Wednesday, January 28, 2015

What three omens does Casca describe in Act 1 of Julius Caesar?

Superstitions abound in the Rome of Julius Caesar. In
fact, the chaotic state of human affairs is reflected in the many omens of Shakespeare's
play.  A key figure in helping Cassius sway Brutus to feel that it is necessary to rid
the republic of the tyrant Julius Caesar, Casca describes for Cassius what he has heard
and seen in Act I, Scene2.  Then, in Scene 3, Cicero asks Casca what he has observed in
the storm of lightening and thunder. 


Casca, visibly
shaken, replies that he has seen four omens: 


  • a
    common slave whose left hand was caught on fire, but it "remained
    unscorched."

  • a "surly" lion who was in the center of
    Rome; it stared at him and passed by without
    attacking him.

  • A hundred ghostly women, huddled together,
    who in their fear swore that they had seen men on fire, walking up and down the
    streets.

  • An owl (seen the day before) who was
    incongruously out at noon, "hooting and
    shrieking."

After hearing Casca, Cassius, who
has disputed fate previously with Brutus, berates Casca for his fears, telling him that
he, Cassius, bared his chest in the aim of the flash of lightening, daring it to hit
him.  Unlike Casca, who perceives these omens as warnings from the gods, Cassius sees
them as warnings against Caesar.

2 comments:

What accomplishments did Bill Clinton have as president?

Of course, Bill Clinton's presidency will be most clearly remembered for the fact that he was only the second president ever...