An Analysis of Portia and Calpurnia’s Roles in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar The role of women in the play, Julius Caesar, provides insight into gender dynamics during this era. While most of the major roles are given to men, the wives of two prominent male characters, Portia and Calpurnia, demonstrate differing power and influence within the household and public areas. The female characters of Portia and Calpurnia play significant roles in the unfolding of the plot. It is important to shed light on the often overlooked female characters. The relationships both women have with their husbands, Brutus and Caesar, are crucial to comprehend their roles in the play. Portia, the wife of Brutus, demonstrates intelligence. Portia is portrayed as a devoted …show more content…
Calpurnia’s relationship with Caesar is more distant. She is portrayed as a loving and caring wife, but her interactions with Caesar are limited to brief conversations about his safety and well-being. When she has ominous dreams on the Ides of March, she warns Caesar not to go out, relying on the prophetic interpretation rather than personal influence. In Act 2, Scene 2, Calpurnia pleads Caesar not to go to the Senate on the day of his assassination, citing her dreams and omens as reasons for her fear. However, her pleas fall on deaf ears, and Caesar decides to go to the Senate, despite the danger. After Caesar dismisses her concern, Calpurnia “let[s] him go” (Act 2, Scene 2), displaying that Caesar’s will and actions hold ultimate …show more content…
Portia’s actions ultimately lead to her death, as she is unable to cope with the stress and anxiety of her husband’s involvement in the assassination plot. Her suicide highlights the limeted agency that women had in ancient Rome, and the consequences of trying to assert themselves in a male-dominated society. Calurnia’s actions, on the other hand, have little impact on the plot of the play. Despite her warningings, Caesar ultimately decides to go to the Senate, and his assassination goes ahead as planned. Calpurnia’s lack of agency and inability to influence her husband’s decisions highlights the limited power that women had in ancient