Caesar, Cassius & Brutus As Tragic Heros Essay, Research Paper

This year in English, we have studied many different characters. We have

studied the works from Ancient Greece, England, about King Arthur, and of Oedipus, just to name a few. One type of character we have studied throughout

this year is the tragic hero. This character starts high, and falls low due to a tragic

flaw. Throughout historical liturature, a person can find these tragic heros. In the

play “Julius Casar” (written by William Shakespeare) Caesar’s lust for power,

Cassius’ jealousy, and Brutus’ loyalty to Rome turned these three men into the

typical tragic hero.

Caesar was what many would call a man of the people. He was originally a

war general, and then made dictator of life by the Romans. This was where he

met his tragic end. Even with the title of “Dictator for Life,” he was not content. On thing that he did try to do to rule Rome was to have Pompey killed. Pompey

still was to become the king of Rome. He also wished to have a son so that he

could have a ruling monarchy. Much to his disappointment, Calpurnia, his wife, was unable to give him children. This greed was his tragic flaw. Caesar’s fall was not losing his powerful position in Rome. Caesar’s flaw caused him to lose his life.

Cassius was bitterly jealous of Caesar’s power. This quote: “I was born

free as Casar; so were you. We both have fed as well, and we can both endure

the winter’s cold as well as he.” (Shakespeare 385), shows his resentment to

Caesar’s power. Cassius would often point out that Caesar was as ordinary as any

other man, and not a god. He once pointed out to Brutus how he had once pulled

Caesar from the Tiber’s waters. This was one way of Cassius showing Brutus how

physically weak Caesar was. Cassius’ jealousy finally took the better half of him.

At that time, Cassius began to plot, and turn others, against Caesar. This jealousy

ended in guilt, which finally led Cassuis to his own death. Jealousy was Cassius’

tragic flaw.

“Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (Shakespeare

421). Brutus was truely a good man. He was on of the most trusted men in

Rome, and learned how to love his country from his ancestors. Brutus, though

kind, and thoughtful, was loyal to a fault. He was unable to see the bad in others,

and made quite a few bad decisions due to that. From fake letters, created by

Cassius, and the pressure from his ancestors reputation, Brutus made a choice. He

put everything he had on the line for the good of his country. His friends, his

family, and his reputation were sacrificed for the good of Rome. He joined the

conspirators, and help to plot against, and murder, Caesar. Loyalty was Brutus

tragic flaw. He was so loyal, he could not see the evil in others, and in the end, his

loyalty cost him his life.

In the many stories we have covered this year, the one of Julius Caesar was

the most tragic. The flaws found in Caesar, Cassius, and Brutus caused many

deaths besides their own. The scariest thing, is that these same flaws exist in our

world today. The civil wars in our world are caused by greed, jealousy, and

loyalty. One day, we will all probably find a time where these three flaws could

affect us. “Et tu Brute. Then fall, Caesar.” (Shakespeare 414).