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Julius Caesar Tragic Hero

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In the play, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus is a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is the character should be prosperous and important, moral, realistic, have a reversal of fortune, and poses a tragic flaw. Brutus can be defined as a tragic hero because he is an important and prosperous character, moral, realistic, faces a reversal of fortune, and possess a tragic flaw which leads to his downfall. Throughout the play, Shakespeare paints Brutus as a tragic hero who has a tragic flaw, reversal of fortune, and is a morally good person. According to Aristotle in order to be defined as a tragic hero, the character must have a tragic flaw which leads them to their reversal of fortune. …show more content…

The conspirators want to have Brutus on board with their plan because they know everyone loves him. Casca speaks highly of Brutus to Cassius saying, “Oh, he sits high in all the people’s hearts, and that which would appear offense in us, his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and to worthiness” (Shakespeare 1.3.159-162). Casca believes the people of Rome think of Brutus as a morally good person, and even if he murdered someone of high importance, the people would still think of him just as highly. Additionally, Brutus also describes himself as a morally good and fine person saying, “Oh, that we then could come by Caesar’s spirit and not dismember Caesar! But, alas, Caesar must bleed for it. And gentle friends, let’s kill him with boldly but not wrathfully” (Shakespeare 2.1.171-174). Brutus knows that Caesar must be killed, but being the morally good person he is, he wants it to be done in a bold and honorable way. Antony also finds Brutus to be a morally good person even after Brutus had stabbed Caesar. When Antony gives his speech to the crowd of Romans, he repeatedly mentions how Brutus is an honorable man, “And Brutus is an honorable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him with a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure, he is an honorable man” (Shakespeare 3.2.92-97). Antony bashes against the conspirators, but at the same time reminds the audience of how Brutus is an honorable man. According to many characters in the play, Brutus is thought to be a morally good and fine

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