Power In Julius Caesar And Calpurnia

The roles and social status of women in ancient times are being described by many well-known playwrights and poets. Yet, different works shows different opinions towards “women power”. In this essay, I am going to compare Homer’s Iliad and The Code of Hammurabi along with Sophocles’ Antigone.

1. Introduction In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, Gaius Julius Caesar is described by the character of Mark Antony as being, “…the noblest Roman of them all…” (Shakespeare Julius Caesar 5.5.67.231). Julius Caesar has been represented in history as a multi-faceted Roman leader, excelling in the military, social and political spheres of Roman 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.

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 William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appears to be a strong advocate for Julius Caesar’s triumphs and increasing power. However, like Caesar, Antony is extremely manipulative and powerful. After Caesar’s death, Antony manipulated the conspirators into believing he was on their side before requesting to speak at Caesar’s funeral. While Brutus and the conspirators remained fooled by Antony’s innocence, Antony took the initiative to inform the Roman citizens of the conspirator’s horrendous actions towards their beloved leader, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s funeral was a time of reflection for the citizens of Rome, as Marc Antony caused them to question their allegiance to Brutus.

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

In Portia and Brutus ' conversation, we see a strong connection between the couple. Portia deeply cares for her husband and his well-being, and accordingly Brutus has a reverence for her that is superior to that of Caesar to his wife. In the scene, Portia confronts Brutus saying she has detected a change in his behavior. "You suddenly arose, and walked about. Musing and sighing arms across."

The treatment of women has been a topic all throughout history. Women would be treated as lesser beings compared to men. Back in 430 b.c when Oedipus Rex took place, women were not treated equally by men in power. An example of this is when King Laius died, Jocasta did not become the ruler. She had to wait for someone to marry her to have a new ruler.

“Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.” -Yehuda Berg. Words are an important part to everyday life.

In Shakespeare’s famous play, Julius Caesar, there's an essential theme of characters and their portrayal/actions in public versus private life. Julius Caesar himself led two very different lives with his family and close friends in contrast to how he presented himself to the public eye. In both settings, Caesar makes himself out to be invincible; however in private he is more vulnerable and superstitious whereas in public, he is immortal and the great leader Rome makes him out to be.

For Shakespeare’s plays to contain enduring ideas, it must illustrate concepts that still remain relevant today, in modern society. Shakespeare utilises his tragic play Othello, to make an important social commentary on the common gender stereotypes. During early modern England, Shakespeare had to comply to the strict social expectations where women were viewed as tools, platonic and mellow, and where men were displayed as masculine, powerful, tempered, violent and manipulative. As distinct as this context is to the 21st century, the play exposes how women were victimised by the men who hold primary power in the community in which they compelled women to conform to the ideal world of a perfect wife or confront an appalling destiny for challenging the system. Moreover, Shakespeare utilises the main antagonist, Iago, to portray how men are desperate to achieve what they want and to indirectly fulfil the stereotype of masculinity and power through manipulation.

It is shown in ancient Rome that women have less ability than men to hold business application, political and warfare position. In the epic history of Rome, written by Titus Livius, known as Livy, he refers that women “cannot partake of magistracies, priesthoods, triumphs, badges of office, gifts, or spoils of war; elegance, finery and beautiful clothes are women’s badges, in these they find joy and take pride, this our forebears called the women’s world.” . This shows that the importance of women in Rome 's society was based on beauty and giving luxuries life, and public positions are not women 's badges. By doing that, they changed their focus to be only based on what they get from their husbands or males in their families. However, men were regarded as noble and superior so that they are esteemed for higher places in politics and

Ultimately, this will serve as a reflection of how different times and cultures use the story of Cleopatra to manipulate the reputations of powerful women. Unfortunately, there is little certainty to Cleopatra’s tale;

Clearly, Shakespeare has shown that the women in Hamlet and during his time, were seen as worthless and irrelevant to society than men. They have these traits because they could not do anything without the presence of a dominant male, they would always do what their male authority wants, and would not think twice about the intentions others have for them. Even though, in today’s day women are looked upon as equal to men, there still are some aspects present from decades ago that show that women are still second to men. The task is to make women stronger than ever before, but the

Men did not think that women could ever be as smart as they were, and did not listen or take advice from women that is why Portia had to dress up as a man just to get the men to listen to her and Antonio was saved just because of her intelligence. Here is revealed the idea of love that women can do everything to see their husbands