Great Caesar example essay topic

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 09 i eve 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 couching's and lowly courtesies might fire the blood of ordinary men", ( . 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", ( . 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, it is hubris and blind self-love that leads directly to his death. E-notes. com defines hubris as "arrogance, excessive self-pride and self-confidence. The word was used to refer to the emotions in Greek tragic heroes that led them to ignore warnings from the gods and thus invite catastrophe". The soothsayer tells Caesar to beware the Ides of March, and he dismisses him. Then, his own wife Calpurnia fears for his safety because she foresees his murder, but Caesar did not even take her seriously. He thought that nothing could harm him.

Calpurnia even says that his wisdom has been decreased by his confidence. "Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth today" (II. ii. 248-250) Caesar says to her, "the things that threatened me never looked but on my back: when they see the face of Caesar, they are vanished" (II. ii. 10-12). Here Caesar explains that he has no fear and expects nothing to hurt him just because he is Caesar.

Caesar was mistaken when he thought that being brave. Confident, powerful would keep threats away. This made him blind to the signs that would have saved his life- he believed nothing could harm him because he was such a powerful leader. Even when he goes out of his way to warn Marc Antony that Cassius is not to be trusted, he also points out that because he is the great Caesar, his name is not liable to fear; as though only a lesser man would fear him.

He even ignores his own instincts, referring back to his warning to Marc Antony about Cassius, he also points out that he did not fear Cassius. "I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd / Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar" (I. ii. 211-212). He dismisses his own opinions rather than use them to his advantage! This just proves Calpurnia's point, because Caesar is wise enough to see that Cassius is dangerous, but too confident to see it as a threat to himself.

If Caesar had understood that he was not invincible or infallible, he might have a healthy fear that would keep him safe. His hubris cripples him by blinding him to possibility of his overthrow, and even the possibility of his own death. If he had doubted for a minute his permanence, he might have seen what was going on around him and avoided it. In conclusion, it is clear that Caesar is a great man with one tragic flaw: hubris.

His arrogance is so strong that it taints his wisdom and takes away his fear. This shows us that fear is actually a great asset and tool not just for all of mankind. As long as people don't let fear take over them, it will help keep them safe. To have no fear at all is not an advantage or strength, but a foolish flaw. Although Caesar is a great leader and admired by the people, his arrogance makes others mad and jealous and causes them to find reasons why they would be better off without him.

Finally, this arrogance leads directly to his death because it takes away his fear, and therefore his ability to pay attention to the many signs that should have shown him that he was in danger. We have seen evidence that is was this lack of personal fear, which comes from Caesar's hubris, that causes him to allow himself to be in a position to be killed by his own men, including his own best friend. So, when the Ides of March come around each year on March 15th, we should all take some time to remember, that a little fear is a healthy thing.