Foreshadowing through Female Characters in Julius Caesar

Role of Women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

In the play Julius Caesar William Shakespeare only includes two female characters who play relatively minor parts. Shakespeare included these characters because they bring an element of foreshadowing to the tragic events that occur in the play.

One example would be in Act II, Scene II when Caesar's wife Calpurnia foreshadows the death of her husband. She tells Caesar, "do not go forth today: call i my fear," (Act II, Scene II). In that line Calpurnia is telling Caesar not to go to the capitol that day because sh feels that something bad is going to happen to him. As we know, something bad does happen.

Another example of the female characters foreshadowing tragic events would have to be Calpurnia's dream in Act II, Scene II. "She dremt tonight she saw my statue which like a fountain with a n hundred spouts did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans come smiling and did bathe their hands in it," (Act II, Scene II). This is foreshadowing the death of Caesar in the next act. This also foreshadows when the conspirators bathe their hands in Caesar's blood after they kill him.

Another example would be the character of Portia, Brutus's wife. In Act II, Scene IV Portia attempts to see if Caesar is at the capitol and she sends Lucius to the capitol to make sure everything is fine. She tells him, "I heard a bustling rumor, like a fray, And the wind brings from the capitol," (Act II, Scene IV). She is telling Lucius that she heard a loud noise coming from the capitol that almost sounded like a riot. This foreshadows the riot that is going to break out after the Romans find out about Caesar's death.

Even though the women in Julius Caesar have minor roles in the play. They are the main characters that bring out the element of foreshadowing to the story.