Julius Caesar may have been a noble person, but the people of Rome didn't think so. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare shows that Caesar meets an unfortunate end when he is murdered by the people he loved most. In this play, Julius Caesar is portrayed as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as "the main character in a tragedy [who is] usually dignified, courageous, and of high rank" (Novel Study Guide). Another essential element in defining a tragic hero is that "the hero's downfall is caused by a tragic flaw" (Novel Study Guide). It is obvious who Julius Caesar is. William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is a tragic hero given that he is of noble stature, has a fatal flaw, and meets an unfortunate end. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare brings Caesar to a tragedy. Caesar is shown to be a tragic hero when he is wronged by the people closest and dearest to his heart. One of the reasons Caesar died an unfortunate death was the manner in which he was killed. For example, Octavian says: “Never, until the thirty-three wounds of Caesar are well avenged; or until another Caesar/Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors” (Vi53-55). A happy death would be accidental or of natural causes. Caesar's death was unfortunate because he was assassinated by his friends. They deliberately stabbed him, which made his death even more unfortunate. The number of times he was stabbed shows how angry the conspirators were and how much they wanted him dead. Being stabbed to death is a very painful way to die because it is not a sudden death. Caesar had to suffer thirty-three stab wounds until he died! Caesar's death was so tragic because it was caused by his best friends. Brutus said: “Grant this, and then death is a blessing:/ We are therefore friends, who have shortened/ His time of fear of death…” (III.i.103-110). One source states: "The conspirators killed Caesar because of his selfishness: as republicans, they feared that he would become a dictator" ("Shakespeare's Dead World", p. 76). Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Cimber, Decius, Metallus, Lagarious and many others were involved in the knife attacks. His death is so tragic because he never thought his best friends would betray him. They were jealous of his power and his pride. Ultimately, Caesar's hubris helped bring about the end of his life. He was so self-centered and trusting that Decius told him the truth: Calpurnia's dream had been misinterpreted. The noble Caesar believed that the Roman citizens loved him and that he was their lifeblood, but in reality, they wanted him gone. It is possible that Caesar was killed by the conspirators on another day, but because he did not listen to what the soothsayer and his own wife had to say, he was tragically taken for