Themes of Superstition, Manipulation and Honor in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

648 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Superstitions in julius caesar

Themes of Superstition, Manipulation and Honor in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

In William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, many themes develop through the course of the play. Superstition, manipulation, and honor are all themes woven throughout the play to aid in the development of characters and plot. Combined, these themes intertwine to advance the action within the play.

Above all, superstition plays the lead role as a theme in the play Julius Caesar. Superstition actually occurs twice in the play starting with Calpurnia's dream. She dreams that Caesar is made a statue with blood pouring out. The villagers are cleansing their hands and bathing in Caesar's blood. When Calpurnia awakens, she begs Caesar not to leave the house. She exclaims:

Alas, my lord,

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.

Do not go forth today. Call it my fear

That keeps you in the house, and not your own.

Act Two. Scene Two. L. 48-51

Calpurnia is quite upset because of the horrible nightmare she encounters. She becomes very superstitious and begs Caesar to stay home because she is so frightened.

Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,

Yet now they fright me.

Act Two. Scene Two. L.10-11

The second instance where superstition occurs is when the crows are spotted flying overhead on Brutus and the conspirators' way to the Battle. The crows flying over their heads is an omen and for tells that something bad is to come.

This morning are they fled away and gone,

And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites

Fly o'er our heads and downward look on us.

As we were sickly prey. Their shadows seem

A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

Act Five. Scene One. L. 84-89

The Romans lived their lives by superstition. This event serves as a prelude to the vulture's death. Superstition, a major motif in the play, is used to foreshadow certain events.

It is important to note that manipulation is also another key theme in the play. Brutus is skeptical about murdering Caesar but is convinced by Cassius and the other conspirators to help them complete the mission. Cassius way of manipulating Brutus is flattery!

Brutus, and Caesar. What should be in that Caesar?

Why should that name be sounded more than yours

Write them together, yours is as fair a name.

Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well.

Weigh them, it is as heavy. Conjure with 'em,

Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.

Show More
Related

  • Brutus and Antony’s Use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the Book Cassius uses anecdotes of Caesar’s weakness and faults, argumentum ad antiquatum, and ethos on Brutus to persuade him to join the conspiracy to kill Caesar, this works on Brutus and shows that anyone, even people as stoic as Brutus, can be persuaded by appealing to their motivations. Cassius, a very suspicious character thru ought the play tells Brutus to “be not jealous on me” (827), in the quote he tells Brutus to not be suspicious of him because he is just a friend who genuinely cares. Cassius does this to put himself on Brutus’ side and not seem like a distant person, this allows him to criticize Caesar and suggest that he is a bad influence on Rome which appeals to Brutus’ desire to keeping Rome safe. After setting himself up as a friend to Brutus, Cassius uses harsh anecdotes on the weakness of Caesar to show that he isn’t fit to rule Rome. Cassius recollects on a time when he and Caesar went swimming in the river Tiber and Caesar screamed “Help me, Cassius or I sink” (828) to de...

    Read More

  • JC Argument

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    Calpurnia attempts to scare Caesar into staying at the house instead of going to the Capitol. She begins with ethos to establish her credibility and justify her concerns. Calpurnia “never stood on ceremonies”, but now they “fright her,” juxtaposing that the omens never scared her, but are frightening enough that she now is attentive to them. Because women were not as powerful in Rome, Calpurnia further credits her argument by including the “watch.” Using selection of detail, Calpurnia Even the guards, who are men, have seen the strange events, and they are scared. Since even men are scared, it should implicate to Caesar that he should be scared as well. Calpurnia sees a lioness, an image, normally associated with strength and courage, “whelp[ing] in the streets.” The lioness is essentially crying, scared of something. Caesar is also strong, but should be scared as well. When ethos fails to impact Caesar, Calpurnia switches to using pathos to try and scare Caesar. “Fierce fiery warriors [fighting] upon the clouds,” is an image that connotes war. In war, there is death and Caesar should be afraid of death. Calpurnia uses the image of “drizzled blood upon the Capitol,” connoting death, scaring Caesar of what is to come if he chooses to go to th...

    Read More

  • Free Will In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    As one of the most well known authors of the Elizabethan Era, Shakespeare had written numerous sonnets and plays reflecting the values of people of the time period. Shakespeare often display themes of love and death, fate and free will, and power and weaknesses throughout his works of literature. The play "The Tragedy of Julius” truly highlight the impact of fate and free will in the development of the plot, of the assassination of Caesar’s death. Some may argue that fate is actually the one responsible for the act, but they fail to recognize that it is the acts of men leading to the death. It is the free will at fault for this occurrence, that the Roman senators consciously killed Caesar and Caesar himself facing his mortality.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar And Brutus Manipulation

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a tragic drama, set in Ancient Rome about the horrendous death of Julius Caesar. Brutus, leader of the conspiracy against Caesar, begins as Caesar’s friend. Cassius, instigator of the conspirator, manipulates Brutus into killing Caesar. Brutus agrees to this plan because of his plans for Rome. The bond between these two connects when Brutus agrees to Cassius about killing Caesar for the best of Rome. Cassius, very power hungry, comes up with a plan that will succeed in both of them killing Caesar. They both rely on each other because they want the power that Caesar has been requested to make the best of Rome. This dream of making Rome better was manipulated by Cassius to Brutus. However,

    Read More

  • How Does Julius Caesar Change Throughout The Play

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare showcases many characters and events that go through many significant changes. One particular character that went through unique changes was Julius Caesar. The 16th century work is a lengthy tragedy about the antagonists Brutus and Cassius fighting with the protagonists Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus over the murder of Julius Caesar. Although the play’s main pushing conflict was the murder of Julius Caesar, he is considered a secondary character, but a protagonist. Throughout the theatrical work Julius Caesar’s actions, alliances, character developments, and internal and external conflicts display his diverse changes.

    Read More

  • Superstition In Shakespeares The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    1411 Words  | 3 Pages

    Superstition has been around almost since people first inhabited the earth. For this reason, it has played a main role in many classical pieces of literature. One of Shakespeare’s tragedies, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, is full of superstition and the supernatural. It contained so much superstition in order to foreshadow key events in the plot, to further develop characters, and to thrill and relate to the Elizabethan audience for whom the play was written.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar - Tragic Hero

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    	Julius Caesar has much pride, a hamartia, which brings him to not be wary of the conspiracy. Caesar is given much warning on the threat of his life, yet due to his pride he thinks himself to be too great of a person to have such a downfall. Julius Caesar is warned by a soothsayer, "Soothsayer. Beware the ides of March."(1,2,18) Julius Caesar rebukes the soothsayer by stating, "Caesar. He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass."(1,2,23) Caesar does not take warning to be wary the middle of the month, the day of his assassination. Later, Caesar’s wife Calpurnia has a nightmare that Caesar is slain at the Capitol. Caesar calls for the priests to do a sacrifi...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar's Responsibility for His Own Death in William Shakespeare's Play

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    Caesar's death was a most tragic event indeed, for he would have made a great Roman monarch. However, there were many unheeded warnings. caveats which might have averted his death. In the first act itself we see that Caesar comes across a soothsayer. who fore tells that the future holds terrible things for Caesar.

    Read More

  • Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare portrays the 44 BC plot against the Roman dictator Caesar, his assassination and the downfall of the conspirators at the Battle of Philippi.

    Read More

  • Analysis of William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the absolute power of ancient kings and medieval monarchs to the tyrannical dictators of today, political corruption has been a persistent aspect of governed societies since their emergence early in human existence. In the quest for power, individuals create furtive conspiracies to overthrow governments and destroy policies. The presence of political corruption and conspiracy in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is prominent, as Brutus and Mark Antony conduct opposing conspiracies in relation to corruption in the Roman government. Shakespeare depicts Antony’s emotional drive, ability to set aside honor, and capacity to use manipulative language as additive to the strength of his conspiracy. These qualities allow his conspiracy to undermine Brutus and, in doing so, emphasize Brutus’ flaws of uncertainty, excessive accentuation of honor, and naïveté.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Ambition

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    The motif of ambition runs continuously throughout Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, which originates in Ancient Rome and highlights the power struggles, politics and deceit of those vying for power. Ambition leads many of the characters such as Caesar, Cassius, and Brutus to a fate different from what they expected. The play revolves around Caesar, his ascent to power and his eventual loss of everything. Although ambition may lead these public officials to power, it is the same ambition that will be their downfall, ultimately resulting in the death of Julius Caesar, Cassius, and Brutus.

    Read More

  • The Omen: Forces of Nature Play a Very Important Role in Julius Caesar

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many examples of how the forces of omens and the supernatural show that they play many important parts in this play. They have been shown all through the play and work towards foreshadowing the death of Julius Caesar because of the interpretation and misinterpretation of these many omens and forces of nature. After the death of Caesar, omens were the result of what made the conspirators feel guilt and sorrow, even though Caesar died. Omens and the supernatural also scare many characters and sometimes gave false hope or false truth, but the people believed them so it didn’t matter. Many of the Romans believed in these kinds of things, but come to think of it, omens, super naturals and false gods didn’t have any real impact and were really figments of their imagination. The omens made decisions that they should have made themselves using logic.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar and the Tragic Hero

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...n remind us of ourselfs, and how we often try and fail. We see him lose his dear wife and continue warily onward. His only impetus seeming to be the love he feel towards his country. "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." (948). In the end he has not only lost many companions, but he has lost his quintessent name. This will cause him to be judged forevermore, by many generations, and the realization that he has lost his good name is the culminating force that pushes him to end his life.

    Read More

  • Free Julius Caesar Essays: The Role of the Mob

    386 Words  | 1 Pages

    The most important characters of the play Julius Caesar are clearly the citizens of Rome. The citizens have an important effect on both the audience and the characters in the play because of their unlimited desire to passionately express their emotions. Throughout the play these emotions are communicated through various events.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Fate Vs Free Will Essay

    528 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare both fate and free will is demonstrated. Cassius argued that everyone has the power to change their future in what they do when Casca came to him frightened by omens. Though, omens have seemed to prove correct throughout the play, therefore it dominates the argument of Fate versus Free Will. All major events had an omen foreshadowing it. The first five were seen by Casca throughout the day.

    Read More

More about Themes of Superstition, Manipulation and Honor in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Open Document