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David Lurking's Marcus Brutus: A Tragic Hero

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Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare presents Marcus Brutus as a honorable tragic hero. A tragic hero is literary figure or character that possesses a flaw that leads to their defeat. The flaw is usually an error in judgment. Brutus’ tragic flaw is his love for Rome. His love for Rome causes him to kill his friend Julius Caesar and ultimately himself. Brutus also struggles with trusting the wrong people and judgement errors. The essay, Brutus’s Reasons: Julius Caesar and the Mystery of Motive” by David Lurking examines the motive behind Brutus’s choice to kill Julius Caesar. David Lurking argues how Brutus’s actions are unclear in understanding him, but his actions are seen as for the good of Rome. He claims Brutus doesn’t have a psychological …show more content…

His beliefs and moral standards pushed him to kill Caesar. Brutus justifies his decision to kill Caesar by saying, “ It must be by his death, and for my part/ I know no personal cause to spurn at him/ But for the general.” (Shakespeare 2.1. 10-13). He claims the best interest of Rome is for Caesar not to become king. Lurking suggests , Brutus is “acting out of fidelity to the republican traditions of Rome, for the sake of the general welfare of his country, and not with a view to personal interests or even those of his class.” (pg. 124). Brutus knows he does not have anything personal against Caesar. From the first few lines of his siliquoy, Brutus is willing to kill a friend he thinks highly of. Brutus …show more content…

Well, honor is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life, but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I 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 1.2. 92-101).
Cassius does a really good job at persuading Brutus. The word choice of “honor” connects the honor within Brutus with the honorable act Cassius is about to explain. Instead of blatantly asking Brutus to kill Caesar, Cassius compliments him for being honorable. Cassius complementing Brutus on how honorable he is forces Brutus to want to join the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar. In lines 95-101, Cassius tries to associate himself as equal to Caesar. He mentions how they both were born free and eat the same. Cassius is explaining how him and Caesar are the same. They both are ordinary and can do the same things. If Caesar has the chance to become king then so can Cassius. Cassius uses these references to show Brutus how he is also just like Caesar. He is saying is he is just like Caesar than so is Brutus. If Caesar has the possibility to become king then what is stopping Brutus. It is interesting how Brutus was easily persuaded not even an act later. He decided Caesar must die. Brutus

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