Compare and contrast the tragic hero qualities of Brutus and Caesar.

During Julius Caesar’s funeral, Antony repeats, “Brutus is an honorable man.” Though Antony’s intents are ironic, Brutus is, in fact, an honorable fellow. He loves his wife and the Roman Republic, but his strong principles cause him to assassinate one of his closest friends for fear that he will take the throne: “I slew my best lover for the good of Rome.” His ideals are more powerful than friendship.

They also make him ignorant to the manipulations and ill-intentions of Cassius and other senators. Brutus deludes himself into thinking that murder can be done “nicely”: “Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers.” Thus, he is not clear-sighted when it comes to a political assassination. Against the advice of Cassius, he lets Antony live and even speak at Caesar’s funeral, resulting in war and the deaths of the conspirators. Brutus’s downfall and primary characteristic seems to be his sense of honor.

Caesar, on the other hand, is more concerned with strength. He is strong-willed and decisive but subject to overconfidence and hubris. Like Brutus, Caesar also underestimates his ability to be manipulated. Decius says that he can sway Caesar by appealing to his pride: “when I tell him [Caesar] he hates flatterers, / He says he does, being then most flattered.” This independence and desire for power bring about his downfall. The crown entices him, and he describes himself as being superior to other men:

… men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he…

This attitude elicits jealousy and fear in his fellow senators. It also draws him to the Capitol on the day of his assassination, in spite of multiple warnings. Caesar tells his wife, “Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once.” Decius praises and prods Caesar, saying, “If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper / 'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?” These compliments and subtle taunts succeed, and Caesar dies that day. Therefore, while Brutus’s weakness seems to be honor, Caesar’s is the need to prove his strength.