“A Fallen Hero” There have been many tragic heroes throughout our literature history. These characters are very common and are In various literature documents, but what really is a tragic hero? The first part is tragic, which comes from the word tragedy. Tragedy is a “branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual” (Encyclopedia Britannica). In general, a tragic hero is “a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities” (Cuss). A tragic hero Is also “a central character.
This hereafter Is good and noble but has flaws, which leads to his downfall and death”(Fulton Press). Brutes Is one of William Shakespearean greatest tragic heroes. He is one of the greatest tragic heroes because he has had a mighty start, and a devastating ending. Throughout the whole play, Brutes had good intentions, but he ended up making many errors along the way. All he attempted to do was good actions; all he wanted to do was good deeds. Brutes was of high power, he was respected by all of Rome, along with the other noble men he encountered. He had a great love for Rome and only wanted to “save” It from Caesar.
Brutes was a good friend to Caesar but his love for Rome and his fear that Caesar would soon become king were stronger. Even though Brutes had ran away once the crowd of Rome turned on him he was still considered a noble man. When he and Cassias ran away, while some people would call Brutes a coward, Antonym did not. No matter what, Brutes remained with his nobility and that quality never escaped his system. When Antonym found Brutes dead, he said a few words. After all that Brutes had done to Antonym best friend, Caesar, Antonym still found Brutes to be one of the most noblest men in Rome.
When found dead, Antonym said “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of Caesar: he only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed In him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a mall”(Shakespeare p. 998, 1000). In the position that Antonym was In, he had all the right to think otherwise of Brutes, but he didn’t. In his eyes, Brutes was just as noble as he was before the ides of March, before Career’s death.
Brutes’ characteristics played out through the entire play. He was a well-respected Roman, one of the highest noble men of them all. He had a great love for Rome and all he wanted was great things for the country he truly Just tried to save. Brutes love Caesar, but he would not let him rise to great power and then have him eventually turn his back on the people of Rome. Brutes was a very powerful public and political figure: he knew what to say and how to say it. Brutes persuaded the people of Rome that what he did was the best thing for their country with Just one speech.
He persuaded everyone to think that what he did, the most awful action in the world, was the most marvelous thing to ever happen to the country. Brutes had that certain characteristics to make anyone and anything. “All tragic heroes possess a character flaw that leads to their defeat. Brutes’ tragic flaw was being naive”(Bookwork). Naive is when you are showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or Judgment. We notice that Brutes is naive when he believes that the citizens of Rome wrote the letters that Cassias actually wrote in several different handwritings.
Cassias gives Case the letters to secretly hide them so Brutes, and only Brutes, can find them. When Brutes finds these letters and then reads then, he starts to change his mind if he should Join the conspirators or not. In the beginning, Brutes wasn’t sure about the conspirators plan, but since he has a great love for Rome and its citizens, the “letters” of these concerned people did surely change his mind. At the end of reading this letter, “Brutes, thou sleep’s; awake; and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, redress. Brutes, thou sleep’s; awake” (Shakespeare p. 18), Brutes’ opinion completely hanged. When finishing the letter, Brutes said “… If the redress will follow, thou receives they full edition at the hand of Brutes! “(Shakespeare p. 919). Here, we already see that Brutes was very naive to believe letters that are all different handwriting. Brutes is also naive to believe that Antonym wasn’t going to betray him while speaking at Caesar’ funeral. Antonym was best friends with the man that Brutes and the other conspirators killed. Being Career’s best friend, wouldn’t you think that you would want to hurt the man that killed him?
Although Brutes shouldn’t have, he et Antonym speak at the funeral. When Brutes spoke, he got the whole crowd to think that his horrific action was one of the best things in the world. Then, when Antonym went and spoke, he turned the crowd against Brutes, Cassias, and he rest of the conspirators. Brutes was naive from the start. He shouldn’t have believed anything anyone told him. By him being gullible and naive, he meet with his defeat. His death came upon him because of the two characteristics that one noble leader should not have. To be a leader you must consider others opinions, but mainly believe in yours.
His downfall was caused by qualities that soon became his weaknesses, A tragic hero is a noble man that has a descent and ruin. A descent is an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling. Each noble man has an amazing start. They are from higher power, well-respected, and is of noble birth. Then, many events happen that leads to this noble man downfall, and eventually their death. They have great qualities, but with many outstanding qualities come many tragic flaws. The highest of men sometimes have a fall of grace, Just as Brutes did. Brutes was one of the noblest of men, according to Antonym and many others.
The beginnings of many heroes are always great, but the great can only last for so long. Each noble man has a point, or climax, that changes their whole outcome. They have a downfall because of the traits they have. They’re either gullible, naive, or Just simply selfish. ” … Set honor in one eye and death I’ the’ other, and I will look on both indifferently; For let the gods so speed me, as I love the name of honor more than I fear death” (Shakespeare p. 900). This shows that the right thing to do is even worth death, which we know is is right, is even worth death.
Cassias persuaded Brutes to believe this way; Cassias said the right words and got Brutes on board with all of his plans. Brutes is easy manipulated and honestly Just went along with the rest of the senators. If it wasn’t for Cassias and his beliefs, Caesar might of lived out his life and died due to old age. Many would disagree that Brutes is a tragic hero, they would not see him a one of Shakespearean many tragic heroes, but as an unsympathetic character. Many would argue that this action that caused Julius Caesar, one of Romeos greatest leaders, to die is Just an act of Jealousy.
They were all Just Jealous because Caesar was the one that all the citizens honored; he was the one that was getting all the fame and fortune. They were envious because Caesar was the one that all of Rome praised. Although Brutes kills Caesar for honorable reasons, it can be confused as enraged Jealousy. Not many people can understand that Brutes killed Caesar out of good intentions. They were friends; you aren’t supposed to kill your friends, that’s why readers end on the Jealousy note. Brutes could have been jealous due to Caesar power. Cassias was indeed Jealous ” . … Was born free as Caesar; so were you: we both have fed as well, and we can both endure the winter’s cold as well as he” (Shakespeare p. 900). This shows that Cassias was doing this out of envy. Since Brutes considers and takes his words into thought, it may look like he will do it out of new too. Tragic heroes are key characters in many of William Shakespearean plays. They all have an amazing start and enjoy their lives, but their ending is Just simply tragic. Brutes is one of the most famous tragic heroes. His love for Rome was greater than his love for his dear, old friend Caesar.
From the start of the play we know that Brutes as killed Caesar for good reasons. He didn’t kill Caesar because he was Jealous, which most of the conspirators have. He killed Caesar because he truly believed that Caesar was a danger to the one place he honestly loved. At the end of his life, his final words, Brutes reassures us that the killing of his friend was not a foolish unnecessary act. “… Caesar, now be still; I killed not thee with half so good will” (Shakespeare p. 998). By this he means he killed himself more than he ever wanted to kill Caesar. His own death was less important than his friend’s death.
