Sean MC
May 8, 1990
Stubblefield-6

“Caesar…Seize her!”

The so-called Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare has long been regarded as a masterpiece and a classic by the theatre community in general. However, by strict definition, “tragedy” is a misnomer. Tragedy is defined by theatrical convention as having a character that although great, has hidden, tragic flaw. This character must be neither totally good nor totally bad, for they would not be admirable to the audience. In the end, the audience must feel that the consequences exceed the crime. While Julius Caesar had most of these qualities, it ultimately lacked in the selection of the tragic hero: Caesar does not fall into the classification of a tragic hero. Although Caesar certainly has many a good quality; his leadership ability, his military instincts, and his popularity among Romans, Caesar is not quite as highly regarded as Oedipus was, nor as astute in the mental aspect. In the end, Brutus appears to be far more of a tragic hero than the more obvious choice of Caesar, because he was basically a decent, better-than-the-common-mortal type, the only con being a bad judgment to subtract from his many pros.
Brutus from the start appears to exist as a respected, favorable senator, and it is with that in mind that Cassius
chooses to pray upon him. “I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favor,” spoke Cassius (Act I Scene 2 p.637). Cassius’ long dialogue with Brutus reminds one of the great swaths of written material spoken by Iago in Othello. And like Othello, Cassius’ dialogue becomes as convincing to Brutus as Iago’s dialogue was to others.
“Beware the ides of March” (Act I Scene 2 p. 634), was ultimately said to Brutus, for it was he who heard it first, and he who had to repeat it to the hard of hearing Caesar. Unfortunately, this warning is taken by no one, and even Cassius says nothing of the effects that the ides of March will have upon the Roman State. However, it serves as foreshadowing twice: once for the death of Caesar, and once again for the events leading up from the assassination of Caesar and Brutus’ demise.
Lastly, like all tragic heros, Brutus had hid hidden tragic flaw: simple misjudgement. Had he known Cassius’ full intentions, or had he foreseen Mark Antony’s plea to the Roman people to avenge this villianous act, Brutus might have yet lived. But due to his lack of insight, his life ended with great potential left unused.
In conclusion, whereas Caesar lacked the greatness versus cruel hand of fate needed to make him a practical and acceptable tragic hero, Brutus had the qualifications and in fact was nearly a tragic hero in the Sophoclean sense;
Brutus mirrors Oedipus’s charms and quirks, yet he dies out of his own will versus the fate of the gods, as in the Greek play.