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Julius Caesar's Responsibility for His Own Death in William Shakespeare's Play

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Julius Caesar's Responsibility for His Own Death in William Shakespeare's Play William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' is a tale of a very ambitious roman who is betrayed by his nearest and dearest, not to mention most trusted, friends. Caesar, a famous military general had great hopes of one day becoming sole ruler of Rome,- but was prevented from doing so by his own death . Caesar was a great man,- brave and noble,- having all the virtues of a hero,- but most terrible in his ambitiousness. Ultimately,- it is his great ambition that leads to his downfall. Caesar's death was a most tragic event indeed, for he would have made a great roman monarch. However, there were many unheeded warnings and …show more content…

Calpurnia feels sure that these astonishing but bizarre events are all warnings or omens of some kind. She fears that her husband is in great danger and begs him to stay home that day,- but Caesar pays no heed to her pleas. He feels that these warnings are not directed at him specifically. ====================================================================== A servant informs them that a calf, which had been cut open for a sacrifice, was found to have no heart. This worries Calpurnia even more, but Caesar, so foolish in his arrogance, claims to be unafraid. He says that he is not afraid because he is not a coward,- he feels that if he were to stay at home in fear of these things, he would be 'a beast without a heart'. He says that he is not afraid of danger because he is brave and courageous, and claims to be more terrible and powerful than danger itself. In this way, Caesar lets his common sense be consumed by his arrogance and overconfidence. ======================================================================= Calpurnia has a strange vision or nightmare in which she sees the statue of Caesar spout blood like a fountain, around which many smiling 'lusty Romans' crowded to bathe their hands in his blood. This convinced Calpurnia further of the danger Caesar was in and she pleaded with him to stay at home. At first Caesar agrees,- but then Decius

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