Who is the real hero of the play “Julius Caesar”? Brutus or Caesar?

Answer

Who is the real hero of the play “Julius Caesar”? Brutus or Caesar?

“Julius Caesar,” first performed in 1599, is a historical play and tragedy by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Set in 44 BC Rome, Brutus joins a conspiracy led by Cassius to assassinate Julius Caesar to prevent Caesar from being a tyrant and save the people of Rome.

Julius Caesar can be considered only the titular hero (the play’s title is named after Caesar), while the dramatic hero is Brutus. According to this view, Caesar appears only thrice in the play, and even then, the impression he leaves is that he is poor.  Caesar dies early, in Act 3, appearing only later as a Ghost.

On the other hand, Brutus dominates the play from the beginning to the end. He is the center of interest in the play. The play’s beginning, middle, and end follow Brutus more closely, ending in the death and informal eulogy of Brutus. Antony pays tribute to Brutus after seeing his dead body:

“the noblest Roman of them all”

However, Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus fall under the criteria of a tragic hero, though Brutus has much stronger claims.

Brutus as a Tragic Hero

Noble Intentions: Brutus is portrayed as a man of honor and integrity. He is known to the people of Rome as a high-minded, noble-spirited, and honorable man. He joins the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar not out of personal ambition but because he believes it’s for the greater good of Rome. He fears Caesar’s ambition will lead to tyranny, and he thinks he is acting in the best interest of the Roman Republic. At Caesar’s funeral, Brutus addresses,

“Not that I loved Caesar less; but that I loved Rome more.”

Tragic Flaw: Brutus’s tragic flaw is his idealism and naivety. He believes too easily in the noble intentions of others, such as Cassius, who manipulates him into joining the conspiracy. His trust in the goodness of others blinds him to their ulterior motives,