Painful Ambitions In William Shakespeare's Tragedy of Julius Caesar we discover that when a leader is unjustly assassinated, absolute political chaos ensues. Brutus, our protagonist, is the emblem of the position of the tragic hero, one who begins in such a high position and ends up with nothing but can only blame himself. While he and many other conspirators plot to kill Caesar for no logical reason other than Caesar's lust and ambition. He justifies his actions through mistakes and illogical thoughts and his downfall is that he is ultimately killed in the same manor as his victim. Brutus has several character flaws that he is unable to overcome and this, amidst the cunning of his political enemies, leads to his downfall. Throughout this tragedy Brutus displays many character flaws. He begins by trying to be too honorable for the adoring people of Rome. He tries to protect him from what Caesar could potentially become, a tyrant. “If Wolf did not see the Romans as sheep, he would not be a lion, the Romans would not be hinds” (903). At this point Caesar showed no tyrannical ambition. It has proven to be everything for the people without the risk of personal gain. “Three times I presented a royal crown and three times he refused” (951). He was slightly ambitious, but what human being isn't? Another flaw we discover in Brutus is that he is an easily influenced man. The truculent and virulent Cassius is able to alter his perception of life, especially of his people and the ambitious Caesar. Every move this confused man makes is justified by faulty logic. This is accentuated by his idiotic choice to underestimate Antonio and allow him to live. “Since Antony is but a member of Caesar, let us be sacrificers and not butchers Caiu...... middle of paper ...... tension of himself. He had the power to stand up to Cassius and stop this conspiracy before it even began, but did he? He manages to muster some sympathy for the fact that he lost everyone who meant something to him. “I would rather be a dog and a bay on the moon, than such a Roman” (966). He lost everything and became what he truly feared and hated the most. Who could do such a thing and make it in such a way that it would ruin his entire life? He made the cowardly choice and waged a suicidal battle for the chance to reclaim his life. Illogical thinking, pain and misery are what our pitiful tragic hero has reserved for himself. He had everything to lose and he lost it due to the same serious crimes for which he killed a man. Does this in itself lead to deserving pity or deserving punishment? Works cited: Elements of literature. Orlando: Holt, Winston, Rhinehart, 2007.