Julius Caesar Women Analysis

“Behind every man is a greater woman,” an old saying reads. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, this phrase is remarkably true, considering seemingly marginal figures such as Calpurnia and Portia, the only two women in the play, help excavate the characters of Brutus and Caesar. The women are only flaunted through their relationships with their husbands, and therefore greatly show contrasts in the nobles’ characters. Brutus’ wife, Portia, has far more lines in the play, and shows more noteworthy anecdotes about Brutus than Calpurnia does about Caesar. Women in Julius Caesar, though often absent and seemingly insignificant, provide a domestic view on the male character’s lives and convey how disrespected women are treated in the setting of the historical

Immediately after Brutus says that Portia is honourable, Portia fires back, saying that if she really was, she would know his secret. She retaliates his statements by throwing her nobility, which is contradicted by her sex, in Brutus’ face. She explains why she believes she has the right to know the truth across a few passionate lines. Portia heartfully says, “If this were true, then should I know this secret./ I grant I am a woman; but withal/ A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife;/ I grant I am a woman; but withal/ A woman well reputed” (Shakespeare, II.i 291-295). These few lines contain implicit meaning that refers to Brutus’ domestic life and how women are mistreated. Portia knows what she is conveying to her husband, which is made apparent in the tone of her voice and the wording of her language. Portia uses repetition when speaking to Brutus, a common speaking and writing technique used to display importance. Her repeating of the line “I grant I am a woman; but withal” shows the reader that not only does Brutus and the rest of society see her as inferior, but it is very possible that Portia has her own self doubts about her full potential because she is a woman. Her tone of voice also suggests flattery aimed toward Brutus’ hubris. Talking about Brutus in a godlike manner by referring to him as “Lord Brutus” and

Portia is still listing meaningful reasons for Brutus to put faith in her, and ends up accidentally degrading herself whilst doing so. She says, “I grant I am a woman; but withal/ A woman well reputed, Cato’s daughter/ Think you I am no stronger than my sex/ Being so father’d, and so husbanded” (Shakespeare, II.i 294-298)? Portia is once again providing a window for the reader to see into the mindset of their time. Her words reflect that she is not accountable for her own worth and personality, only the men who sired or married her show her worth. Brutus, being one of these men, is being directly charmed, as well as possibly accused. Portia brings up that she is not only the noble woman that Brutus chose to marry, but the daughter of Cato, the powerful and respected soldier. She is implicitly saying that by denying her access to the information, Brutus can also be insulting Cato and his family name. Portia says these things to speak to Brutus’ hubris and Cato’s importance, proving that her character, like the other women in the society, is entirely built upon and based on men’s