Essay/Term paper: Brutus' harmartias

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Persuasive Essays

Brutus" 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.