Julius caesar-shakeaspere - Essay Example

All the qualities of a tragic hero are embodied in the persona of Brutus. The nobility of Brutus was proven by no less than Mark Antony, the Roman general and friend of Caesar, when he exalted Brutus after his death. Antony referred to Brutus as “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. His life was gentle, and the elements. So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up.

And say to all the world 'This was a man!” (5.5.74-81). Another example of Brutus’ selflessness is his concern for his wife Portia whom he decided to shield from their plan against Caesar by not letting her know about it. He feels that Portia has problems of her own already and she does not need to worry more of Brutus’ concerns. He exhibited her love and affection for Portia when he expresses his love for her by saying, “You are my true and honourable wife, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart” (2.1.300-302).

As a tragic hero, Brutus exhibited several tragic flaws. Brutus has a very idealistic view of the world. By agreeing to the conspiracy against Caesar, Brutus felt that he was doing something sublime for Rome. Brutus explains, “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. 10-12). This line clearly shows that Brutus believes that the death of Caesar is for the good of Rome and that he has no personal issues with him. In fact Brutus proves that he loves Caesar when he said to Cassius, a co-conspirator, that “"What means this shouting?

I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their king.yet I love him well" (1.2. 85-89). This depicts Brutus as an honorable man who loves Caesar but cared for Rome and its people more. Another tragic flaw portrayed in the personality of Brutus was that he was so trusting and gullible. He was so naive in thinking that his co-conspirators’ intentions were as pure as his, that is to save Rome from the tyranny of Caesar and that there was no personal grudge or ambitions for power involved. Both Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus are often seen as the two tragic heroes of the Shakespeare play.

It is interesting to note the differences between the personalities of these two characters. Both Caesar and Brutus are of noble descent. Caesar is a shrewd and ambitious politician although he refused to be crowned emperor three times because he wanted the Romans to believe that he was not ambitious. Unlike Brutus, Caesar’s tragic flaw was his excessive pride, which the Greeks called “hubris”. He was even too proud to listen to his wife, Calpurnia’s plea to stay home because of her premonition of his death.

Caesar’s pride is clearly depicted when he said, “The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Caesar should be a beast without a heart, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well. That Caesar is more dangerous than he: We are two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible: And Caesar shall go forth” (2.2.43-50). Caesar even ignored the soothsayer’s warning two times. This is proof that Caesar’s personality is one which could not easily be swayed.

It is very much unlike Brutus whose honorable ideals were manipulated by Cassius; thus, his agreement to the conspiracy. However, it is also Caesar’