Julius and Brutus Ceasar

515 Words3 Pages
Julius Caesar and Brutus both have tragic flaws in their personality that eventually lead to their death, or demise. While both of their flaws were not good, as tragic flaws generally tend to be, Brutus’s were much more, for lack of a better word, tragic. Brutus not only practically killed himself (through his actions prior to his death, of course, not suicide), he actually killed Caesar (through his actions and murder!). Without Brutus’s flaws. Brutus and Caesar would still be alive at the end of the play. Brutus’s tragic flaw was his ability to be influenced easily. A speech from Cassius, a bit of poison in the well (fallacy, anyone?), and some petty pleading from other conspirators and BAM! He’s in. Talk about easily manipulated. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." (I, ii, 140-141). He single-handedly (in a metaphorical sense) brought on his death and Caesar’s death by agreeing to help the conspirators. Without Brutus, they would not have assassinated Caesar. They needed him due to his popularity among the people and his close relationship with Caesar. “Men at some time are masters of their fates: /The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, /But in ourselves that we are underlings. /Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that "Caesar"? / Why should that name be sounded more than yours? /Write them together, yours is as fair a name; /Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; /Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em, /"Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar."” (1.2.10) So, props to Brutus. Some people, however, may argue that it was Caesar’s fault that he was killed. Yes, yes, let’s all blame the dead guy. Obviously, it must be his fault. He’s the dead one, so… yeah. Karma. Only not, no, not at all. He just had a big head, he was power hungry and little narcissistic. Big deal, whoop-de-doo.
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