Marcus Brutus In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar Essay
Who is the main character of the play and why?
To determine the main character of a play, one must first decide what defines a leading figure. This will be the protagonist, which Merriam-Webster describes as “involved in a struggle of some kind, either against someone or something else or even against his or her own emotions” (merriam-webster.com). The principal character in a story is an important person involved in a conflict. There are two people, Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus, who can be considered the protagonist of this literary work.
Julius Caesar is the leading person in the play and this is why the title is named after him. Before and after his death, he influences the other major characters, such as Marcus Brutus, Caius Cassius, and Mark Antony. The plot is made of people conspiring against, assassinating, making funeral speeches for, and then fighting between the allies and …show more content…
He first fights against his own emotions when he fears his cherished friend may threaten the freedom of Rome, which is the one thing he loves above all else. He says at Caesar’s funeral that it was “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (Shakespeare, 117). Later, he fights in combat against Antony and Octavius’ army thereby in conflict both emotionally, verbally, and physically.
He is a tragic hero and this fits well in a tragedy. Aristotle gives a tragic hero distinguishing characteristics: the hero must be a great man, he must die due to a tragic flaw, and his death must be his own fault. Brutus was a great man, he was a patriotic and honorable idealist, and Antony describes him as “the noblest Roman of them all” (Shakespeare, 209). His philosophical commitment to principle, specifically to republicanism, allows him to be easily manipulated by those he trusts. Suicide, which was completed by falling upon his sword while a servant held it in place, is a death entirely his own

Similarities Between Julius Caesar And Oedipus

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, for a character to be considered a tragic hero, they must consist of various qualities such as a noble position, tragic flaw that causes a downfall of their noble position, and a realization of their tragic flaw. One respected man who fits all of these qualities is Marcus Brutus. Brutus also relates to another tragic hero from the Sophocles’ tragedy, named Oedipus. Both the Shakespeare tragedy and the Sophocles tragedy have a similarity in tragic hero…

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Julius Caesar Conspiracy

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, written in 1599 by William Shakespeare, has been read prolifically, studied, taught and adapted into film. As is common with the Shakespearean plays, the reader encounters an in-depth exploration of human action and reasoning in the midst of conflict. The tragedy follows Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus on their journey to overthrow Julius Caesar along his journey to assuming the Roman throne. The two, and six others who were apart of the conspiracy, did in fact succeed…

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Julius Caesar Tragic Hero

“For let the gods so speed me, as I love / the name of honor more than I fear death” (Shakespeare 1.2.900). These are the wise words of Marcus Brutus. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar; written by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus is the main character, despite the title of the play. Shakespeare is known for incorporating tragic heroes into his writings. A traditional tragic hero is defined as a person; usually of noble birth, who suffers some type of catastrophe that leads to their downfall…

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Julius Caesar Tragic Hero

“For let the gods so speed me, as I love / the name of honor more than I fear death” (Shakespeare 1.2.900). These are the wise words of Marcus Brutus. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar; written by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus is the main character, despite the title of the play. Shakespeare is known for incorporating tragic heroes into his writings. A traditional tragic hero is defined as a person; usually of noble birth, who suffers some type of catastrophe that leads to their downfall…

Words 1529 - Pages 7

Julius Cesar (Book) Essay

Carina Wright Bausch English II 8 October 2010 The Tragedy of Julius Caesar “Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, is it expected I should know no secrets that appertain to you?” (II.i. 280-285). Marcus Brutus and his strong range during this story makes you anxious for more, in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Other such themes in Shakespeare’s play are violence, success and death. Violence is fighting, anger and uncontrolled emotions. This scene was during Anthony’s…

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How Is Brutus A Tragic Hero

Tragedy of Julius Caesar: The Tragic Hero The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a play written by William Shakespeare, shows the conspiracy of the killing of Julius Caesar. The play has five acts in it, each with a few different scenes. Marcus Brutus is one of the main characters in the play and has the main focal point on him throughout. He is one of the conspirators that killed Caesar and was the biggest surprise to Caesar, for he was one of his closest allies. The play really reveals that Brutus was the…

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Deception And Manipulation In Julius Caesar

Deception and manipulation are very important in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. The main characters all possess deceitful and manipulative qualities. The downfall of the well known Caesar was an effect of the deception and manipulation of his friends, and enemies. Deceitful and manipulative actions is the overall cause of Brutus joining the conspirators and turning against his beloved friend. Mark Antony was also deceitful when delivering his funeral speech, and intentionally…

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Rome: Roman Republic and Caesar Essay

study of life and its essential futility, and are by far Shakespeare's most acclaimed works. From HAMLET to ROMEO AND JULIET, Shakespeare's classic plays concerning the great inevitable are arguably his best. JULIUS CAESAR is no exception. The real Julius Caesar was a man of great compassion who desired power, but above all, wanted to see the citizens of Rome prosper. After defeating the armies of Pompey and gaining control of all of Rome, Caesar began to institute changes intended for the betterment…

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Protagonist Julius Caesar Essay

The famous play "Julius Caesar" written by the similarly well-known author, William Shakespeare, was one of his shortest plays ever. Shakespeare has used his distinctive way of describing places and atmospheres to make this true ancient and tragic drama; about disloyalty, control, revenge and the adversity to change ones thinking, more significant than what it might be. The audience might say that this plays' protagonist is Julius Caesar. Others might say its Brutus and even maybe Mark Antony, depending…

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Essay Tragic Hero

Bentley Humanities 10 4 March 2015 Julius Caesar Essay Brutus Vs Antony Almost in all of Shakespeare's plays a tragic hero is always identified; a heroic figure that demonstrates a character flaw that leads to their death. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, there have been many disputes about who was the real tragic hero. Over half the people agree that Marcus Brutus was the true tragic hero. However, others have argued and identified Julius Caesar as the real tragic hero. After…

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