Portia Brutus's Wife Analysis

“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” (George Orwell, 1984). William Shakespeare intensified his quality of work by insinuating manipulative and persuasive language within his writing. Cassius, a loyal server to Brutus, was easy to coax Brutus into rebelling against Julius Caesar, gaining an additional member to his group of conspirators. Cassius altered Brutus’ thoughts of Caesar’s ruling, within the use of multiple effective rhetorical techniques.

After discovering her husband’s new attitude, Portia felt confused. Portia grew desperate of not understanding the reason for his new attitude. Sad that Brutus refused to listen to her, Portia committed an act to which showed an extreme level of loyalty and love, “....Tell me your secrets. I won’t betray them. I’ve proved my trustworthiness by giving myself a voluntary wound here in my thigh.

Secrets can make or break relationships. They could either be the glue that keeps people close, or the force that tears them apart. In the novel, “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini, Amir and Hassan keep many secrets from each other, including Amir not telling Hassan that he saw him while he was being assaulted. These secrets create a wider divide between characters, until they are revealed. Kite running was an activity where people would run around with kites and have a sharp piece of glass in their hand.

This quote from Julius Caesar is a reminder of the sacrifices made by the characters in the play, and how their choices ultimately lead to their fate. Portia's death is a prime example of the sacrifices made by characters in Julius Caesar. She takes her own life after learning of her husband Brutus' plans, and her death serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences of political ambition. Portia's death is particularly tragic because it was a

Shakespeare’s language and choice of words portrays one of the most vital characters of the play, Portia, as a powerless woman to a large extent… but only in a certain way. Being ‘powerful’ has three meanings, one is “having great strength”, two is “having control over people and events”, and lastly three is “having a strong effect on people’s thoughts and feelings”. The two latter definitions are similar yet very different in this context. Making it possible for Portia to seem like a powerless woman, but surprisingly remain one of the most important characters.

He told his wife, “Cowards die many times before their deaths, / but the valiant taste of death but once. / … /It seems to me most strange that men should fear/ Seeing that death…/ Will come when it will come,” (2.2.34-39). This statement by Caesar emphasizes his view on fate. Shakespeare shows that if death is predetermined, and death is nigh, why would someone live in fear. He tells the reader that fate is what shapes life.

She establishes her credibility by reminding Brutus of her loyalty to him, saying “I grant I am a woman, but withal a woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter” (II.i.305-306). Portia then employs an emotional appeal, expressing her concern for Brutus’ well-being, saying “I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might” (II.i.315). Through this rhetorical device, Portia emphasizes her ability to handle difficult situations and appeals to Brutus’ protective instincts.

Keep Power or Kill If you believed that the only way to save your state was to kill one of your friends, would you? The character Brutus killed one of his friends in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar(JC) by William Shakespeare. Some people believe that he is a villain and only killed Caesar to keep his own power in the government. However many people think that he killed Julius Caesar to help prevent Rome from becoming dictatorship.

Portia was a loyal wife, and very patience and trustworthy. She had been ‘asleep,’ throughout most the play, although she had known there was something going on that Brutus is not telling her. Portia begged Brutus to tell her his intentions, and upon refusing, she reveals a stab, in which she had done herself, to prove her patience, a keeper of secrets, and to convince Brutus. She is well-aware of how to prove her honor, which was to inflict harm on herself. Portia exclaims, “Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife,” (2.1.310) this is her saying that if she, Portia, can not learn of her husband’s aim, she is not a wife, but another prostitute.

In this order of ideas, Brutus’ traits can be analyzed and

Portia can also give Brutus some ideas about how to run everything. Brutus says this about Portia, “You are my true and honorable wife, as dear to me as are the ruddy drops that visit my sad heart. ’’I chose this quote because it explains how Brutus thinks she honorable and will trust

Portia wants Brutus to not be afraid to tell her his secrets, as she promises to retain them. She knows a marriage is a distinctive connection, and that they are one entity. "...and that great vow which did incorporate and make us one." (Act 2, Sc 1 line 272-273) On the other side, Brutus, contrasting Caesar, is presented to ultimately have a profound, devoted respect for his wife. He knows she is "true and honorable."

Brutus 's speech: Brutus speaks to the people of rome why he killed caesar so they will not turn on him. He talked about how he didnt kill him because he didn 't love him but because it was for the better of rome. He also tells the people of rome that letting caesar become king would mean the government type would change and all the wars and hard work his family had put into the government would go away. He also states, for the welfare of rome that he would die for rome if rome demands his death Rhetorical devices: Brutus used questions, logos, parallelism, and pathos to stir the people of rhome. Question-

Here, the soothsayer is warning Caesar to take extra precautions on that day, as something horrible (death) might happen to him. The next warning is from Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia. Calpurnia began noticing several different unusual before Caesar’s death, such as her dream “She dreamt tonight she saw my status, / Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,/ Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans/ Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it” (II.ii.76-79), which literally foreshadowed the scene after Caesar’s death. Caesar’s next warning is slightly different, is in form of a letter, written by Artemidorus stating the plan of the conspirators, and which conspirators exactly were in on it, and it states “if you read this o Caesar, thou mayst live” (III.i).

Caesar’s scornful behavior towards the soothsayer illustrates his arrogance. Later, in Act 2, Calpurnia pleads Caesar to stay home because she realizes that all the omens are pointing to Caesar’s death. Despite her plea, Caesar insists “Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten’d me ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished” (2.2.15-17). These incidents show that Caesar’s pride blinds his ability to see his tragic end. Moreover, Caesar ignores his own feeling of uneasiness towards Cassius for the sake of his pride.