Superstitious Beliefs In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, superstitious beliefs are apparent throughout the tragic play. Based during the rise of the Roman Empire, the use of these irrational beliefs are presented to foreshadow unfortunate events in the lives of Roman citizens. One of the main characters, Julius Caesar, believed in many fictional thoughts and ideas. He was driven by them and they helped Caesar become successful. As we learn in the story, though, some superstitions he chose to ignore came back to haunt him. Julius Caesar believed in many superstitions, went through pains trying to cope with his beliefs, and in due time lost his life because of his audaciousness. As it is known, Julius Caesar contains a lot of superstitions dealing with Caesar. In the

As his popularity rose in the Roman Empire, his audacity and his self-confidence rose, as well. This in turn dropped his belief in irrational stories about something that may or may not be true. He began to see only the things that would propel him to being a great and powerful leader and stopped worrying about what others warned him about. For example, he ignored his wife when he left for the Senate, choosing to believe in Decius. In a logical sense, listening to a more-or-less reliable friend rather than your own wife is not the right mentality. Another example would be when Artemidorus finds a letter about Caesar. Julius chooses not to read the letter because it pertains to him. This is ironic because it would’ve stopped himself from dying. This is his last case of being a prominent leader and thinking about others first. Lastly, Caesar shows the peak of his arrogance when he is speaking to Metellus Cimber about restoring his brother to Rome. Julius haughtily says, “But I am constant as the northern star,/ Of whose true-fixed and resting quality/ There is no fellow in the firmament./ The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks,/ They are all fire and every one doth shine,/ But there’s one in all doth hold his place” (Shakespeare 3.1.65-70). He then goes on to say that he is the only person on Earth that is unassailable and will stay with his previous decision of banishing Metellus’ brother from the lands of Rome. The arrogance that grew inside of Julius Caesar stabbed him to death in the