“Et tu brute?” With this question, Caesar draws our attention to Brutus, the real protagonist of this play (Crowther). Caesar is more of a passive figure around which the action of the play revolves. He is not the catalyst for the action and there is not much insight into his character. Brutus is the real protagonist of the play because of his loyalty, arrogance and nobility. Brutus’ loyalty establishes him as a true protagonist. First, he is loyal to his dear friend Caesar and loyal to his country. “Brutus states that he loves Caesar” (Julius). As the plot to murder Caesar develops, Brutus has to balance his personal loyalties with his loyalty to country. “Brutus fought in the civil war not for the political power he might gain but for the common good of the Roman people and for the continuation of the Roman Republic”(Julius). …show more content…
“Brutus' hubris derives from his arrogance” (Julius). “Brutus commits disastrous acts of misjudgment while exhibiting signs of extreme self-confidence”(Hudson).“He is also so sure of the virtue of Caesar's assassination that he does not believe anyone can convince the Roman people that Caesar's death was murder. So unaware is he that he allows Antony to speak to the crowd, convinced that not only Antony but also the people will be loyal to the cause” (Julius). He is extremely arrogant to his wife, Portia. “She knows something is bothering her husband and is hurt that Brutus does not open up to her” (Shakespeare). Portia feels very hurt by this and “Brutus learns that Portia has died; a little later, he learns that Portia's death was a