Julius Caesar Omens Analysis

In Julius Caesar, there are many omens foreshadowing the future as the play progresses. An omen is an event regarded as a portent of good or evil. These omens appear as odd sights or happenings that would not usually happen. Storms, for an example, was a sign that the gods were angered or something is to come. The omens shown throughout the play presage the inevitable tragedies that happened and tells us more about of the character. All of the omens shown show the inevitable tragedies that were bound to happen in the play. The very first omen shown being from the Soothsayer’s warning to Caesar. He tells Caesar, “Beware the ides of March.” (I.ii.20). Hearing this Caesar has learned that something will happen to him on March 15th. This is the day

He took notice of them but in the end, failed to use them as a guide. If Caesar did take the warnings very seriously the conspirators would have had to make another plan. In theory, Artemidorus could have gotten the letter to Caesar and informed him of those who planned to kill him in the capital. Instead, Caesar ignores all other omens and believes Decius’ interpretation of his wife’s dream. He claimed, “Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, / In which so many smiling Romans bathed, / Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck / Reviving blood, and that great men shall press / For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. / This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.” (II.ii.85-90). Caesar is not the only one to ignore omens. Brutus ignored Caesars ghost’s warning. The ghost of Caesar visits Brutus at camp before they arrive in Philippi. He tells Brutus “To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.” (IV.iii.290). He replies that he will see him there but does not know later he will see the ghost again once he dies. It could have been possible that Brutus took this as a sign to not go to Philippi. It would be hard to guess if the series of events would change or