Julius Caesar Women
LANGUAGE IN INDIA
Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow
Volume 12 : 7 July 2012
ISSN 1930-2940
Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.
Women in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Iftikhar Hussain Lone
==============================================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar
Nature herself was proud of his designs,
And joyed to wear the dressing of his lines,
Language in India www.languageinindia.com
12 : 7 July 2012
Iftikhar Hussain Lone
Women in Shakespeare’s Julius …show more content…
Similarly, Brutus ' gender contradictions are highlighted - although his motives for murdering Caesar are
‘masculinized’, his doubts and fears are `feminized '.
Julius Caesar and Calphurnia
Julius Caesar 's interaction with Calphurnia follows Brutus ' scene of interaction with
Portia. Again, a wife 's role is as one concerned about the safety of her husband, as
Calphurnia exclaims, 'You shall not stir out of your house today. '
Calphurnia 's belief in her dreams about Caesar 's death portrays women as being superstitious, and we hear her claim that she 'never stood on ceremonies / Yet now they fright [her]. ' But, we do know that the Rome of those days was steeped in superstitions and
Language in India www.languageinindia.com
12 : 7 July 2012
Iftikhar Hussain Lone
Women in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
300
fears of ‘portends foretold.’ Her dream images recall the theme of wife as a concerned lifepartner, as she imagines herself to be 'A lioness [that] hath whelped in the streets '. In comparison, Caesar has boldly asserted that he does not fear 'death, a necessary end. '
However, Calphurnia 's fears about 'blood upon the Capitol ' exist to emphasize the …show more content…
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which like a fountain with a hundred spouts
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
(Julius Caesar, II, ii, 11.75-79)
Have More Faith in Intuitive Warnings
When Decius mocks Caesar 's obedience to his wife 's whims, saying 'Break up the
Senate till another time, / When Caesar 's wife shall meet with better dreams ', Caesar changes his mind. When his reputation is at stake Caesar exclaims 'How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! '. However, the fulfillment of Calphurnia 's prediction suggests that men should put more faith in the intuitive warnings of women.
Ambiguity in Caesar’s Power
Throughout the play, Caesar 's power has been ambiguous. Cassius feminizes Caesar in his description about the swimming contest, telling Brutus that Caesar cried “Help me,
Cassius, or I sink!.” Cassius also describes Caesar 's fever in Spain, calling him 'a sick girl. '
However, Cassius demonstrates that he fears the power Caesar would claim if crowned, comparing Caesar, to a 'Colossus ' with everyone else as ‘petty men '. Likewise, Calphurnia 's dream of Caesar 's wounded statue emphasizes the `contradictory images of Caesar as
Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow
Volume 12 : 7 July 2012
ISSN 1930-2940
Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.
Women in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Iftikhar Hussain Lone
==============================================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar
Nature herself was proud of his designs,
And joyed to wear the dressing of his lines,
Language in India www.languageinindia.com
12 : 7 July 2012
Iftikhar Hussain Lone
Women in Shakespeare’s Julius …show more content…
Similarly, Brutus ' gender contradictions are highlighted - although his motives for murdering Caesar are
‘masculinized’, his doubts and fears are `feminized '.
Julius Caesar and Calphurnia
Julius Caesar 's interaction with Calphurnia follows Brutus ' scene of interaction with
Portia. Again, a wife 's role is as one concerned about the safety of her husband, as
Calphurnia exclaims, 'You shall not stir out of your house today. '
Calphurnia 's belief in her dreams about Caesar 's death portrays women as being superstitious, and we hear her claim that she 'never stood on ceremonies / Yet now they fright [her]. ' But, we do know that the Rome of those days was steeped in superstitions and
Language in India www.languageinindia.com
12 : 7 July 2012
Iftikhar Hussain Lone
Women in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
300
fears of ‘portends foretold.’ Her dream images recall the theme of wife as a concerned lifepartner, as she imagines herself to be 'A lioness [that] hath whelped in the streets '. In comparison, Caesar has boldly asserted that he does not fear 'death, a necessary end. '
However, Calphurnia 's fears about 'blood upon the Capitol ' exist to emphasize the …show more content…
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which like a fountain with a hundred spouts
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
(Julius Caesar, II, ii, 11.75-79)
Have More Faith in Intuitive Warnings
When Decius mocks Caesar 's obedience to his wife 's whims, saying 'Break up the
Senate till another time, / When Caesar 's wife shall meet with better dreams ', Caesar changes his mind. When his reputation is at stake Caesar exclaims 'How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! '. However, the fulfillment of Calphurnia 's prediction suggests that men should put more faith in the intuitive warnings of women.
Ambiguity in Caesar’s Power
Throughout the play, Caesar 's power has been ambiguous. Cassius feminizes Caesar in his description about the swimming contest, telling Brutus that Caesar cried “Help me,
Cassius, or I sink!.” Cassius also describes Caesar 's fever in Spain, calling him 'a sick girl. '
However, Cassius demonstrates that he fears the power Caesar would claim if crowned, comparing Caesar, to a 'Colossus ' with everyone else as ‘petty men '. Likewise, Calphurnia 's dream of Caesar 's wounded statue emphasizes the `contradictory images of Caesar as