How Does Shakespeare Use Fear In Julius Caesar

“Julius Caesar” Saves England
Shakespeare has written a many great stories, so great that even after over 400 years, they are still studied in schools today. Many consider his tragedies to be his greatest works of all, however “Julius Caesar” was also based off history, with a few artistic liberties. When Shakespeare had written the play, Queen Elizabeth I was the monarch, but she was nearing the end of her reign. Shakespeare used the play “Julius Caesar,” to show the fear of what would ensue when Queen Elizabeth I died by telling the story of Caesar’s assassination using violence, suspense, and danger.
Shakespeare uses violence in this play with the character’s weapons, murders, and descriptions. Many scenes in this play describe more “gruesome” thoughts or actions by the characters. There are also murders and weapons as described in Act 3, “Casca and the other conspirators stab Caesar, Brutus last” (Shakespeare 3.1). While this quote did not describe or state a weapon, it tells the readers how Caesar was murdered, by being stabbed. This means it was a blade of some sort, most likely a dagger or sword. Later, in the same scene, the narration says, “The conspirators smear their hands and swords with Caesar’s blood” (Shakespeare 3.1). This narration confirms that the

“Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war, that this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial.” (Shakespeare 3.1). Antony’s line here foreshadows the chaos and lawlessness that will ensue now that Caesar is dead. “Plebians attack Cinna the Poet” (Shakespeare 3.3), even after Cinna the Poet tells the plebians that he is not Cinna the Conspirator, that he is innocent, they still attack him. This character represents the danger that innocent people will be in should an assassination be attempted, creating fear in