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Constance Salerno
English II honors
3-24-15
Argumentative Essay
Julius Caesar is a classic play by William Shakespeare. This play was written in 1599.
The hero of this play is Brutus. He is the hero because he killed Caesar for the good of Rome.
Unlike the rest of the conspirators who killed Caesar because they were thinking about
themselves and the power they could gain. At the end of the play Anthony says that Brutus is the
most Roman noble of them all this shows that even though they are on different sides that
Antony respects him. Brutus has many good characteristics and many bad characteristics. Brutus
was also nave. Brutus thought that if you trusted someone to do well then they would do well
but that is not true in all cases. There are many people who are against Brutus being the hero.
Although Brutus was the hero he also had flaws. One of Brutus many flaws was that he was too
trusting. Brutus also has many characteristics that make him the protagonist.
One reason that Brutus is the hero is because he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. He
killed Caesar because he did not want a tyrant to rule over Rome. Brutus did not think about the
good it would do for himself he just thought about the good it would do for Rome. Brutus cared
more about his country then he did his friendship. Brutus was a nationalist. A nationalist is a
person who loves their country a lot. Brutus thought that Caesar was going to become a tyrant.
Brutus and the conspirators wanted Rome to be a republic. After Cassius and Brutus died the
Roman republic was dead.
The second reason that Brutus is the hero is because he chose Rome over his friendship.
This shows us that he was extremely loyal to his country. Caesar was one of Brutus closest

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friends. Brutus reluctantly joined the conspiracy because he thought that it was best for Rome.
This shows us a lot about Brutus. He was willing to sacrifice his friendship for his country. None
of the other conspirators did it for Rome they did it for power. Antony was not one of the
conspirators he came in the scene after Caesar died. Antony only became a major character
because Caesar died.
Some would say that Antony is the hero because after Caesar died he told the people what
happened. He was also fought so that Rome would not become a democracy. At Caesars funeral
Antony motivated the people to rise up and fight back. He appealed to their emotions. Antony is
not the hero of play because he was not a major player until after Cesar was killed. People think
that Antony is the hero because he is the person who rose up against the conspirators. He is not
the hero because he took advantage of Caesars death so he could have power.
Some people would say that Cassius is the hero because he is the main conspirator.
Cassius killed Caesar because he wanted power. Cassius was very deceitful and he was power
hungry. Cassius could be considered the antagonist. Cassius used Brutus to get close to Caesar.
Cassius is the lead conspirator. Cassius organized the conspiracy. Cassius wanted to be the ruler
of Rome. Cassius killed himself during battle because he thought Octavius men were in the tent.

Some people would say that Octavius is the hero because he became ruler after Caesar
died. Caesar did not have any boy children so Octavius was the heir. Octavius was Caesars
nephew. Octavius technically was ruler after Caesar died, but to become ruler he had to beat
Cassius and Brutus to become ruler. After Octavius and Antony won the battle they split the
Roman Empire.

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Some people would say that Caesar is the hero because he is the main character in the
play. Caesar had been co-ruler with Pompeivs until he killed him. Caesar was offered a crown
three times and he denied it. This shows that he is an honorable and noble man. This does not
show that he is the hero. Caesar was Brutus best friend. He is the only person in the play who
does not try to take advantage of him. Caesars last words were Et tu, Brute! Then fall,
Caesar. This shows that Brutus was the last person he thought would hurt him.
There are many different people that could be considered the antagonist. Brutus is the
protagonist. The main characters were Antony, Cassius, Brutus, and Caesar. Brutus thought that
he was killing Caesar for the good of Rome but Cassius used him to get close to Caesar so they
could kill him. Brutus is the hero of this play.