A sign of the future of good or evil is considered to be an omen. Plenty of omens are displayed throughout the Tragedy of Julius Caesar, written by Shakespeare. If these omens are ignored negativity is often the only outcome for the character as demonstrated in the play. Some of these omens include Caesar ignoring Calpurnia’s unpleasant dream and his servant’s simple warning. Cassius disagrees with Casca’s statement of the god’s anger toward Caesar’s death and he allows Antony to live. Brutus disapproves of Cassius’s consent to prevent Antony from speaking at Caesars funeral and Brutus agrees to the ghost’s demands.
Caesar, Cassius, and Brutus ignore important omens that are presented to them, which eventually led to their demise. Foremost Julius Caesar faces plenty of omens throughout his journey in
...cluding Calpurnia’s unfortunate dream towards Caesars life and his servants warning of the Ides of March. By ignoring these warnings Caesar is led to a tragic execution. Calpurnia had an important dream about Caesar and in the dream Caesar’s statue has blood poring out from it as if it were a fountain. In Calpurnia’s dream many Romans bathe their hands in Caesar’s blood which certainly signifies doom towards Caesars life.
Caesar tries to explain Calpurnia’s dream to Decius, “Calpurnia here, my wife, stays at home: she dreamt to night she saw my statue, which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. ” (Shakespeare, 2. 2,75-79) Caesar tries to explain Calpurnia's dream to Decius, but Decius simply turns the story around stating that the dream wa
only a miss interpretation. Decius causes Caesar to re-think the symbolism behind the dream and he forgets about the warning that the dream displays of his possible death.
Also, Caesar’s servant confronts Caesar the day before the Ides of March, before Caesar goes to bed. The servant warns Caesar about the next day and the events that may come along with it. The servant states, “Get you to bed again; it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the Ides of March?... Look in the calendar, and bring me word. ” (Shakespeare, 2. 1,39-43) The servant states that the next day would be a very significant day for Caesar and that he needs to get his rest in order to prepare for the next day.
This warning from the servant lets Caesar know that the next day may not be such a good day for him, but he disregards this situation and ends up going to the senate the next day anyway. This is beneficial to the point because the senate later becomes the place that Caesar is murdered. First Caesar ignores Calpurnia's horrible dream and then Caesar ignores the servants warning of the Ides of March. Thus proving that Caesar demonstrates obvious examples that he ignores these omens which severely affect his future and success. Moreover, Caius Cassius encounters dramatic omens which greatly affect his fall.
Cassius primarily receives warning from Casca about the god’s and makes a disastrous mistake by allowing Marc Antony to live. When Cassius ignores these omens throughout his adventure he is left with no choice, but to commit suicide. Casca confronts Cassius of the signs from
the god’s about the fact that they are upset and will be seriously displeased with Cassius’s planning to kill Caesar. Casca’s proof is that during the intense storm lions were sent out by the gods and people were being lit on fire. Casca states, “But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? (Shakespeare, 1. 3,53) Casca tries to explain to Cassius that if he goes through with the killing of Caesar the gods will be very angry. Casca explains tempting the heavens would be established by the murder of Caesar. Cassius goes through with the assassination of Caesar and ignores Casca’s friendly warning of the god’s dissatisfaction which contributes to his failure towards his demise. Secondly, Cassius states the obvious that Marc Antony’s survival could destroy the conspirator’s success. Although Cassius states his beliefs he does not follow through with this idea.
Cassius explains, “Marc Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, should outlive Caesar... as to annoy us all : which to prevent, let Antony and Caesar fall together. ” (Shakespeare, 2. 1,154-161) Cassius states that he wants Caesar dead, but never follows through with his plans. If Cassius were to only ignore Brutus’s opinion about Antony living he would not have to realize the truth during Antony’s speech about what the conspirators did to Caesar and how it was wrong. Since Cassius ignores his own omen about taking out Antony he later regret’s it because it is what leads Cassius to his suicide.
Cassius disregards Casca’s warning of the God’s disappointment during the storm and fails to assassinate Antony along with Caesar. Clearly this proves that Cassius overlooks omens which significantly
affects his life as he was soon led to suicide. Alternatively, Marcus Brutus does not acknowledge various omens which later become reasons for his demise near the time of his death. Brutus disagrees with Cassius’s consent to prevent Antony from speaking at Caesar's funeral and Brutus agrees to go where the ghost requests.
Brutus engages in a quick conversation with Cassius where he allows Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius disapproves of Brutus’ decision because he believes it may cause the people of Rome to realize that the conspirators were in fact murders. Cassius states, “You know not what you do: do not consent that Antony speak in his funeral: know you how much the people may be moved by that which he will utter? ” (Shakespeare, 3. 1,233-234) Brutus ignores Cassius’s advice and gives Antony permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral anyway.
Brutus fails to realize that Antony could easily make all the conspirators look terrible because of what they have done. Brutus definitely puts Cassius’s decision aside because he allows Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. This reveals the truth to the people of Rome and causes Brutus to feel grief and sorrow for his involvement in Caesar’s assassination. Equally important, a ghost who was thought to be the ghost of Caesar confronts Brutus. The ghost requests that Brutus would meet Antony at Philippi. Brutus does not realize that the omen may be concluding in his death.
The ghost confronts Brutus and he asks, “ Why comest thou? ”, the ghost answers, “To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi. ”, then Brutus replied, “Well; then I shall
see thee again? ”, and the ghost concludes with, “Ay, at Philippi. ” (Shakespeare, 4. 3,282-285) Brutus asks the ghost for what he demands and Brutus simply agrees to the ghost’s request. By Brutus agreeing to the ghost’s request he will later have to go face-to-face with Antony at Philippi and Antony is given permission to stab Brutus to end his sorrowful life.
Brutus is unsuccessful in acknowledging the fact that the ghost’s warning is possibly an omen of his own death. Brutus primarily ignores Cassius’s request to permit Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral and Brutus agrees to go where the ghost requests. Proving that Brutus exemplifies failing to accept omens will lead to an unfortunate death. In conclusion, Caesar, Cassius, and Brutus indefinitely ignore important omens that are presented to them, which eventually led to their demise.
Caesar ignores Calpurnia’s unpleasant dream about his life and the servant’s simple warning of the Ides of March. Showing that omens are presented to Caesar, but not followed through with confirming Caesar could have prevented his murder if he acknowledged the warnings contained in omens presented to him. Cassius does not agree with Casca’s statement that the god’s will be displeased with Caesar being assassinated and he allows Antony to live establishing the basis that warnings are overlooked by Cassius, leading him to a ghastly suicide.
Brutus disapproves of Cassius consent to prevent Antony from speaking at Caesar’s funeral and Brutus agrees to the ghosts demands demonstrating that Brutus disregards simple omens that would later affect his life because he will die at Philippi. Therefore the various omens throughout the Tragedy of Julius
Caesar should not be ignored as men would not have to face their demise. A simple omen may have an affect on anything in the future, possibly even a life and death situation.
