trusting everyone is one that provokes

Brutus is descended from a long line of noble Roman men. Not only does he come from a noble background, but he exemplifies honor. He refuses to take bribes when building his army in Act IV, and even goes against Cassius’ wishes and punishes a man accused of taking bribes. As Antony mentions in Act V, Brutus is the only conspirator who kills Caesar based solely on what is best for Rome, and not for other reasons, such as greed or jealousy. He says more than once that he is willing to die for Rome, if need be. He also opposes killing Antony and any other Senator to make sure that only those who threaten Rome are punished. His morals are not based only on his love for Rome, though, and he shows this when he refuses to kill Cassius during their argument in Act IV. Despite being under the burden of a recently deceased wife, a massive army ready to attack, and the death of his best friend at his hand, he does not take Cassius’ offer and instead spares him. Unlike Brutus, Caesar seems to only want power. He helps to break up the triumvirate he is in, manipulates the masses into liking him, and is constantly arrogant and belittling to