The Misinterpretation Of Signs In Julius Caesar

Signs that tell society something will happen have been around since the beginning of time. Whether it is horrid weather or black clouds, it is common for people to be superstitious about those signs. Signs are resourceful, but can be overlooked by egotistical people. The mistaking of signs could bode well for someone, or become dreadful. The misinterpretation of signs and omens in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, are catastrophic to the lives of Caesar, Brutus and to the other conspirators which ultimately lead to their downfall. Julius Caesar’s ambition for greatness and power clouds his vision so that he dismisses the signs and omens that appear to him. In the beginning, Caesar, while at his parade for defeating Pompey,

Caesar does not even consider the fact that there is someone trying to forewarn. Caesar is so captivated with trying to amuse Rome, that he does not contemplate the omen left by the soothsayer. Later, while Cassius is recalling a story of him and Caesar, he says that “‘Help me, Cassius, or I sink!’/‘I as Aeneas, our great ancestor,/Did the flames of Troy upon his shoulder/ the old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber/Did I the tired Caesar”’(I.ii.118-23). Cassius tries to show how weak Caesar is and it is an omen that he is an average person in society. Caesar is not perfect like he wants to be, even failing to swim in a river. He is a mediocre Roman just like anyone else and is as normal as anyone. Later, Caesar wants to go to the capitol on the ides of March, but his wife Calpurnia tells him about a dream

While Casca and Cicero are discussing the plan of the conspirators Casca expresses his fears: “Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women,/Transformed with their fear, who swore they saw/Men all in fire walk up and down the streets”’(I.iii.23-5). Caca is warning Cicero that there is a battle coming and they should be ready. Ciero, though, brushes it off thinking it is a good idea to kill Caesar. The conspirators do not thik that anything could happen to them as death is meant for Caesar. As Antony is making his speech after Caesar's death to the Roman people, he says, “‘Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war,/That this foul deed shall smell above the earth/With carrion men groaning for burial”’(III.i.299-301). Antony is foreshadowing the demise of the conspirators without them even knowing it. He knows that he wants revenge for the conspirators actions, so he makes a prophecy that he will unleash the dogs of war. The conspirators do not fully understand what this means yet though. While in his tent, Caesar appears to Brutus and says, “[T]hou shalt see me at Philippi.”(IV.iii.327-8). Brutus thinks that when he goes to Philippi, he will defeat Antony's army and will be praised. But he does not see the foreshadowing of his demise as the guilt for himself comes in the form of Caesar's ghost. The ghost appears to be a sign that the battle will end in destruction for