Julius Caesar: Who is the Better Tragic Hero, Caesar or Brutus?

The Search for the Perfect Hero

In the world today people consider a hero to be someone like Superman or Spider-Man. In the dictionary a hero is considered or defined as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. Though a hero is thought to be free of mistakes they all have tragic flaws like everyone else. A tragic flaw is explained by Aristotle’s definition, which says that: a tragic hero as a character of great reputation and prosperity whose misfortune is not due to depravity or vice, for the hero is a virtuous man or woman but to an error in judgment resulting from a tragic flaw. Sometimes this flaw is an excess of virtue. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare people are arguing over who is the perfect tragic hero Julius Caesar or Marcus Brutus. They both fit the criteria of a tragic hero, but Marcus Brutus proves to be the better and more fit of the two.

Prosperity is described as what makes people successful, and the things that get them their reputation. Both Caesar and Brutus have vast prosperity. Caesar earned his by being such a great general and a leader. “That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?” (I.I.51). When Marullus explains that the commoners are rejoicing over Pompey’s defeat by Caesar and he is angry that the commoners are in the streets praising Caesar right after he defeated him. Caesar has great prosperity because he has just shown his power and what he can do to people that oppose him like he did to Pompey. Brutus also has great prosperity like Caesar. “And look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, Where Brutus may but find it,” (I.iii.143-144). When Cassius is telling Cinna to put the letters in the “praetor’s chair” which is a judg...

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...re about him. Plus, the last eulogy was given to Brutus not Caesar, which implies that Brutus is the hero because the last eulogy is usually saved for the tragic hero at the end of the play.

As you can see people are in a huge fuss over who is the tragic hero Julius Caesar of Marcus Brutus. They both meet the criteria of a tragic hero which is: a tragic hero as a character of great reputation and prosperity whose misfortune is not due to depravity or vice, for the hero is a virtuous man or woman but to an error in judgment resulting from a tragic flaw, but Brutus continues to be the superior of the two. Many people argue over which the better hero is Caesar or Brutus. My opinion is Marcus Brutus wins hands down, a descendant of a wealthy family a strong well developed character, with the ability to persuade others these qualities make him my favorite tragic hero.