Brutus: Archetypal Hero
Brutus: Rise of the Tragic Hero
William Shakespeare, in his play, Julius Caesar, displays Brutus as the archetypal hero and uses the supporting characters as surrounding archetypes. He supports this by relating Brutus’s characteristics to the traditional hero’s personality, its history, and by creating connections between the evens surrounding and including Brutus to the heroic journey. Shakespeare’s purpose is to create dynamic and relatable characters in order for others to enjoy his play thoroughly. He adopts a very serious and solemn tone for his audience, the viewers and readers of his play. Shakespeare characterizes Brutus in such a way that it initially hides his real purpose and involvement in the story, though reveals his character traits to be very similar to those of the archetypal hero. Early in the play, Brutus is shown as a constant and stable character, and obviously wouldn’t take on a radical change like that of a tragic hero. However, as the story progresses, Shakespeare creates such a deep and conflicted character to the point that Brutus can garner both pity and respect from the audience. The archetypal hero is usually born into a society that is usually in a state of conflict, one that will cheer “in the triumph over Pompey’s blood”(I.i.52), as the people celebrate Caesar’s defeat of a former ally. Rome was a breeding ground for trouble within its political body, its people, and the military protecting it. Corruption played a huge role in Roman society and would cause distrust and alliances within the Roman populous such of those of Roman senators who called others “blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things”(I.i.36), because they are disgusted with the worship of Caesar. Even before the conspiracy involving the death of Caesar, Roman officials within the Senate body had plans of assassinations and overthrows, all in the rush for power and money. As a result of these rivalries within Rome, Civil War broke out Caesar himself and
William Shakespeare, in his play, Julius Caesar, displays Brutus as the archetypal hero and uses the supporting characters as surrounding archetypes. He supports this by relating Brutus’s characteristics to the traditional hero’s personality, its history, and by creating connections between the evens surrounding and including Brutus to the heroic journey. Shakespeare’s purpose is to create dynamic and relatable characters in order for others to enjoy his play thoroughly. He adopts a very serious and solemn tone for his audience, the viewers and readers of his play. Shakespeare characterizes Brutus in such a way that it initially hides his real purpose and involvement in the story, though reveals his character traits to be very similar to those of the archetypal hero. Early in the play, Brutus is shown as a constant and stable character, and obviously wouldn’t take on a radical change like that of a tragic hero. However, as the story progresses, Shakespeare creates such a deep and conflicted character to the point that Brutus can garner both pity and respect from the audience. The archetypal hero is usually born into a society that is usually in a state of conflict, one that will cheer “in the triumph over Pompey’s blood”(I.i.52), as the people celebrate Caesar’s defeat of a former ally. Rome was a breeding ground for trouble within its political body, its people, and the military protecting it. Corruption played a huge role in Roman society and would cause distrust and alliances within the Roman populous such of those of Roman senators who called others “blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things”(I.i.36), because they are disgusted with the worship of Caesar. Even before the conspiracy involving the death of Caesar, Roman officials within the Senate body had plans of assassinations and overthrows, all in the rush for power and money. As a result of these rivalries within Rome, Civil War broke out Caesar himself and