Radscorpions: A Narrative Fiction

This attempt quickly failed when she said that his hubris just took over. “I knew that Caesar should have stayed away from the Senate house yesterday, but I guess his pride just took over his mind, it was just all too much,” Calpurnia sobbed. “This has turned out to be the most tragic moment in my life and I hope those conspirators kneel to the gods, for they have upset the heavens with the killing of the mightiest leader Rome has ever seen.”

In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar has become overly ambitious, so a group of men conspire to murder him. Many people and omens try to warn him of his doom, but he is too arrogant to think he will die. Calpurnia, his wife, tries to convince Caesar to stay at home; while Decius, one of the men who plots to kill him, insists that he comes to the Senate House. Calpurnia and Decius employ various rhetorical devices, which Calpurnia uses in an attempt to save Caesar from his fate, while Decius uses them to draw Caesar closer to his fate.

Caesar says that cowards die many times before their death and death will come when it will come. Then Caesar asked a servant what the augurers say about the subject and they say they found no heart within the beast. This is a simple act of showing how superstitious Caesar is sends him in to a rage and he decides he will go to the capitol. Then Calpurnia (the voice of reason) says “your wisdom is consumed in confidence” and tells him to tell them it is her fear and not his own that keeps him from the capitol. And Caesar grudgingly agrees. Then Decius Brutus comes in and ruins the whole thing by telling Caesar that her dream was telling how great he is and Decius manages to flatter Caesar enough that he decides to go to the capitol and he tells Calpurnia how foolish her dreams seem now and he leaves. Calpurnia, as we know was right the whole time and Caesar gets assassinated at the capitol. This scene was important in foreshadowing Caesar’s death and showing how overconfident Caesar is, and although Calpurnia’s warning was only one of many she seems to be the only warning with real impact, that is until Decius Brutus comes in to play.

Caesar’s ignorance shows itself most prominent when, after Calpurnia's nightmare, he holds a conversation with Decius about why he would be absent from the senate that day. Caesar informs Decius of his wife’s dream - believing him to be a trustworthy individual - unaware of the coup planned against himself. Caesar believes the outcome of Calpurnia's vision to be more than plausible, and conveys

“When I defeated the General, I decided not to let that beautiful mansion go to waste.” Rainsford declared. “So I moved in and,

This is evidence that Caesar showed himself to be an arrogant and inconsiderate

Caesar started off as a business man, he used to sell a dish called hoecakes from the back of his wagon. (Wilson 1.3). His business was later shut down by police because he needed a licenses. Once he got his hoecake business back up again, he started to receive criticism from his customers about his food portions and prices. Caesar states, “Niggers say my bowls was too small. I got bigger bowls. Say I didn’t put enough pork in the beans. I put in more pork. I got me some chickens. I charged extra for the big ones and the people got mad.” (Wilson 1.3). Caesar was rather insecure because he decided he no longer wants to sell food. Instead, he started to give people places to sleep. Caesar felt people were not satisfied with him. Perhaps this inner feeling of disappointment lead Caesar to desire to have force and power over people. Caesar also faced many unsympathetic experiences which triggers his abusive behavior. He deals with a family who he cares for a lot more than they do for him. In scene three Caesar tells his sister, “I ain’t got but one sister and I try to do right by her and you push me away. Family is important. I know the value of family.” (Wilson 1.3). Caesar’s mother was insensitive, he claims he would try and turn his sister Black Mary against him. Caesar represents those police who have been through severe hardships within society and chose to find a way of power

“I’m afraid of a house? That’s nonsense. Get yourself together, Casey. You heard the wind howling nothing more.”

Laurel nodded her head when she heard that Zinda would be willing to aid her in her efforts of keeping the city running smoothly. “With that attitude I think Ryder will love you.” She stated with a small laugh, her head shook from side to side. “Even before the outbreak I always had a hard time sleeping.” She reached her right hand up and placed it against the back of her neck, rubbing at it. “So it really doesn’t bother me all that much.” She nodded her head. She knew what Zinda said was true, that she should try and sleep more but that seemed easier said than done. She really tried to sleep at night sleep just seemed to elude her, it was never there when she really need it. Like the night they got back from the Farmhouse, all she wanted to do was fall asleep and forget the whole events that had taken place there. Sadly that didn’t happen, she stayed up all night thinking about how she could have done thing differently, that she should have stayed with Kate.

These concepts Caesar contributes in his dialogue relate closely to the well known story of Cain and Abel, found in the Book of Genesis. In the famous Old Testament story, Cain, a crop farmer, and Abel, a shepherd, are brothers with an interesting twist to their story. The story begins as Cain and Abel are bringing offering to God, where Cain has gathered some fruit and Abel has brought the very best of his flock to offer to God. Because Abel had offered his very best to God, he “had regard” for his offering, but because Cain had not extended his best towards God, God “had no regard” for his fruit and was cast down, essentially lowering his rank.

But Caesar thinks this is a foolish idea and says "Shall Caesar send a lie/ Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far/ To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth" (II.ii.65-7). Caesar thinks that if he doesn't show up to the Capitol, that he would be seen as cowardly to the other senators if they found out why he didn't show up. After Caesar completely ignores what Calpurnia said, and tells Decius the real reason why his wife did not want him to go into the Capitol, Decius completely turns it around "This dream is all amiss interpreted/Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, signifies that from you great Rome shall suck/And that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance."(II.ii.89-95). Caesar then feels stupid for having believed in Calphurnia's thoughts, and says. "How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia/ I am ashamed I did yield to them" (II.ii.105-6). This showcases his pride, because he thinks he shouldn't have believed someone like Calpurnia. These actions displayed do show that Caesar's power

“Nathaniel kicked a foot against the floor. “Will you both just shut up and let me give my command? I’m in charge here. Right. Imp: I wish you to show me the building known as Heddleham Hall. Somewhere near London. Owned by a woman named Amanda Cathcart. So! Be gone about your errand!””(Stroud,

Although a very complicated history, House’s personality may be, what in the end, makes him such a great doctor. In the end, House pushes everything aside when his best friend Dr. Wilson has only 3 months left to live. From rehabilitation to faking his own death, House puts his best friend, who has been there for him through thick and thin, forward in efforts to make his last moments great

With Caesar’s actions in Calpurnia’s presence we see the gentler, slightly less arrogant side to his personality. Also in having Portia’s presence, we see the more compassionate side of Brutus, her husband. We are shown Caesar’s gentler, less arrogant behavior when Calpurnia pleaded with Caesar that he not leave home that day, a request made due to her suspicions sparked by the soothsayer’s warning to beware the Ides of March. Caesar dismisses her feeling confident that the Soothsayer’s words were unimportant. However she continues in her attempts to convince him. “Mark Antony shall say I am not well,/ And for thy humor I will stay at home” (cite). Then, although he sees staying home on this day as a sign of cowardice, Caesar chooses to stay home. Although shortly after, Caesar reverts to his original plan, the fact remains true that for at least a moment, Caesar had made the less arrogant choice. Making this choice showed Caesar is capable of changing his arrogant way of thinking under certain circumstances.In having Portia, Brutus’s wife, we see a new characteristic in Brutus as well.After Portia’s death Brutus says to Cassius, “No man bears

saying,'. . . Why did he marry Fuliva and not love her? I'll seem the