Brutus's Tragic Flaw
Act 5
Tragic Flaw: Brutus kills himself before his army gets defeated, still thinking he did it for the good of rome
By: Mathea Johnson
Important Plot Points: Brutus stabs himself with a sword and says that in killing himself he will die with the motives of avenging Caesar, and that Caesar should consider himself avenged: “Caesar, now be still. / I killed not thee with half so good a will” (V.v.50–51).
Act 4
Important plot point: Brutus tells cassius that he would rather die than go to Rome as a defeated prisoner;
and says that the battle represents the final stage in the struggle for power that began with the murder of Caesar (V.i.114). He bids Cassius “for ever and for ever farewell” (V.i.117).
Produces catharsis: We felt bad for Brutus once everyone wanted to kill him, which shouldn't happen because he just killed Caesar.
Act 3
Punishment Exceeds the crime: Brutus and the conspirators, had not seen any physical evidence of Caesar do anything bad, but they assume the worst and kill him off.
Important Plot Points: Brutus explains to the crowd that Antony had no part in the conspiracy but that he will now be part of the new commonwealth. Brutus doesn't realize that what he did was dishonorable, and says he did it for the good of Rome.
Act 2
Free Choice: Brutus chooses to kill caesar after he sees the letters of the citizens, not questioning the validity of the letters at all.
Important Plot Points: Brutus believes that it would be impossible for Caesar to reach high power without becoming greedy in the process. “which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous”; thus, he determines to “kill him in the shell” (II.i.33–34).
Brutus then reads a letter, which accuses ceasar of sleeping while Rome is being threatened. Brutus thinks its a letter from the citizens telling him to kill ceasar.
Act 1
Noble stature: A highly respected noblemen in rome.
Important Plot Points: Brutus hears shouting and says that he fears that the people want to make Caesar their king. When Cassius asks, Brutus affirms that he would rather that Caesar not assume the position. Brutus adds that he loves Caesar but that he also loves honor, and that he loves honor even more than he fears death