Saturday, August 6, 2011

Shakespeare Julius Caesar question?

There has been much critical discussion about who is the real protagonist of the play. Most critics argue that Julius Caesar is the protagonist of the play, pointing out that he is the title character and the cause of all the action in the play. Even in scenes in which he is absent, he is the focus of the discussion and the reason for the revenge. After his death, his ghost roams the landscape of the play, further spurring the action. His character definitely holds the dramatic structure of the play together. Other critics argue that Caesar is a static character; undergoing no psychological change in the play; they also point out that he is murdered halfway through the drama. These critics believe that Marcus Brutus is the protagonist, claiming he is the complex character of the play whose psyche is explored in depth. They argue that his tragic flaw is very obvious; it is his immutable sense of principle and nobility. Because of his flaw, he makes many mistakes and suffers for them; as a result, he changes dramatically in the play. He first appears as Caesar's faithful friend; he then becomes a member of a conspiracy; he next serves as the misguided leader of a not-so-civil war; and finally he is seen as a man who has lost everything he once held dear, including his principles. In this analysis, Julius Caesar will be viewed as the protagonist of the main plot, and Marcus Brutus will be considered as the protagonist of the very important subplot

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