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The analysis of Brutus as a tragic hero
The analysis of Brutus as a tragic hero
Compare the Roman empire to the Chinese empire
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“Good government consists in the ruler being a ruler, the minister being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a son” (Riegel). Confucius spent his life pushing for equality and a new way of life in ancient China to give the Chinese people something to believe in during difficult times. Modern day China is the hidden engine room of the world. Through the overpowering role of a communist government, it allows them to focus the drive of the industrial workforce into a point in order to take on jobs outsourced by other countries. The official religion of China as of 2002 is Atheism, but the country is still filled with religious diversity including many religions spouting from the efforts of Confucius and his journey to preach a better life (Central). Brutus saw that Rome was in danger of falling into the grip of an all powerful ruler that would crush the rights of his fellow Romans. Brutus dared to step out from the basic crowd mentality that followed like a herd of cattle, and stood against the perceived threat. In Confucius’ path to build a better world through a peaceful bond of a social and political lifestyle, he created a reputation of doggish, yet calculated, perseverance to strive towards peace that matches the unwavering loyalty and unameliorable nobility of Brutus.
Marcus Brutus was born from the blood of a long line of valiant and noble men. Many noble men at the time of Brutus merely did what they had to do to be the mediocre senator, rich man, or another various profession to keep the flow of everyday life going unobstructed. They were nails holding a sinking ship together but ignored the fact because they would rather protect their reputation than raise their heads. Brutus rose above the rest and d...
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... their people and speak their mind and in turn redirected the direction of mankind itself.
Works Cited
"The Parallel Lives." A sub-site off of the University of Chicago. Ed. Bill Thayer. University of Chicago, 25 June 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. .
Riegel, Jeffrey. "Confucius." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy . Ed. Edward N. Zalta. Stanford, 3 July 2002. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. .
“Confucius.” Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 13 Feb. 2011.
Central Intelligence Agency . CIA, n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. .
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. 1599. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. N. pag. Print.
Confucius was a philosopher, political intellect and an educator whose philosophies have significantly prejudiced not only the Chinese principles but the entire world evolution. He lived through the “Spring” and “Autumn” epoch of Chinese history, when east central China was separated over a dozen fighting states. The inordinate ailment and grief he saw swayed his political thoughts, which highlighted command, grading and the rule of a compassionate self-governing state.
Confucius’ impact on Chinese culture has withstood numerous generations and continues to be one of the most prominent philosophies found in Chinese culture. Firmly rooted in years of education, Confucius spent considerable time developing his set of values and principles. In his article entitled “Confucius and the Effortless Life of Virtue”, author Hagop Sarkissian adds to this by saying, “Confucius set his mind on a course of study or cultivation at the age of fifteen, and pursued such studies for a span of fifty-five years, and was thereby able to cultivate a state of being such that he could follow his immediate inclinations in all of life’s predicaments without transgressing social norms” (Sarkissian 1). Confucius’ extensive studies only added to the philosophy represented in the Analects. This includes the pas...
Men and women throughout history are remembered for their selflessness, compassion and dedication to their people; their honorable qualities are clear in the minds of many. The word “honor” brings to mind a numerous people: Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt are a few of the thousands at hand. However, honor is a subjective term; occasionally deeds which are socially unacceptable are deemed to be admirable under the circumstances, such as Brutus’ murder of Julius Caesar. One woman in French history, Charlotte Corday, has a similar story. Although she is infamous for nothing but her murder of an French Revolutionary leader, she, like Brutus, was truly an honorable individual.
Brutus, Honorable Man Brutus, an honorable conspirator? Honorable is defined as genuine, truthful and displaying integrity, while a conspirator is defined as one that engages in an agreement to commit an illegal or wrongful act. Anyone can clearly see that these two words do not belong together. There are also other reasons why Brutus should not be considered honorable. In the play, three distinct acts can be recalled.
Confucianism is a philosophy and way of life formed in China by Confucius, an early Chinese philosopher. It began as a simple concept with ideals of personal virtue, simple filial piety, and basic gender distinctions and social inequalities. But, over time with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism it began to transform into a way of life that was degrading towards women with certain hostilities towards rivaling religions. In its early period, from around 500 B.C.E to the Common Era, Confucianism changed in that it became the leading belief system and a major part of Chinese tradition. From the transition into the Common Era to the end of the Classical time period, Confucianism was altered because of a loss of popularity following the collapse of the Han dynasty and the corruption in the governing political system. In its ending period, the post-classical era, Confucianism underwent perhaps its biggest adjustments with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism. The ideas and virtues presented in the “rebirth of Confucian philosophies” of intolerance of foreign religions and extreme filial piety...
Confucianism plays a curious role in life for those involved with the world, as such that it has been one of the most successful forms of guidelines for government and familial narrations throughout all history. Although The Analects have long been held closely to many, particularly to those of Chinese culture, it does by no means take religious form on behalf of its lack of commitment to any specific belief or dogma. In fact, Confucianism is capable to coalesce with any religion without being at variance to any conception of faith; in lieu, the words of Confucius categorize themselves by default as societal steadiness on a fulcrum of the two opposing planes good and amoral; a peak at which utopian and dystopian intersect creating an equilibrium of that which is humanity. In Confucius The Analects, the wholly righteous and the inflexibly good are those who wrongfully emit virtue into the void.
He reveals what makes Brutus noble from the rest of the Romans and how taking challenges, risks and being strong, honorable, and able to face sorrows is what makes someone noble. The noblest ones take risks and face the consequences and challenges of proving what is right. Brutus loved Rome and when Cassius asks him to join the conspiracy, he only agrees, knowing that Caesars death would make Rome a better place. Killing Caesar was hard for him to do, but it was a risk he was willing to take, knowing it would bring democracy to Rome. After Brutus forces himself to make the last stab in Caesars heart, he mentions in his speech, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I have loved Rome more” (iii. ii.
Confucius, , and Arthur Waley. The Analects of Confucius. New York: Random House, 1938. Print.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is the story about the men who conspired and followed through with the assassination of the great Julius Caesar. These men fear that Caesar will take the crown and become the next king of Rome. The roman people had a true averse feeling toward the idea of monarchy. So in order to prevent this they come up with a plan to end Caesars life, which is duly followed through on March 15, 44 B.C. Out of these conspirators there is one man that stands out to be a tragic hero, and that is a man by the name of Brutus. He was a great friend of Caesar who ultimately became one of Caesars worst adversaries. He betrayed Caesars trust and friendship when he agreed to be part of the assassination plot. A tragic hero is someone who is in a place of high standings or a place of power. This leads to a huge fall from greatness to death. A tragic hero must have many deep complex character flaws that are revealed throughout the course of the story. They then must ultimately accept responsibility for their mistakes; along with being humbled and enlightened. Brutus demonstrates all of the attributes of a tragic hero.
...ation and well being of a country, people, and republic. “‘This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar; he, only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them’”(998). Although a seemingly menacing traitor to his country at first, Brutus makes the journey to a sympathetic and noble tragic hero in the end.
Brutus was a loving friend of Julius Caesar and wished anything but death on his comrade, but his love and dedication to the majestic city of Rome would force him to commit anything. He fights a war to defend Rome from a king or emperor's tyrannical rule. When the war was over, even his enemies saw that he was the most respectable Roman of them all. This (Brutus' body) was the noblest Roman of them all. All conspirators, save only he did what they did in envy of great Caesar....
There is no such thing as the perfect person. We may dream of such a person, but sadly, everyone has flaws. These flaws are what make us human. Something else that makes us human is our need for heroes. We attribute 'perfect' qualities to our heroes. In reality even our heroes are flawed. The closest thing to the idealized person, or hero, is the Shakespearean tragic hero. The tragic hero is someone of high standing, good character, and a flaw. While it may be only one flaw, it is often fatal. An example of a tragic hero can be best seen in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. Marcus Brutus is a prominent leader and noble citizen of Rome who leads in the assassination of Julius Caesar. We see that Brutus plays the role of the tragic hero through his noble standing, fatal flaw, and legacy.
Brutus was a man loyal to his country. He was very modest and did what he though was right. Although he can be swayed by other people, like the planted letters, he still thinks and acts on his own.
Philip J. Ivanhoe. Confucian moral self cultivation. New York : P. Lang, vol. 3, 1993.
Ed. Bryan W. Van Norden, Ph.D. Chicago and La Salle, IL: Open Court, 1996. Van Norden, Bryan W. “Introduction,” in Confucius and the Analects: New Essays, ed.