Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

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Recommended: Elizabethan time period theatrical

Imagine a world where women were completely subservient to men. Imagine what it would be like to live in a society where women were home-schooled, and not allowed to attend any type of university. What would today’s society be like if women lawyers, doctors, actors, and military soldiers were nonexistent? It would be a modern day version of the Elizabethan era in England. This was a time period where women had little rights, but the dramatic arts flourished due to Queen Elizabeth’s appreciation for them. It was during this time period that literary genius William Shakespeare wrote his many plays including The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Living in this time period caused him to look at women in a somewhat submissive way and portray them as so. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, women did not have strong roles. The roles of women are not common in the play, and their appearances are very limited. In fact, there are only two female roles in the play; the subservient Calphurnia, wife of Caesar, and the daring wife of Brutus, Portia. These two contrasting characters bring an element of foreshadowing to most of the notable events that occur during the play. One example of Calphurnia being used to foreshadow events is when she tells Caesar to “not go forth today; call it my fear” (2.2.50), indicting that she believes something dreadful will happen to Caesar. Calphurnia has also seen many omens that she believes are indicators of Julius Caesar’s death. Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets, And graves have yawn’d, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Wh... ... middle of paper ... ...ce her husband to tell her what is troubling him. Brutus just keeps telling her that he will inform her to what is bothering him eventually, but not right now. And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows. Leave me with haste. (2.1.305-309) The women’s lack of power is also shown when Calphurnia can’t get Caesar to stay home, and away from the capitol, after having her dream. After hearing Decius’s interpretation of Calphurnia’s dream, Caesar cries out, “How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! / I am ashamed I did yield to them. / Give me my robe, for I will go.” Caesar would rather believe the lies of a man than the truth of a woman. More often than not, the women in this play could not control any situation or their husbands very well.

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