The tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare features two characters who argue for a tragic hero - one being Brutus and the other Caesar. Brutus has the best argument because he falls the furthest. In Shakespeare's play, Brutus and Cassius are best friends. Brutus fears that ambition will make him king of Rome, which Rome had not had. Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is a character of high esteem who exhibits a flaw in logic, which leads to his downfall. During the process the character is enlightened about his mistakes and after the play he is often viewed with pity. The protagonist, Brutus, is the tragic hero because he is easily persuaded, has faulty logic, and falls from high station. In Act I, Cassius convinces Brutus to assassinate his friend Julius Caesar. “I am happy that my few words struck, but so much a display of fire on the part of Brutus” (894). The few words spoken by Cassius make Brutus' mind spin. Thus showing how Brutus is easily induced to make decisions. Another flaw of Brutus is faulty logic. “And therefore think that he that is in the serpent's egg which hath hatched, would become mischievous like his kind, and kill him in the shell” (911). Brutus basically says that he needs to be killed before he climbs any higher on the ladder of power. This is flawed logic because we cannot clearly discern whether Caesar is going to take this position or not. Brutus also calls Mark Anthony a member of Caesar. “And as for Mark Antony, don’t think about him; for Luke 2, he can do no more than Caesar's arm when Caesar's head is cut off” (916). The logic here is that if Caesar is dead, Mark Antony is powerless. The fall of a tragic hero plays a major role in the character's enlightenment. At the start of Act I, Brutus stood with Caesar in the Senate... middle of paper ... the goal of keeping the Republic alive falls by the wayside. With the fall of Brutus, Caesar is finally avenged. “Caesar, now shut up, I did not kill you with half as good a will” (997). Brutus' last words are addressed to Caesar. The death of Brutus marks the end of the conspiracy and brings about the end of the Roman Republic. The tragedy of Julius Caesar is a story of betrayal and death. In a tragedy, there must be a tragic hero. Brutus fits the mold well; be from high society and fall very low and die prematurely. Death by the very sword used on Caesar. Brutus is the tragic hero of this play because he is compliant, his logic is flawed, and he plunges the farthest of Caesar's friend into death by suicide. The play sums up Titinius best. “The sun of Rome has set” (991). Works Cited Elements of Literature. Orlando: Holt, Winston, Rinehart, 2007.