Brutus's Tragic Flaw

Over 400 years ago William Shakespeare wrote the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Though it was written so long ago the tragedy is still performed and enjoyed today. But, despite the title, it seems that Caesar is not the tragedy of the play. Even though he is stabbed 23 times and dies at the betrayal of his closest friend, the real tragedy is Brutus. Brutus was Caesar's close friend who loved him dearly. Shakespeare uses traditional tragic hero characteristics to show the torment Brutus went through in his decision to kill Caesar. Brutus did not want to murder Caesar, he was simply trying to save Rome’s democratic system. Conspirators in the play convinced Brutus that Caesar had too much power and would eventually abuse it. Brutus’s gullibility and nobleness to do

This is yet another characteristic of Brutus that makes him a tragic hero. Brutus’s flaw is his gullibility. It is very clear that Brutus only kills Caesar out of believing it is for the “general good” (Shalvi page 71). However, Brutus is tricked by Cassius and the conspirators who use his flaw to their advantage. To do this Cassius writes letters to Brutus that are said to be from the citizens of Rome and, as stated before, this gives Brutus the belief that some people are against Caesar. Brutus doesn’t even check who exactly he letters are from or make sure they are telling the truth. His ignorance leads to his downfall as he is tricked by the conspirators and Cassius. In the play it is obvious that Shakespeare isolates Brutus from the cruel assassination and moral impurity the other conspirators share (Simmons page 62)Each of these traits leading to the death of Caesar all make Brutus a traditional tragic hero. Brutus, as tragic hero, suffers a catastrophe even though all he simply wanted to do was help Rome. But, now he is running from the very city he was trying to save from Caesar’s influence (Shalvi page