The Role of Women in Julius Caesar Essay

First, Brutus shows that he has noble stature because everything that he did was for the benefit of someone else, He couldve ignored eveyone that wanted him to kill Caesar knowing that he could be punished, but he did it for the benefit of eveyone else. In Act 2, Scene 1. Brutus didnt tell Portia his plans of the murder, he feels she has enough stress and dosnt need to worry with it. “Hark, hark! One knocks. Portia, go in awhile. And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows. Leave me with haste.”

In the play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, women play an important role. The women are important factors in foreshadowing and in the development of many of the characters. To look at the role of women in the play we must look deeper in to the roles of the only two women in the play; Calpurnia, wife of Caesar, and Portia, wife of Brutus. Both of these women are key in foreshadowing the murder of Caesar. After Caesar’s murder we do not hear much of either of them.

By using pathos and repetition, Portia uses Brutus’ name and makes it clear that with their bond of marriage she should be allowed to know the secrets her husband keeps. Brutus is not a skilled orator and Portia uses rhetorical devices to show her devotion to her husband. Her strong oration and use of repetition attracts Brutus’ attention. Portia also uses a rhetorical question in which she proves her strength of why she should know the secret. When Portia reveals her strength she states, “Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience. / And not my husband’s secrets” (2.1.323,324). With the use of a rhetorical question, Portia is not asking for an answer. She is just trying to prove her point that she can bear with knowing the secret. Although it is a question, she is not really confused, but rather is proving that she is liable. Her question is not looking for an answer but is allowing Brutus to think about why he can’t tell her. The use of a rhetorical question shows that she is able to deal with her husbands secrets. She states that she can deal with a stab in the thigh, so she also could handle knowing the secret Brutus is

As the millenniums pass and years go by, the world continues to evolve each day. Across the world, in every society, men and women have specific roles that they carry out. During ancient times, in most cultures, women were inferior to men. This is still true in many countries today. It has taken American women many centuries to have gained the rights and privileges they have today. Women have made many immense achievements, fought for their rights and stood up for what they believed in during the past century. It is very important to understand the role of women in history because they have played an imperative part of how each society functioned. In Classical Athens, women and men were citizens however men were superior to the women.

     In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare shows how friends often betray each other. Julius Caesar is about to be crowned king of Rome, when some well-known Romans decide that it is not a good idea for this to happen. They form a conspiracy and kill Caesar. Brutus, an honorable Roman and a very good friend of Caesar’s, betrays Caesar by killing him for the good of Rome. Antony, Caesar’s best friend and another honorable Roman, betrays Brutus by turning against the conspirators. Cassius, a respected Roman, and Brutus betray each other by arguing and destroying their friendship. All this betraying lead to many deaths in the play.

Women have played important roles throughout history. They have been responsible for the rise and fall of nations, sustaining families, and have been the focal point of worship in ancient religions. Moving forward in history, women's roles have continually changed. Their status as matriarchs changed as the more advanced ancient civilizations rose. The patriarchal societies of ancient Greece and Rome viewed women differently from some societies of past eras. The study of the economic and political status of women, their rights, and their contributions to both these ancient societies reveals how views change throughout history.

Throughout Sophocles’ Antigone and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar the use of women within the tragedies displays and enforces the omniscient patriarchal society characterized in the plays. In Antigone the main character is a headstrong and courageous teenager who is always at the forefront of the conflict, whereas In Julius Caesar, women play no significant role throughout the tragedy, though ultimately all women in both works are subjected to and ignored by the more “dominant” sex.

Giagiari (2012), claimed that ‘stoicism is the belief of in hiding one’s negative destructive emotions where only the the most honorable men of men can contain these emotions’. This can be seen prominently when he received the news of his wife, Portia’s death, whereby he showed no outward emotions and reaction when she killed herself. This is evident from ‘Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine’. This shows clearly how Brutus just brushed off the fact that his wife who had been a major part of his life had just died and asked for some wine to enjoy. This is due to his philosophy where he has to simply show that he did not care. Next, according to Gann (2010), ‘the passions were simply the intellect in a diseased state.’ A clear and unbiased thinker will not be swayed by his emotions when making decisions. This can be seen in Brutus’s dilemma where he was torn between his personal affection for Caesar and the need to end his dictatorship. In the end, he chose to not let his personal emotions interfere with his decision and

Brutus’ downfall begins when the group of conspirators finally kills Julius Caesar at the Roman Senate. Chaos ensues, and the group knows that something disastrous shall occur soon. “Fates, we will know your pleasures:/ That we shall die, we know; ‘tis but the time,/ And drawing days out, that men stand upon” (939). His fall continues after he learns of the death of his beloved and loyal wife Portia. “O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs…/No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead” (972). These events have caused the noble character of Brutus to become internally distraught and turbulent, but his outside guise shows little hint of this. Finally, he dies in the final battle between the liberation forces and the Roman army. “I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:/ Thou art a fellow of a good respect;/ Thy life hath some smatch of honour in it:/ Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,/ While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?/… Farewell,

	Julius Caesar is a play written by William Shakespeare during the year 1597. Julius Caesar’s story involves a conspiracy against Julius Caesar, a powerful senator.

Ever wondered what it takes to be a good king or ruler? Julius Caesar is one of the most famous rulers of all time. He was one of Rome’s greatest and most powerful leaders. His changes to the empire helped take Rome to new levels of success. The life of Caesar was short, yet great. It is important to learn about this great man and his many accomplishments.

In a cast of over 30 characters, there are only two women. This is a statement describing the world renown play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. These two female characters are Calpurnia, the wife of Julius Ceasar, and Portia, the wife of Marcus Brutus. Other than these two women, the cast is composed entirely of male characters. In a work of literature so populated by men, one may ask why Shakespeare takes the time to include any women at all. However, after further reflection, it is clear to see the reason as to why they are included. Upon including Calpurnia and Portia in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare deepens our understanding of their husbands, highlights the social values of the time, and

Portia still tries to uncover the cause of Brutus' sorrow, and proves she is worthy of keeping a secret because of her nobleness. First she states,

Furthermore, the relationship with Portia has changed throughout the tragedy as Brutus kept secrets and political opinions hidden from her. In one scene Portia literally stabs herself to gather information about Brutus’ mindset and feelings (II.i.324-325). The action Portia takes exemplifies how important politics have on her health and Brutus’ health. Throughout the tragedy Portia is very worried for Brutus as he carefully plans out the assassination of Julius Caesar and Portia eventually dies from the loneliness and despair as Brutus is out at Civil War. The death of Portia was the point Brutus’ relationship with her was destroyed since his

The Theme of Julius Caesar How suitably is the theme of the supernatural depicted in the play ‘Julius Caesar’? William Shakespeare was one of the most influential playwrights, is known today for his plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream and many other interesting and different plays.