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The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar: Tragic Hero

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Taylor Chance
Mrs. Voshell
Honors English 10
12 May 2017
Shakespeare’s Tragic Hero The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a play written by William Shakespeare, is the story of honor, sacrifice, and brotherly love between two characters. Brutus is established as a tragic hero in Shakespeare’s play. However, he does not claim a spot in the title of this tragedy. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, we follow a series of characters who have a conflict with Julius Caesar, their potential leader. To handle the dilemma they conspire to murder him. After the death of prominent Caesar, conflict arises and the once strong Rome begins to crumble. As known, Marcus Brutus takes the role of our tragic hero. Shakespeare shaped him into a tragic hero using traditional …show more content…

The tragic flaw that influences him to make all of his decisions leading to a catastrophe is Gullibility. Throughout the play, Brutus displays this trait in his actions. One of the first exhibits of this is after the death of Caesar. Antony has a discussion with Brutus and Cassius, asking if he has permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Not realizing what he would say during the speech, he allows him. While Cassius seems hesitant, saying, “...do not consent / That Antony speak in his funeral. / Know you how much the people may be moved / By that which he will utter?” (3.1.231-234). In those lines, Cassius points out that permitting him to speak at the funeral could give him time to sway the people. But Brutus disregards this and allows him on conditions. As has been noted, Brutus also is extremely gullible when the conspirators convince him that they want to kill Caesar because he was too ambitious. In reality, while he thought they were selfless, they only wanted him to be assassinated so he would no longer have the power he once did. Another mistake is vivid in the play when Brutus is tricked into thinking the Roman citizens are complaining about Caesar. Cassius wants to encourage Brutus to join the conspiracy so he writes fake letters and leaves them on Brutus’s doorstep for him to find. Being the Gullible person he is, the letters are a sign and convince him

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