It is interesting that in this tragedy that bears the name
of Julius Caesar, the true tragic hero could be said to be Brutus. This theory is
certainly supported by the way in which both Antony and Octavius respond to being told
that Brutus killed himself. Note what Antony says about Brutus and in particular how he
differed from the other conspirators that plotted to assassinate
Caesar:
This
was the noblest Roman of them all.All the conspirators
save only heDid that they did in envy of great
Caesar;He, only in a general honest
thoughtAnd common good to all, made one of
them.His life was gentle, and the
elementsSo mixed in him that Nature might stand
upAnd say to all the world, "This was a
man!"
Note the praise that
Antony bestows upon Brutus as he says that he was "the noblest Roman of them all." In
addition, Antony argues that he was the only conspirator who did what he did out of pure
motives, and that he was a true man. Octavius likewise seems to recognise the innate
nobility of Brutus as he orders that the body of Brutus should lie in his tent and that
his body will be buried properly.
No comments:
Post a Comment