Calphurnia In Julius Caesar

Throughout the book of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, there are multiple signs that suggest Caesar's upcoming demise but are ignored due to the arrogance and insecurity of Caesar. As the drama continues there is a clear foreshadowing of his death shown through Calphurnia's dream of Caesar "Calphurnia in her sleep cried out “Help ho, they murder Caesar!””(Act 2 scene 2 line 2-3). Calphurnia dreamt about Caesar blood pouring out into a fountain where Romans were smiling while they bathed their hands in it. After hearing about her dream he eventually became convinced through his insecurity and her begging that it was a warning. But he soon became arrogant because Decius manipulated him to believe that they should
not interpret it as an omen or warning, but rather as a sign of fortune. He did this by persuading Caesar that it should be interpreted as Romans bathing in his reviving blood leading to greatness. So the arrogant Caesar was taken in by this and was manipulated into not believing that it was a sign of his death.

Another example of Caesar's arrogance would be when the Soothsayer calls out to Caesar during the ceremony of the holy chase. When Caesar heard him call out his name Casca made everyone mute. Then Caesar asked the man what he wanted to say and the Soothsayer responded with “Beware the ides of March” (Act 1 Scene 2 line 21). After the Soothsayer repeated this warning, Caesar only saw him as a dreamer, so Caesar left him and ignored his warning about the fifteenth of March. Caesar rejects these ideas that foreshadow his doom throughout the drama because of his insecure and haughty personality. Comparing this foreshadowing idea to the actual tragedy of Julius Caesar, one could say that because of Caesar's arrogant and insecure mind it ultimately led to his death.