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Brutus: A Tragic Hero By Chad Gingery

In the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, Brutus is a tragic hero for he was easily manipulated, naive and patriotic. Brutus believed that the Romans wanted him as the leader to assassinate Caesar, because of the forged notes that were sent to him by Cassius. The note explained how to assassinate Caesar by Speaking, Striking and Redressing. This note by Cassius caused Brutus to be manipulated into joining the conspirators, one of many flaws that leads to the downfall of Brutus and the assassination of Caesar. Brutus’ trusting attitude toward Antony is an example of one of his flaws. Brutus allowed Antony to give a funeral speech for Julius Caesar and to be sure not to speak negatively about the conspiracy. This resulted in Antony leading a mob against the conspirators, Revenge!, About!, Seek!, Burn!, Fire!, Kill!, Slay!, Let not a traitor live.!(3.2.216). From this powerful speech and Brutus’ naïveté, Antony became his nemesis, an event that would ultimately lead to Brutus’ downfall. Brutus had an overabundance of love for his country which blinded him to the truth. Brutus had said in one of his soliloquies, If then that a friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Brutus had honored Caesar but Brutus felt that Caesar was too ambitious. Brutus also felt that Caesar made the Romans as slaves. Brutus was a patriotic man who did not see past his patriotism, to see the exploitation of his comrades. Brutus was noble in how he was benevolent towards his fellow man, but this nobility was a negative component that led to his inevitable loss of nobility. Brutus had many errors in his plans in Julius Caesar; one of those errors was an exorbitant amount of love for Rome. Tragedy is when a person is deprived of something loved. Brutus had been deprived of his nobility. Brutus was a tragic hero because of his trusting, obedient personality and his yearning desire to help his fellow Romans. All of these factors contributed to his downfall. The factors that led to Brutus’ death all were linked to his naïveté, if he were a little more disloyal, he wouldn’t have been taken advantage of. Word Count: 383

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