Tragic Heroes of Rome - 809 Words

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare has two characters that make a good case for a tragic hero - one being Brutus and the other Caesar. Brutus has the better argument because he falls the farthest. In Shakespeare’s play Brutus and Cassius are best friends. Brutus has a fear that ambition will make him King of Rome, which Rome had not had. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is a character of high esteem that has a flaw in logic, which leads to their downfall. While in the process the character is enlightened of their mistakes and after the play is often viewed with pity. The protagonist, Brutus, is the tragic hero because he is easily persuaded, has flawed logic, and falls from high standing. In Act I, Cassius†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome† (957). With a fall from power, one may also experience other losses. Brutus lost his beloved wife, Portia, because she couldn’t live to see her husband fail and because she feared Mark Antony and Octavius would come after her as well. Brutus loved his wife and even yells to the gods to make him unworthy of Portia when she tells him she won’t betray him. â€Å"O ye gods render me worthy of this noble woman!† (921). From this, the reader can tell Brutus truly loves his wife and to see her go would greatly hurt Brutus and make him fall farther down the ladder of power and success. When Brutus and the conspirators killed Caesar, they did it for the good of Rome. â€Å"Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more† (948). This passage explains why Brutus killed Caesar. While all Brutus wanted to protect Rome, in reality he really caused chaos to occur and later on the Republic of Rome to fall. A tragic hero is often viewed with pity or sympathy at the end of a work. I view Brutus with sympathy because along with the guilt of killing a friend, he also lost his other friends and his beloved wife, Portia. â€Å"You are my true and honorable wife, as dear to me as are the ruddy drops that visit my sad heart† (921). The loss of his wife is devastating to his morale. Though Luker 3 Brutus thought he was being honorable; the betrayal of a friend is not honorable at all. The offense isShow MoreRelatedTragedy and the Common Man1191 Words   |  5 Pagescharacter is eventually brought down by his or her tragic flaws and that’s what makes that character a tragic hero. In the past, there have been many tragic heroes which can relate to Arthur Miller’s essay â€Å"Tragedy and the Common Man,† in both past works of literature and in actual history itself. Throughout history there have been many fallen heroes who have been key subjects to be known in essence as â€Å"tragic heroes.† Famous tragic heroes include ones who fought alongside their â€Å"commonRead MoreA Tragic Hero As Used By Shakespeare. In, â€Å"The Tragedy1657 Words   |  7 PagesA Tragic Hero as Used by Shakespeare In, â€Å"The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,† by William Shakespeare, you can see Shakespeare’s use of a tragic hero. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a play about how Marcus Brutus and Cassius contemplate the murder of the great Julius Caesar. The play discusses the planning of the murder, and the events that follow the catastrophe. Brutus is one of the conspirators in the murdering of Caesar and is also one of his beloved friends. 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William Shakespeare presented Marcus Brutus in a way that closely followed the example of a tragic hero. Brutus came from noble birth, had a fatal flaw, suffered a great tragedy. Brutus also fits into Shakespeare’s variation of tragic heroes, by giving Brutus complexity, internal conflict, and using choice over fate. Brutus’ ultimate goal is fulfilled by in part by his actions. Brutus thought his cause to be honorableRead MoreCompare and Contrast Brutus and Macbeth1485 Words   |  6 Pagesas far as to give up their noble title to accomplish their purpose. William Shakespeare is a well-known English poet and playwright, a big participant in creating the English language. Among his twelve tragedies, two has very similar plot and tragic heroes. The play Julius Caesar is about a noble, honorable, and trusted man named Brutus, who killed his friend and soon to be emperor, Julius Caesar. Macbeth is also a play about a noble and trusted man named Macbeth, who through his strong ambition