Essay/Term paper: Julius caesar: brutus' mistakes or harmartias

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar: Brutus' Mistakes or Harmartias


Throughout the play of "Julius Caesar" Brutus makes many mistakes or
harmartias, which eventually lead to his tragic downfall. Although Brutus makes
many harmartias I feel that these three are the most important. The largest
harmartia that Brutus makes is listening to Cassius, in the beginning. Another
harmartia Brutus makes is deciding not to kill Antony. Brutus also makes the
mistake of meeting Antony's army in Philippi instead of waiting at the camp.
These three harmartias of Brutus will be greater explained in the next three
paragraphs.
Brutus made a large harmartia listening to Cassius' speak about
assassinating Caesar. Brutus is very naive and because Cassius is clever he can
make Brutus agree with him. Cassius himself even says, "If I were Brutus now,
and he were Cassius, He should not humour me." (Shakespeare Act 1, Scene 2,
Lines 314-315). If Brutus did not listen to Cassius, he wouldn't have joined the
conspiracy, and Brutus' tragedy would have never happened. This is why Brutus
should have never listened to Cassius' conspiracy plan.
A large harmartia that Brutus made was not killing Antony. Brutus says, "
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar." (Shakespeare Act 2, Scene 1, Line 165). .
Brutus feels that Antony would not be able to do anything without Caesar, and
would probably commit suicide. Cassius thinks that Antony should be killed, but
does not argue with Brutus. Antony ends up being even stronger without Caesar
and is a tyrant ruler in a triumvirate. Antony and his army are the reason why
Brutus kills himself. If Brutus did kill Antony he would probably of lived and
been a ruler Rome.
Another harmartia that Brutus made was meeting the armies of Antony and
Octavius in Philippi instead of having them come closer to the camp. Once again
Cassius thinks differently than Brutus. Cassius says, "'Tis better that the
enemy seek us; So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Doing himself
offence; whilst we, lying still, Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness."
(Shakespeare Act 4, Scene 3, Line 198-201). Brutus thinks that they should meet
at Philippi because the enemy armies will grow on the way to the camp. In the
end the armies of Brutus and Cassius are weaker because of traveling to Philippi,
which contributes to their loss.
Brutus makes very large mistakes in this play. I think that these three
are the largest harmartias made because they lead to his death. Brutus listening
to Cassius about assassinating Caesar in the beginning of the play. Brutus not
killing Caesar. Brutus having his army meet the enemy in Philippi. These
mistakes are so large that they cause Brutus' final tragedy, his death.