Julius Caesar- Essay, Research Paper

Julius Caesar-

In the play of Julius Caesar, we see a brief picture of Roman

life during the time of the First Triumvirate. In this snap shot, we

see many unfortunate things. Shakespeare gives us the idea that many

people try to circumvent what the future holds, such as unfortunate

things, by being superstitious. Superstition seems to play a role in

the basic daily life of most Roman citizens. For instance, the setting

of the first scene is based upon superstition, the Feast of Lupercal.

This feast is in honor of the god Pan, the queen of fertility. During

this time, infertile females are supposed to be able to procreate, and

fertile ones are supposed to be able to bear more. It is also a

supposed time of sexual glorification and happiness. Other scenes

depict how throughout Rome, roaming the streets are mysterious

sooth-sayers, who are supposedly given the power to predict the

future. Dictating what is to come through terse tidbits, these people

may also be looked upon as superstitious. In the opening scene, one

sooth-sayer, old in his years, warns Caesar to “Beware the Ides of

March,” an admonition of Caesar’s impending death. Although

sooth-sayers are looked upon by many as insane out of touch lower

classmen, a good deal of them, obviously including the sayer Caesar

encountered, are indeed right on the mark. Since they lack any formal

office or shop, and they predict forthcomings without fee, one can see

quite easily why citizens would distrust their predictions.

Superstition, in general elements such as the Feast of Lupercal, as

well as on a personal level such as with the sooth-sayers, is an

important factor in determining the events and the outcome of Julius

Caesar, a significant force throughout the entire course of the play.

Before the play fully unravels, we see a few of signs of

Caesar’s tragic end. Aside from the sooth-sayer’s warning, we also see

another sign during Caesar’s visit with the Augerers, the latter day

“psychics”. They find “No heart in the beast”, which they interpret as

advice to Caesar that he should remain at home. Ceasar brushes it off

and thinks of it as a rebuke from the gods, meaning that he is…

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