Do you think Caesar’s death can be attributed to his failure to reads the omens properly or do the omens merely presage the inevitable?
Do you think Caesar’s death can be attributed to his failure to reads the omens properly or do the omens merely presage the inevitable?
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The characters inJulius Caesarneglect nearly universally the play’s various omens (dead menwalking, sacrificed animals who lack hearts), nightmares (Calpurnia’s vision of Caesar’s statuerunning with blood), warnings (the Soothsayer’s advice to Caesar to avoid the Ides of March,Artemidorus’s letter about the conspiracy), and supernatural events (Brutus’s visitation by theGhost). Caesar believes that the omens in Rome could apply just as easily to Rome in general as tohim personally, and he quickly comes to believe that Calpurnia has misinterpreted her dream. As theplot unfolds, it becomes clear that these omens warn of events that take place without exception.The hand of fate, or of the gods, appears to strike with undeniable omnipotence; and yet, it seemspeculiar to provide omens without allowing individuals time to alter their behavior or choose amongfates. In any case, the characters fail to heed the warnings in almost every instance. Tragically, thecharacters often believe that their refusal to heed these signs proves their strength, courage, andindomitable nature; thus, Caesar believes that he is displaying the force of his will by ignoring thewarnings and attending the Senate, though, ironically, it is precisely this action that precipitates hisfated death.