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Character Analysis- Marcus Brutus
The play Julius Caesar may mark the death of Caesar, yet the one who faced true tragedy was Marcus Brutus. Brutus was a powerful and highly respected official who was fully supported by the people of Rome. He was an honorable man who had nothing but pure intentions for the good of Rome and was seen by the people as a very stoic person. Brutus’ life is truly tragic however because as a man of high birth he had both honor and wealth, yet because he was too loyal to Rome, he had to kill his best friend Caesar and end his own life to save his own honor. For these reasons, Marcus Brutus is the tragic hero in the play according to the criteria of Aristotle.
Marcus Brutus is a tragic hero because he was a man of honor who held very high status in Rome. Brutus’ status comes from a long line of royal blood and from how he is highly regarded by the people of Rome for his deeds and devotion. In Act I, Cassius asks a fellow conspirator, Cinna, for a favor that will aid in converting Brutus: “…take this paper and look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, where Brutus may but find it…” (Act I, sc.3: 151-153). Since Brutus sits in a praetor’s chair, it means he himself is a man of high status because only elected magistrates could have such seats in the republic. Thus, Brutus fulfills the criteria of being of a man of high birth and status for a tragic hero.
Brutus, on several occasions, suffers due to his tragic flaw. As an honorable man himself, Brutus believes that everyone is as honorable and trustworthy as he is and in result he becomes too gullible and trusting of others. Also, Brutus’ flaws include his overwhelming loyalty to his country which he values above all. In Act V, right before Brutus take his own life by plunging himself onto a sword, he says: “My heart doth joy that yet in all my life I found no man but he was true to me…” (Act V, sc.5: 38-39). Brutus dies believing that never in his life has anyone lied...