Calpurnia's Character Development

519 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ambition in Shakespeare's julius caesar

In Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, Calpurnia’s horrific dream of Caesar is the significant event which ultimately causes Caesar’s death and advances the plot. Shakespeare uses character development to expand on Caesar’s character, conflict between public and private life to initiate the events leading up to Caesar’s death, in addition to a variety of omens and portents to create suspense while the plot advances. Through character development, readers are able to deduce that Caesar’s desire for the crown is what causes him to go to the Senate, where he is killed. Caesar shows a very arrogant and prideful personality, and is very reluctant when Calpurnia asks him to stay at home: “And Caesar shall go forth” (Shakespeare 2.2.48). …show more content…

/ Give me my robe, for I will go” (2.2.105-107). Not only does this statement expand on Caesar’s character, it shows conflict between his personal and public life, and ultimately leads him to his death. Conflict between private and public life also influence Caesar’s decision and help to advance the plot. When Caesar is first confronted by Calpurnia, he is inclined not to go and listens to Calpurnia: “I will not come today” (2.2.64). However, his decision is influenced when Decius gives his interpretation of the dream. Caesar feels it is imperative for him to receive the crown, so he changes his mind and decides to go to the Senate. Although he was once in agreement with Calpurnia, he felt his public reputation was at stake, and decided to go to the Senate. This is significant as we see two different sides of Caesar: one caring for his wife, and one showing a strong desire for the crown. This conflict between personal and private life advances the plot as his ultimate decision to disagree with his wife and travel to the Senate causes his

Show More
Related

  • How Does Anthony Use Ethos In Julius Caesar

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this scene, Caesar shows no eagerness to gain power or fame as the citizens have assumed therefore showing no ambition whatsoever. The imagery and logical reasoning persuade the audience into rethinking if Caesar was ambitious and believe that Caesar was

    Read More

  • The Sacrilege: Caesar A Political Mastermind

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    because he says that Caesar has no money and that even as Pontifex Maximus, he

    Read More

  • Brutus is a Good Leader in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    332 Words  | 1 Pages

    against what Caesar is doing but the point of killing him is to end what he is doing not to

    Read More

  • Machiavellian Ministry

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Caesar’s lack of somewhat savage Machiavellian traits foreshadows his downfall a multitude of times. From the beginning, the soothsayer warns him to watch out for the Ides of March. There are also bad signs; men in fire walks up and down the streets, and a lioness gives birth on the streets. Likewise, before he heads to the Senate House to receive the crown, Calphurnia tells him that she has had a nightmare, and pleads him to stay home. However, he ignores all the premonitions and moves toward where the Senators are, with no one to protect him when he is in danger. This action of Caesar contradicts the teachings of Machiavelli, “Before all else, be armed” (The Prince). As a result of his carelessness, the conspirators see that he has no chance of circumventing, and assassinates him. Similarly, he is unsuccessful in recognizing the outrage of Cassius and a few others; he isn’t doubtful enough of their secretive deeds and eventually loses the reigns to eliminate the defiance. "The same thing occurs in affairs o...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of When The King Took Flight

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author notes that the King at an early age relied mostly on his mentors for knowledge and advice, notably two of which were councils of elders. The King’s entire life and on matters of decisionmaking was under the influence of these elders and from members of the court. The effects of overreliance on the need to make a decisive decision is witnessed when the moment to plan the escape, the King ponders and waste a lot of time in thinking and going over the idea of evading. The King took much time that Marie and Fersen had already begun planning for the escape long before the king had already given the consent for such an idea. Marie’s plan was underway and was schedule on May but the King’s nature of indecisiveness led to his postponing of the due date. Timothy Tackett notes down that the King does not just postpone the escape once but six times. These acts of postponing the escape finally end as he decides on the twentieth of June as the eloping day. The author yet again argues that if the family had left earlier on agreed dates their chances of a safe gateway would be higher and less risky. The King’s decision on postponing and prolonging the escape paved way for a chance that led to the conspiracy to be

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar A Tyrant Analysis

    461 Words  | 1 Pages

    In a well functioning republic, the leaders must listen to all that the people say and not do whatever he wishes. This part of the play displays Caesar’s sexism but also his lack of thought for others concerns that is similar to a tyrant view. Lastly, Caesar shows arrogance subtly through his words to make himself feel powerful. When Calpurnia warns Caesar of her visions, Caesar starts speaking in third person that personally seems like the zenith of someone being supercilious. “Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me/Ne’er looked but on my back; when they shall see/ The face of Caesar, they are vanishéd.” (II.ii.10-11). Caesar basically says that because he is so great and powerful he will never be defeated. He also talks in third person which is quite arrogant of a leader to do. Whenever people feel too anxious for leadership they may let it all go to their head, another reason why he turned into a tyrant. People need to watch for tyrannical or corrupt politicians as they can get too power hungry and cannot be

    Read More

  • Who Was Julius Caesar A Good Leader

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness”. (2.2.45) Caesar showed his arrogance and ambitiousness to his people. He didn't want to take the crown from Antony for defeating Pompey. If Caesar would have taken the crown from Antony if would had made him not so arrogant. He would have been more of a stronger leader. “Ambition should not be soft. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man.” (3.1.58) Caesar was also a hard headed man. He didn’t like to listen to anyone. He had his servant get the priest for the sacrifice after Calpurnia cried three times her in sleep, “Help someone! they’re murdering Caesar.” Caesar told his servant to perform the sacrifice immediately and to bring him the results. Caesar done things that could have put him in a bad

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    510 Words  | 2 Pages

    Caesar is all about conquering power and he is afraid of nothing. Before he is murdered, he says “The things that threatened me ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see the face of Caesar, they shall vanish” (II, ii, 575). This shows how his mind is only set on killing others to get rid of a problem.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the start of Act 1, Scene 2, we soon learn that Caesar is of a

    Read More

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

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ther gifts he asks “when comes another [as great as Caesar]?” (877) in order to make the crowd feel complete and utter guilt for their betrayal and anger towards the conspirators who killed their beloved idol.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar (Superstisions Analysis)

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    Caesar believes in some sort of fate and ultimate destiny. He believes that there is no escaping what ‘the gods’ have in store. “What can be avoided, whose ends is purposed by the might gods?” (Shakespeare, pg.. 77) says Caesar when he has to make a decision about going to the forum or not. His belief in fate sometimes contradicts his belief in superstition. On one hand, he states that no end can be avoided, and on another, he asks Antony to touch his wife for fertility, as if without Antony, that event would not be fated. His large ego blinds him from seeing the contradiction of his convictions. He also states, “It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.” (Shakespeare, pg. 77) He believes that one’s fate is unavoidable.     Caesar’s behavior changes whenever a superstition could benefit him. “Forget not in your speed Antonius, to touch Calphurnia. For our elders say, the barren, touched in this holy chase, shake off their sterile curse.” (Shakespeare, pg. 13) To try and rid his wife of the ‘sterile curse’ Caesar instructs Antony to touch her while he runs. Because this particular belief may benefit him and his family, Caesar accepts it as truth. Caesar’s reaction to Calphurnia’s nightmare of a fountain of Caesar spilling out blood and people rejoicing in it is complete non-belief. He cannot, for one moment, see the all-mighty Caesar being defeated, and his ego tells him that there is no way it will happen. Then, another interpretation comes into play that says that the dream can be interpreted to mean that the people will be rejoicing under Caesar’s rule, and he gladly accepts, “How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! …give me my robe, for I will go.

    Read More

  • Fate In Julius Caesar Research Paper

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    All three times he made the choice to reject the crown, even though his temptation to accept it grew with each time it was offered to him. This shows how Caesar still made choices, and that everything was not just fate for him. Another part where choice played a major role in the play is when Julius Caesar chose to go to the capitol on the ides of March. Here, he made the choice to disobey the soothsayers warnings, he also chose to go against Calphurnia’s and the priests judgement, and he also brushed off Artemidorus’ warning to him . “What touches us ourself shall be last served” (III, i, 8). Here, Caesar is seen pushing away the warnings of Artemidorus, as he is in public and he is trying to maintain his image of being an unselfish person. This could be thought of as the last choice that Caesar made before his death. Choices can impact the future drastically, and because of that, one should always think about the choices they will make and think about all the possible

    Read More

  • Essay On Persuasion In Julius Caesar

    1213 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ransoms did the general coffers fill” Act3 Scene2 line#87, “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” Act3 Scene2 line#90 and “I thrice presented him a kingly crown. Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?” Act3 Scene2 line#96 All these refutations indicate Caesar wasn’t ambitious but rather, he was full of compassion and sympathy. He didn’t use any sly skill but well-chosen facts and this turned the tables.

    Read More

  • Parallel Scenes In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    375 Words  | 1 Pages

    The play Julius Caesar was a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in 1599 about the assassination of the Roman emperor Julius Caesar. This play has become one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies because of the many literary devices that are written into the play. For example, Shakespeare used parallel scenes while introducing two of the main characters' wives, Calpurnia and Portia. The first scene depicts Portia and her husband, Brutus, discussing a secret Portia wants to know. By the end of the scene, Portia practically blackmails Brutus by rhetorically questioning if she is his harlot rather than a wife, convincing him to agree to tell the secret at a better time. The second scene is about Calpurnia who tries to convince her husband,

    Read More

  • The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, the story revolves around the various individuals who would vie for control of the Roman Empire. All of these individuals exhibit various attributes, values, and techniques in order to facilitate this goal, from Cassius’ intelligence, Brutus’ charm and honor, to Antony’s gift to drive a crowd. And although all three desire to become the new strongman leader of Rome, it is Antony who succeeds gaining the most control through his own specific talents, most specifically noted at Caesar’s funeral. At the funeral scene, Antony exhibits several qualities beneficial to a Roman leader, such as oratory and appeasement skills. The dialogue depicted in Act III, scene ii provides a valuable and insightful perspective on how these values were desirable for leadership in the late Roman Republic.

    Read More

More about Calpurnia's Character Development

Open Document