Julius Caesar Performance Assessment- Duet

Content
In this passage, Caesar and his wife Calpurnia is talking about going out to senate at their house. She warns her husband not to go out and tells about what she dreamed about last night. Yet, Caesar insists that he will not go.

Meaning and Significance of the Passage
This passage is the most significant part in this entire play, because it has the main forshadowing and it also shows both Caesar and Calpurnia's characters. This conversation between Caesar and Calpurnia is mostly cautious and giving some heavy mood through Calpurnia's dream. In her dream, she uses a lot of fearful imageries and metaphors connected to Caesar's death to convince him not to go out to Senate. Even though this weak woman tries everything to persuade her husband, Caesar doesn't listen to what she says. She fears about her husband's death, but as she has weak mind and body, she can't do anything to her powerful husband. In addition, this part shows Caesar's arrogance and fearless character that he has right to choose his own way. Because of this arrogant character of Caesar, it forshadows that he is going to be killed by the conspiritors.

Act 2 Scene 2 (line 8~37 before a sevant enters)

CALPURNIA What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

CAESAR 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.

CALPURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did 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.

CAESAR What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.

CALPURNIA When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.

Duet Partner: Hannah Hwang