Caulius Caesar Tragic Flaw Analysis

In almost every story, each character has his her own flaws whether it be obvious or subtle. In many cases, these flaws are overlooked or overcome by the protagonist of the story. However, in the instance of a tragic hero, a simple imperfection, called a tragic flaw, can lead to the demise of that character. In the instance of Caius Cassius, a tragic hero in the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, obedience leads to his downfall. It may seem ironic that the man who desired nothing more than to rebel against authority would decline because of compliance. However, Cassius’s submissiveness towards the opinions of Marcus Brutus leads to his demise of losing the opportunity to gain power. From the very beginning, it is apparent that Cassius accepts all the decisions that Brutus makes despite

One instance where Cassius’s obedience is shown is when the conspirators plan on who they will kill. Brutus decides that Mark Antony did not have to be killed to which Cassius replies “Yet I fear him,/For in the engrafted love he bears to Caesar” (Ⅱ.ⅰ.197-198). If the conspirators had killed Antony along with Brutus, they may have been successful in their plot to gain power. Cassius knew that letting Antony live could hinder their plans, but he still allows Brutus to have his way. Another case where Cassius shows submission to Brutus is when he follows Brutus’s decision to allow Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius shows his opposition to Brutus’s opinion: “You know not what you do. Do/not consent” (Ⅲ.ⅰ.255-256). In this scene Cassius shows his suspicion of Antony because he knows how close he was to Caesar. Cassius is aware that it was not