Marcus Brutus: A Tragic Hero

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It has been well established that all of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes have a flaw, one that usually results in the hero’s downfall, Marcus Brutus’ of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar being his poor judgement, as it is what caused him to kill Caesar in the beginning. Brutus was not a villain, but rather a tragic hero, due to his good intentions as seen by other characters in the play, his selflessness, his love for Caesar, and his loyalty to Rome. Brutus, as shown throughout the play, was a well-intentioned man. He believes he is doing good in killing Caesar; he believes he is killing for the better, as shown in his inner monologue: “It must be by his death, and for my part / I know no personal cause to spurn at him / But for the general” (II.i.10-12). His affliction is in that he strongly holds the idea of the killing as necessary for the Roman citizens, although he regards Caesar as both a friend and a respectable man. Even Antony, the man most loyal to Caesar, sees Brutus’ motives: This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he Did that they did in envy of g...

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