Marcus Brutus: The Tragic Hero

The play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is a thrilling story set in ancient Rome. The play focuses on the death of Julius Caesar and his best friend, the tragic hero, Marcus Brutus, who killed him. Brutus is the tragic hero because he was prominent in society and had a fatal flaw. His fatal flaw leading to his downfall also makes him the tragic hero. As the tragic hero, he recognizes his mistakes and is redeemed. Marcus Brutus is the tragic hero in the play Julius Caesar since he is prominent in society, has a fatal flaw that leads to his shameful downfall, but experiences recognition of his mistakes and is redeemed from his downfall.
Brutus’s prominence in society and tragic flaw are elements that make him the tragic hero.
Brutus trusted Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral, but the people tuned on him after Antony’s. Through Antony’s speech he convinced the people of Rome to hate Brutus. Because Brutus is prides himself in honor and loves Rome this is a downfall of his. The excessive trust that Brutus put in Cassius that they were both doing killing for an honorable reason lead to many Romans being killed. The war that Antony fought against Brutus and Cassius led to the death of many Romans. Brutus trusted that Cassius was killing Caesar for the same noble reason that he was, but Cassius was killing him for a selfish reason and Antony fought against them in a war. In the war many people died and because Brutus loves Rome it was a downfall for him to know that he was part of the reason that Romans were dying. Brutus’s trust in both Antony and Cassius led him to be exiled from Rome which was his biggest downfall. His trust in Antony speaking at Caesar’s funeral and in Cassius killing Caesar brought him to be exiled from Rome. Being exiled from Rome was his biggest downfall because of his honor and his love for Rome. The tragic flaw of Brutus leading to his downfall shows him as a tragic