Caesar Tragic Hero

The Tragic Hero of “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” “Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius” (2.1.166). In the Shakespearean play, “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”, a character named Brutus states this. Brutus is one of the most honorable men in Rome, but he is unobservant of the real world. This character takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the play by making rash decisions that the audience does not agree with most of the time. But, he is also the character that most connects with the readers on an emotional level. Since Brutus is so oblivious, this leads to his downfall. In “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”, the tragic hero throughout the play is Brutus, proven by his high rank, tragic flaw, and decision effects.

Plebeians trust and respect Brutus excessively. Brutus is a very patriotic citizen of rome, which helps him be honorable. When he explains why he killed Caesar, he states, “... Not/ that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (3.2.21,22) In response to that, a plebeian states, “Let him be Caesar” (3.2. 51), showing that Brutus is so highly looked upon that the plebeians want him to be in charge of them. Plebeians also show respect for Brutus by showing that they want to listen and they care about what he says, “Peace! Silence! Brutus speaks” (3.2. 54). At the end of the play, Antony talks about Brutus and honoring him after his death, “This was the noblest Roman of them all” (5.5.68). With Brutus’ high rank, he assumes that every person is honorable, which leads into his tragic

The first situation where we face is whenever Brutus says to Cassius “What means this shouting? I do fear the people do choose Caesar for their king...yet I love him well” (1.2. ll.85-89). Brutus is saying that he loves Caesar, yet he does not want him to be king, because he might ignore the Roman people. Another of the many situations that Brutus expresses his idealism is ‘Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods/ Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds” (2.1. 173-174). Brutus was trying to speak about killing Caesar in such a positive way that it was unrealistic. Any way the conspirators would kill Caesar would not being carving him for the gods, but oblivious Brutus did not realize this. Later in the play, Brutus yells at Cassius for supporting Lucius Pella, whom took bribes from Sardians. Cassius was surely getting the money from those bribes and Brutus was offended because that was not an honorable thing to do. Then suddenly Brutus says, “... I did send to you/ For certain sums of gold, which you denied me;” IV III 69-70. The idealism here is clear, Brutus yelled at Cassius for accepting bribes, then asked Cassius for money and got mad whenever he denied