The camera focused on the women in the crowd when Antony revealed Caesar’s wounded body, and of course it was only the women to whimper or cry, which (for me at least) was effective in making the scene more meaningful and sad. To further bring this point home, I noticed the role that women played in the movie clip of Mark Antony’s speech in this past Tuesday’s class. Without them, I feel that Julius Caesar would be quite a blunt, straightforward and emotionless play. The wives provide some emotion to the events that occur within the play. This is interesting because it is almost as if he no longer sees himself through his own eyes, but through the eyes of the public.Ĭalpurnia and Portia play importance roles within this play particularly because they present us with a back drop of “real life.” By this, I mean that the presence of the wife to these high status men shows us that these men are still human. Yet Caesar shall go forth forth these predictionsĪre to the world in general as to Caesar” (2.2.27-30).Ĭaesar attempts to liken himself to the rest of the world, assuming that it could not be him that these messages of doom are being sent for. Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? In response to Calpurnia’s concerned argument Caesar states: In this scene with his wife, Caesar continues to refer to himself in the third person. Ambition and pride seem to overshadow his wife’s worries and warnings and he agrees again to go to the Senate. Shortly afterwards, Decius comes to convince Caesar to come to the Senate that day to be crowned. Regardless, it takes a great amount of pleading on Calpurnia’s part to finally persuade her husband not to go to the Senate that day. If this isn’t a large enough sign to not leave your house the next day, then I don’t know what is. In fact, these nightmares are enough to keep Caesar from being able to fall asleep. We are told that Calpurnia is having nightmares of Caesar’s murder. I cannot help but wonder, had Brutus shared his plans and ideas for murdering Caesar, if Portia would have talked some sense into him.Ĭalpurnia, quite similarly to Portia, is just attempting to keep her husband safe. I find this to be a significant scene because Portia is reaching out to Brutus to find the root of the problem. This speech from Portia is particularly endearing to me because it is such an honest and heartful scene of a woman expressing her frustration in attempting to understand her husband and his recent behavior. Make me acquainted with your cause of grief” (2.1.254-5) Which sometime hath his hour with every man.” (2.1.243-250) Which seemed too much enkindled, and withal “And too impatiently stamped with your foot. In this case, Portia pleads to Brutus, even going down onto her knees, to find out what has had him so moody as of late. Clearly, the women during this time were to tend to their husbands and the household and to leave outside business to the men. Portia is an interesting character because we are only given what she feels and thinks once, and this pertains to the well-being of her husband, Brutus. ![]() They play the role of concerned and gentle housewives. It is apparent that the two women in this play serve as a contrast to the strong male figures. Somewhat similarly, Portia attempts to reach out to Brutus about his “cause of grief” before the murder of Caesar, but he pushes her worries aside, as does Caesar with Calpurnia. This is especially important in Calpurnia’s case because had Caesar heeded her warnings based on her dreams he would have lived to see another day. ![]() ![]() Regardless of their efforts, neither woman is able to even get through to their husband. ![]() Both women are unable to impact the events occurring outside of themselves and their marriage. Meanwhile, Portia, Brutus’ wife, has an interesting role within the play overall. Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, serves as a form of foreshadowing to her husband’s death. Within Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, there are only two women who hold underlying yet highly significant roles.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |