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...