Summary:
William Shakespeare displayed many symbolic events, objects, and people in his classic tragedy "Julius Caesar." Three examples of symbolism used by Shakespeare include Calpurnia's dream, the crown of Rome, and the heartless sacrificed animal. The overall use of symbolism in this play describes events and people that words cannot, and it gives the reader a better understanding of the story.
Symbolism is the art of using an object, act, or person to represent and explain another procedure or purpose from the story. Symbolism was displayed and brought out in the classic tragedy Julius Caesar through dreams, items of power, and sacrifices. Caesar's wife that loved him very much, dreamt about a terrible sight that was to come. The crown could have made Caesar Emperor of Rome which would have given him endless power. The animal which had been sacrificed to see the fate of Caesar shows the personality of all the people of Rome. Symbolism helps the reader with a better understanding of the story.
Calphurnia received a dream that symbolizes the end to Caesar's rule, power, and life. Calphurnia said "Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. This is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness that whelped in the streets, And graves have yawned, and yielded upon their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds In ranks and squadrons and right from war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses and neigh and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar, these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them." This quote said by Calphurnia, symbolizes the destruction and corruption of Rome, and the ungratefulness for Caesar. The bleeding statue that Calphurnia witnessed symbolizes death and the blood that was leaked out of his body after being stabbed. She saw people washing their hands in Caesar's blood, which could only symbolize the pride they received by killing Caesar. Calphurnia's dream was placed in the story to symbolize the love and hatred for Caesar by different people. It was used effectively, because it shows how Calphurnia loves Caesar, but at the same time the conspirators despise and envy Caesar. In a brief description, it symbolizes the chaotic state that Rome has entered.
Julius Caesar had returned from Egypt after a great victory and death over Pompey. Marc Antony waited for his arrival at Rome. Antony, offered the crown to Caesar three times. The crown symbolizes all the people of Rome, the army of Rome, the riches of Rome, and of course Rome. Rome had been a very powerful empire and was about to be under the control of one person. If Caesar were to accept the crown, the entire consul, and senate would be pointless. Rome would no longer be a democracy. When the crown was offered to Caesar and Caesar rejected it, shows that he was not at all ambitious, it helps symbolize that Cassius and Brutus were wrong about Caesar, and that Rome has not changed its state of government at all. By placing a crown as an offering to Caesar, it helps symbolizes the power that Caesar contains over his ambitions. The crown of Rome symbolizes complete power and a reversal in the move towards complete democracy.
Caesar had demanded a sacrifice to the gods to help predict the future. When they cut open the animal, it had no heart. This symbolizes the missing ability to love by the people of Rome, and the conspirators that plotted against Caesar. The heartless animal helps the reader see that the people of Rome cannot stick with one person's belief or rule, and are easily manipulated within minutes. When Caesar had returned from Egypt, the people of Rome cheered for him. When Brutus killed Caesar, they cheered for Brutus, and finally when Antony shows the people how wrong Brutus was about Caesar, the people fall for Antony and Caesar. The people of Rome lack the ability to stick and love one true leader, and have a hard time loving people, but certainly do not have a hard time loving materialistic objects. The conspirators are just the same, when it comes to love to a person or a country. Brutus supposedly loved both Caesar and Rome, but did not show that at all. Brutus showed a true love for power which does not require a heart to do. He betrayed and killed his good friend, and then fought the Roman people at the battle of Philippi. The only reason Brutus actually followed with the plan to kill Caesar, was because Cassius told Brutus that he could have had just as much power as the great Caesar. Many characters in the tragedy of Julius Caesar are symbolized by the heartless animal.
William Shakespeare placed many symbolic events, objects, and people in the tragedy of Julius Caesar. Although they're many, three examples of symbolism is the crown of Rome, Calphurnia's dream, and the heartless sacrificed animal. The crown was a symbol of all the power Caesar would obtain when he becomes emperor. The heartless animal symbolizes the series of bad events that will follow Caesar's death all the way to the Roman People. Finally, Calphurnia's dream is a symbol of Caesars death, and ungratefulness. Symbolism in the play Julius Caesar describes events and people that words cannot.
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