Julius Caesar: Is Brutus A Hero Or Villain?

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There is a continuing debate revolving around the question of whether or not Brutus was a hero or a villain. This question has been asked of hundreds of students in hundreds of classrooms by hundreds of teachers all around the world. If asked to label him as one or the other most people would call Brutus a villain. After all, he did kill someone; his close friend. Though this question of good and evil is one that is important to ponder, ultimately Brutus is a human who struggles to do the right thing, makes a bad decision, and consequently kills himself because of the guilt he feels as a result of his mistake. In Julius Caesar, Brutus is a noble man, though not an honorable man.
Brutus was definitely not the hero of Julius Caesar. A true hero would have valued his friend’s life above the …show more content…
Of all the conspirators, Brutus was the only one who had good intentions backing the violent deed. For, though Brutus was dragged into being the leader of the assassination plot, he honestly believed his actions would benefit the republic of Rome. As Brutus himself says, “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2.17) Nevertheless, this very question raises serious doubts in the minds of readers. It seems that Brutus loved Rome enough to kill his friend for it, but not enough to fight to the death for it. When Brutus, right before he commits suicide, says, “I shall have glory by this losing day more than Octavius and Mark Antony by this vile conquest shall attain unto,” (5.5.36) Readers are forced to question more deeply the motivation he had to assassinate
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