The definition of tragedy varies somewhat depending upon cultural context, but in general tragedies are stories in which a hero experiences a negative reversal in fortune due to a character flaw. This hero is usually of noble rank and a good person at heart, but their own psychology, as well as outside forces, converge to bring them low.
The question of who is the play's true protagonist—Brutus or Caesar—has been debated for centuries. Both are tragic figures, but Brutus's dramatic arc and downfall are developed much more extensively over the course of the play. Caesar dies because of his arrogance, while Brutus's tragic flaw is his idealism. Brutus's belief in the nobility of others as well as how far his good intentions push him are what lead to his downfall. The irony is that these are good traits in other circumstances, but within the context of the play's events,...
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they serve him poorly.
In the context of Elizabethan tragedy as a whole, Julius Caesar also fits the genre of tragedy in that the play ends with disaster. Both the actions of Caesar and Brutus help to bring about the civil war which tears Rome apart. Both Caesar and Brutus die. Both see their hopes—and lives—come to an end due to their unwise decisions.
How is Julius Caesar a perfect tragedy?
This play has several tragic elements. The relationship between the two central characters - Marcus Brutus and Julius Caesar - becomes deeply tragic, as the two are actually good friends, yet Brutus feels compelled by his political principles to kill his friend. Brutus agonises over this before finally being persuaded by Cassisus. Caesar, when attacked by the conspirators is finally undone when he sees his friend also aiming a blow at him. Thus, in terms of character, the play is tragic at its heart.
The play is also tragic in a wider sense. Brutus and the other conspirators kill Caesar for the greater public good, to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant who will oppress the people. Yet, as we see at Caesar's funeral, the public are completely incapable of appreciating or even understanding this, and are persuaded by Antony to turn against the conspirators. Instead of leading to peace and a better society, as Brutus hoped, the murder of Caesar leads to more war and power struggles which ultimately result in the establishment of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, which is exactly the kind of thing that Brutus wanted to prevent. The tragedy is that all his ideals essentially come to nothing.