Superstitions are thought to be irrational, and resulting from either ignorance,
or fear of the unknown. Some believe that superstitions can take control of
their life, for instance, if a black cat crosses you’re path, you will have
bad luck. Most regard this as folklore and witchcraft. In the play Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare, superstitions took hold and played an important part of
many people’s lives. The characters believed that they were getting a vision
into their future. Each character dealt with the superstition differently, some
feared them, and some disbelieved them. These superstitions not only gave the
characters, but also the audience quick looks at what is to come. They are
important, and help shape the way the play was performed, and interpreted. The
first superstition, which was clearly visible, is the soothsayer, who in the
first act tells Caesar beware the ides of March. This is a superstition, because
it is irrational, and it comes from a situation of high risk, and involves
influences, which are unseen. This also shows Caesar’s arrogance, its not just
that he is not superstitious, but he also does not even let the soothsayer
explain himself. He laughs at the soothsayer, and says “he is a dreamer, let
us leave him, pass.” The soothsayer is warning him of his own death date, and
he laughs at him. He does not believe in superstition, and this is clear by his
reaction, many others in his situation would be fearful of the ides of March,
from the warning and omen, he got. Caesar believes he is more powerful then
destiny, and that he will have nothing to worry about. Caesar’s arrogance cost
him his life, and showed that superstitions sometimes do come true. The next
superstition occurred the day of his death. Calpurina urges Caesar not to go to
senate today. She tells Caesar of the horrible dream she had, the night before
the ides of March. Caesar recalls the dream to the other men. “The cause is in
my will. I will not come. That is enough to satisfy the senate. But for you’re
private satisfaction, because I love you, I will let you know. Calpurnia here,
my wife stays me out home. She dreamt tonite she saw my statue, which like a
fountain with an hundred spouts, did run pure blood; and many lust Romans came
smiling and did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply for warnings
and portents and evils imminent, and on her knee hath begged that I stay at home
today”(Shakespeare, 79-81) Caesar just recalled and foreshadowed his own
death, and yet he still leaves for the senate. Caesar’s arrogance is again
showed. He does not believe in fortune telling, or superstitions, although
everything is warning him of the upcoming danger he is about to face. His wife
however, is the opposite of him, in that she is very superstitious, she fears
her dream, and fears for her husband. There was also another warning Caesar
received. When several men killed a beast, in the streets, they slaughtered him,
and found no heart. This slaughtering of the beast was also a superstition, for
the men believed they could use the beast to determine, if there would be danger
today. This is an excellent example of a superstition, since it something to us
that seems irrational, but to superstitious people, they would believe that a
beast could foretell the future. Everyone, other then Caesar, and in the
audience, could clearly see that he should have not left his home that day, but
Caesar believed he was smarter then any omen, or superstition. This was his
ultimate down fall. The other superstition that played part in this play, was
when Brutus was confronted with the ghost of Caesar, before he entered battle.
This superstition foretells of his own down fall. The ghost comes to him, as he
is sitting up reading in his tent. “Ha, who comes here- I think it is the
weakness of mine eyes that shapes this monstrous apparition. It comes upon
me-Art thou any thing? Art thou some god, some angel or some devil, that makest
my blood cold and my hair to stare? Speak to what thou art.” “Thy, evil
spirit, Brutus” “why com’st thou?” “To tell the thou shall see me at
Phillippi” “ Well, then I shall see thee again?” “Ay, at
Philippi”(171-173) This is Brutus’s superstition, about going into battle.
He is fearful of death, and of Caesar. He knew that the ghost was an omen of his
ultimate downfall, however he does not want to be regarded as a fearful or
superstitious person, so he chose to ignore the omen The superstitions about
dates, and events play a more important role, then apparent in this play. They
give dilemma, and drama to the play. They also reveal many important character
traits. They can save one’s life, or take it. It is all in the person’s
hands how they interpret the superstition. Many people in Brutus or
Calpurnia’s position would not believe that a beast, dream, or ghost could
foretell the future. This is what makes them superstitions. In some cases though
they were more then just superstitions, since they came true. The omens these
characters received might have seemed supernatural, or impossible, but for many
people, they rely upon superstitions, and omens to make decisions. Superstitions
are really left up to interpretation, for example, When Caesar told of
Calpurnia’s superstition, about her dream, the other men interpreted in as
that, the Romans, were flourishing in Caesar’s blood and prosperity. Caesar
found superstitions, ridiculous and mocked them. Its really all in how, the
person understands the situation, and how they react to it, this is what
determines what a superstition is, and its importance. In this play, the
superstitions were very important.