The Tragic Hero Brutus

“If it be aught toward the general good, 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.”pg 32 William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar re enacts the assassination of Rome’s greatest emperor. When Caesar returns after his triumph over Pompey Rome treats him like a king, causing many senators, especially Cassius to be uneasy, for they may lose power. Brutus is suspicious to what Cassius is asking from him, however, reassures Cassius that if it is for the better of Rome, there is no boundaries for what he is willing to do, even if it means his death. Brutus’s patriotism and honor cloud his judgement and allow him to be easily manipulated by Cassius to join the conspiracy against Caesar. He believes that Caesar’s death will unite Rome in it’s time of suffering after Caesar and Pompey’s war.

Throughout the play Brutus demonstrates true patriotism by being an ideal senator who always strives to improve Rome. Brutus loves the city that he helps governs and puts it before everything, including his friends and even himself. When Cassius leaves messages in Brutus’s house of different handwritings, Brutus believes that Rome is begging for him to stand up against Caesar, the consul, and his good friend. “Rome, I make thee promise, if the redress will follow, thou receivest thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!” pg 66 The notes strongly influenced Brutus to join the conspiracy because Brutus, being a true patriot, always does what he believes is best for the people. After Caesar’s assassination Rome is waiting to be informed about why the conspirators believed Caesar must have been killed. Although Brutus’s explanations are not backed up with evidence Brutus proves his patriotism in his speech, “ Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more… as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.” Pg 128 Brutus reassures the people that he did indeed love Caesar, and only killed him because it was necessary for Rome to strive. He tells the Romans that in the same way he killed Caesar he will kill himself if his death benefits his city, proving his love for Rome. Although Caesar is a true patriot, he is disconnected to the Romans, which leads him into killing Caesar, when really, Rome does want Caesar as their king.

Along the play Brutus is forced to make decisions, and being the noble man he is, Brutus always decides on what he believes is the more honorable choice. Brutus loves honor, and has a reputation of being a noble and ethical senate. Being the noble man he is, he truly considers whether or not to conspire against Caesar. His contemplating is evident in his soliloquy, “It must be for his death, and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn him, but for the general. He would be crone’d: how that might change his nature, there’s the question.” Pg 63 Unlike the other conspirators, Brutus kills Caesar for he assumes that Caesar will be consumed by his ambition when he is crowned. It is evident that Brutus is not killing Caesar due to wrath or envy, but because he thinks it is what is best for Rome. Brutus understands that killing Caesar is not a very ethical act, therefore attempts to make the assassination as noble as possible. He instructs the other conspirators on how to kill Caesar, “ Let us be sacraficers, but not butchers… Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds… Which so appearing to the common eyes, we shall be call’d purgers, not murderers.” Brutus knows that Caesar must be killed like an offering so the Romans will believe them when they say that Caesar’s murder was an honorable act and purely for the better of Rome. For Brutus believes his act is honorable, he tries to execute Caesar as noble as possible. Unfortunately, the conspirators fail to listen to these instructions and kill Caesar the way they were instructed not to. This results as the people turning against the conspirators thanks to Antony, Caesar’s loyal follower. Despite Brutus contemplating on weather or not to kill Caesar, and his instructions to make Caesar’s murder seem as noble as possible, Brutus fails in making the honorable decision and assassinating Caesar in an honorable manner.

The play may be entitled Julius Caesar, however, the ‘hero’ of the story is the tormented Brutus, who has remained in internal conflict with himself from beginning to end. His patriotism and honor motivated him to assassinate Caesar for he believed that it would unite Rome, which it would have if Brutus did not under estimate Antony; a tactical soldier who revenges Caesar’s death. Brutus thought Antony was just a ‘pretty boy’ that could, “do no more than Caesar’s arm when Caesar’s head is off.” Pg87 However, Antony proves him wrong and begins the civil war against the conspirators, who eventually die or commit self- murder. Among the conspirators who committed suicide is Brutus. “Our enemies have driven us to the pit. It is more worthy to jump in ourselves than to wait till they push us in.”pg214 He became overwhelmed with defeat, his friend’s deaths, and realized that the Rome he hoped would result in Caesar’s death will never exist. Instead, in result of Caesar’s death the once great Roman Empire destroys itself. Although Brutus intentions were good, they were not reflected in his actions, and in the end the outcome is the only thing that matters.