Julius Caesar as a Tragic Hero

Julius Caesar as a Tragic Hero

The Ides of March mean much more than March 15th, it was also the day Julius Caesar, the Roman general and leader was killed. Although this day is not a holiday, we should take time to think of things Caesar didn’t on this fateful day. In “Julius Caesar,” by William Shakespeare, Caesar that morning solidified his place as a tragic hero because of his tremendous fatal flaw. Aristotle once defined the tragic hero as a person of noble or influential birth, who has a moral personality. The tragic hero also must have one hamartia, which is a fatal flaw. This fatal flaw is the cause of the person's downfall. This also means that it is a noble person, and it is one part of their personality that brings them down. Julius Caesar is a tragic hero because he was a champion of the people, but it was his hubris that led to his death. Caesar was a great leader and well-loved by Romans, but his arrogance made the people who were close to him mad and jealous of him. It was Caesars excessive pride that led directly to his death. We see evidence throughout the play through the dialogue and events that this is true.

Firstly, Caesar was a great leader and adored by his subjects. At the opening of the play, all of the Romans in the streets are cheering for Caesar and rejoicing in his triumph. Although two soldiers don’t agree, the first we hear of Caesar is that is a eagerly supported. At the Feast of Lupercal, for example, Marc Antony tries to crown him king three times, and each time, Caesar refuses. As he does, the people cheer for him because they bel 09ieve him to be so noble. This shows how the people revered him, admired him, and accepted him as their leader. They cheered for him in the streets and supported his every move. Caesar had made many positive changes in Rome, and people appreciate that. Caesar is a good, observant leader as he notices the way that Cassius is not a man to be trusted, and he is correct. He understands people and paid close attention to the way Cassius spent too much time thinking, and not enough time enjoying life and the arts. He warns Marc Antony that they should watch out for Cassius. “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much; such men are dangerous … Such men as he be never at heart's ease/ Whiles they behold a greater than themselves. And therefore are they very dangerous.” (I.ii.205-212) Although Caesar is correct in his analysis of Caesar, he chooses not to use that to his advantage; he just pointed out to Marc Antony facts that could have saved his life. He should have paid more attention to his instincts. This example shows us that Caesar was excellent at what he did; however, he had a big problem, which held him back.

Specifically, Caesar’s problem was that his arrogance made the men closest to him feel threatened, mad and jealous. Caesar acted like he was better than everyone else, and he made others feel insignificant, even though they were great and noble also. “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men /Walk under his huge legs and peep about/ To find ourselves dishonorable graves.” (I.ii.135-138) Cassius feels like he shouldn’t have to feel so small next to Caesar, and Caesar thinks he is better than everyone. Caesar talks to everyone like they are nothing compared to him, and he talks about himself as though he could never be questioned, which is basically a dictatorship. Rome was a Republic and the idea that one man could rule it as a king was a threat. Cassius points out, “When could they say (till now) that talked of Rome, that her wide walks encompassed but one man” (I.ii.154-155). This is a reference to the fact that Rome should never be a dictatorship, but a democracy. This is the point that convinces some of the men to move against him. They feel they had to do it to protect Rome. Additionally, Caesar acted so pompous around these men that it is all they can see about him any more. When he was politely asked to let a banished man return, Caesar says, “These couchings and lowly courtesies might fire the blood of ordinary men,” (III.i.36-37). Here Caesar simultaneously puts down the man extending the courtesies and builds himself up to be much more than an ordinary man, almost godlike. He later also builds himself up this way when he says “I am as constant as the Northern Star,” (III.i.60). Here, in comparing himself to a permanent part of the universe, he almost makes himself godlike. Not only do the men not like his arrogant attitude, they fear a leader who sees himself this way. If Caesar could have made these men feel part of his rule, instead of subject to it, they wouldn’t have killed him because they would have been more comfortable with him personally and felt like he was a democratic ruler.

Finally,