Marcus Brutus: our true and steadfast hero

Brutus: Our true and steadfast hero of Rome

Although the title of Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, suggests Caesar is the tragic hero of Rome the scheme of the play gives the role of hero to Brutus. Many of the characters conduct in the play demonstrate an unstable thought pattern. The play gives us a “behind the scene” look at the private lives of powerful political leaders. Many of the power heads in the play have the intellect to sway and manipulate the public into thinking and feeling, seeing and hearing exactly what they want. While in private we see them as selfish ambitious leaders who are only concerned with their own agendas. Only Brutus proves true; he is the only political figure who displays his love for Rome not only in the public eye but also within his private life, demonstrating he is the true hero of Rome.

Every hero has a weakness and Brutus’ weakness is his love and devotion to Rome. This weakness gives Cassius the opportunity to manipulate Brutus. In 1.2 Cassius puts a lot of energy into complementing Brutus and tries to sway his already wobbling devotion to Caesar. Later he forges letters and has them delivered to Brutus’ house. Cassius’ character gives us a good insight into a true villains mind. Even Caesar does not trust him stating, “Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look. / He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.” (195-196) Cassius’ countenance obviously shows he is having malevolent thoughts. Although Caesar states to Antony, “…but I fear him not” (1.2.199) he asks for more heavy duty guards to be placed around him demonstrating his own insecurities and inability to put actions to his words.

At the end of 1.2 Brutus departs with an invitation for Cassius to come to his home an...

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...f Caesar did not change the political dictatorship Rome soon fell under. Brutus fought the good fight agienst Antony and Octavius believing the whole time he was fighting for the good of Rome. In Act 5 scene 5 Mark Antony himself pays homage to Brutus’ memory calling him “…The noblest Roman of them all,” (67). He admits that although the other murderers killed Caesar because of their jealously Brutus did it for the good of Rome. He states that Brutus was a “gentle” well balanced human being and, “So mixed in him that nature might stand up / And say to all the world ‘This was a man!” Not only has Brutus captured Antony and Octavius’ respect and honor but he also captures the heart of the audience. Throughout the play he has remained faithful to the Roman people in his private and public life proving he is the true and tragic hero of the play.